A resurgent interest in the mechanical timepieces has grown a whole new crop of watch enthusiasts, people hungry for not only eye candy, which we happily provide weekly, but also knowledge about wrist-based micro-engineering marvels. We’re here to help. This collection of our best Timekeeping educational articles might just save your precious timepiece from a busted date mechanism or save you from embarrassment the next time someone asks you what a helium release valve is for. We call it Timekeeping 101.
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Let’s get one thing out of the way: a chronometer is different than a chronograph, though one can also be the other. We’ve heard the terms confused one too many times, and while we’ll forgive past sins, it’s time to know the difference once and for all.
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Perhaps because of the recent surge in their popularity and their lack of real-world use, dive watches suffer from numerous misconceptions. People love to wear them but don’t know a helium release valve from a no-deco limit. We’re here to help.
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The chronograph, like the wristwatch itself, is largely obsolete. Devised to measure elapsed time and speed, it has been surpassed by superior digital and optical technologies in the arenas where it once was king — the racetrack, the battlefield, the laboratory. But the chronograph remains popular, perhaps because it reminds us of that golden age of athletic achievement and exploration, when the four-minute mile was achieved and man set foot on the Moon. We explain this complication.
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Vintage watch buying is enjoying incredible popularity thanks to a community of savvy collectors, great internet resources for both learning about and buying old watches, and a nostalgic yearning for quality products from an era before planned obsolescence. Old watches also represent great value, the chance to wear a piece of history and, if you’re lucky, a good investment. We explore just how you should go about buying one of these beauties. See More »
Let’s face it: times are tough and it’s not just European governments that are implementing austerity measures. A lot of guys can’t squeeze a new watch into their budgets. But don’t despair, because there’s an affordable way to get a fresh look for your existing watch: change the strap. With a little practice and a few tips, it’s easy.
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Congratulations, you bought your first mechanical watch. Whether you wear it just for special occasions or it accompanies you during all of life’s significant moments — and whether you paid a week’s salary for it or a year’s — it should serve you well, running trouble-free for many years. Set it and forget it. Strap it on and go. Here’s how to keep it running.
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When most people start getting interested in timepieces, the first thing that attracts them is appearance — a distinctive dial, a unique case shape, even a nice strap. Go a little deeper and soon you’ll run into a passion for those companies that design and build their own movements. Even above this realm of so-called “in-house” movement makers, there is a further echelon — the small-volume producers and hand-built independents. You might think that an appreciation for these timepieces is the zenith in the evolution of the watch connoisseur. Not necessarily.
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For watch lovers, a fresh scratch on an otherwise flawless crystal is a devastating sight. The feeling can be even worse on a brand new watch, or one that just returned from servicing. But before you send your tainted timepiece back for a crystal replacement, you may want to consider a home remedy. First you need to determine what can be done — and that depends on the type of crystal you’ve scratched. Read on for our full guide.
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