Inside the Watch – Battery Powered Quartz
Beauty, beneath the surface.
A little architecture. A little engineering. Scroll to discover the details that make a watch more than a beautiful face.
The Gilded Hour · A closer look
01 / Crystal
The first thing you look through.
The transparent cover sits above the dial and hands, protecting them from everyday contact. Flat, domed or faceted, it also shapes the way light meets the face.
A detail to notice
Those little reflections are part of the design. A faceted crystal can make the same dial look different as you turn your wrist.
02 / Case
A frame with a purpose.
The case houses the movement and gives the watch its outline. Its rim frames the dial; the lugs connect it to a strap or bracelet. A round, cushion or rectangular case changes the whole character of a piece.
When comparing pieces
Case width helps describe size, but the shape, thickness and length of the lugs all affect how a watch sits on your wrist.
03 / Crown
A small detail. An important connection.
The crown is the control at the side of the case. It connects to the movement through a stem and is used to set the time. Depending on the movement, it may also adjust a date or wind a mainspring.
Look a little closer
A ridged edge helps with grip. A coloured cabochon can turn a functional control into a small piece of jewellery.
04 / Dial & hands
The face. And its expression.
The dial is the display beneath the hands. Its colour, texture and markers give the watch much of its personality. Above it, the hands connect to the movement and turn to show the time.
Not the same component
The dial stays in place. The hands move above it. Their shape and contrast make the time easier to read, while a two hand dial can feel especially spare.
05 / Movement
The world beneath the dial.
The movement is the timekeeping mechanism. In this quartz illustration, a battery powers an electronic circuit. A quartz oscillator supplies the timing reference; a motor and gears turn the hands.
Two different crystals
The clear crystal over the dial is a protective cover. The quartz crystal inside the movement is a tiny timekeeping component.
And a mechanical watch?
A mechanical movement stores energy in a mainspring. A gear train passes it through an escapement, regulated by a balance and hairspring. Hand winding or an automatic winding system replenishes that energy. There is no battery powering the movement.
06 / Case back
The part you rarely see.
The back closes the case and gives access to the movement for servicing. It may carry maker markings, a case code or a reference. Its attachment and construction vary between watches.
For the curious collector
A case code can be a valuable clue when researching a piece. It is not always the same as a complete retail model reference.
Crystal
The transparent cover sits above the dial and hands, protecting them from everyday contact. Flat, domed or faceted, it also shapes the way light meets the face.
Those little reflections are part of the design. A faceted crystal can make the same dial look different as you turn your wrist.
Case
The case houses the movement and gives the watch its outline. Its rim frames the dial; the lugs connect it to a strap or bracelet. A round, cushion or rectangular case changes the whole character of a piece.
Case width helps describe size, but the shape, thickness and length of the lugs all affect how a watch sits on your wrist.
Crown
The crown is the control at the side of the case. It connects to the movement through a stem and is used to set the time. Depending on the movement, it may also adjust a date or wind a mainspring.
A ridged edge helps with grip. A coloured cabochon can turn a functional control into a small piece of jewellery.
Dial & hands
The dial is the display beneath the hands. Its colour, texture and markers give the watch much of its personality. Above it, the hands connect to the movement and turn to show the time.
The dial stays in place. The hands move above it. Their shape and contrast make the time easier to read, while a two hand dial can feel especially spare.
Movement
The movement is the timekeeping mechanism. In this quartz illustration, a battery powers an electronic circuit. A quartz oscillator supplies the timing reference; a motor and gears turn the hands.
The clear crystal over the dial is a protective cover. The quartz crystal inside the movement is a tiny timekeeping component.
Case back
The back closes the case and gives access to the movement for servicing. It may carry maker markings, a case code or a reference. Its attachment and construction vary between watches.
A case code can be a valuable clue when researching a piece. It is not always the same as a complete retail model reference.