Learn the anatomy of a luxury watch

The anatomy of a luxury watch is as complex as the human body. For the average watch owner, taking one apart may be as daunting as performing surgery. But for trained watchmakers, its just another day in the operating room.

bracelet

The timepiece bracelet is what keeps your expensive watch securely on your wrist. They may be made of steel, gold, platinum or leather, and may be inlaid with gems as a decorative touch. The most important part of the bracelet is the clasp, which is one mark of a quality timepiece. Keeping it on your wrist is very important, especially when you are talking about a luxury watch. The clasps are made very high quality.

case

The largest part of a luxury timepiece is the case, which connects to the bracelet. Together, these two components make up the outside of a watch. The main job of the case is to protect the inside movement, as well as the dial and hands.

These parts are all easily damaged by everyday activities and the elements - especially water. Even if you are a professional diver or someone who goes yachting on the weekends, you come into contact with a lot more water than you would expect: washing your hands, giving the dog or the baby a bath, getting caught in the rain, doing maintenance around your house and putting your hand in a bucket of water - not to mention your normal sweat and humidity in the air.

To combat the deluge, luxury watch cases always include gaskets. These little rubber rings create a pressure seal that keeps the movement free from water, dust and lint. But even gaskets aren't always impermeable - they only have a shelf life of 3-5 years before they need to be replaced.

dial

The next piece is the most easily recognized part of a luxury timepiece, but that does not mean everyone gets the name right. "Clocks have faces, watches have dials" The dial serves as the backdrop for the watches numerals and hands, as well as the date indicator or other features that your timepiece may include.

It is probably one of the most important parts of a watch that doesn't actually do anything. It doesn't move, it doesn't light up, it doesn't do anything but show you the time based on where the hands are.

Along with the case, the dial is the main focal point of a luxury watch, and often features precious metals, gems or mother of pearl.

WEIGHT

Inside the watch, things get a bit weightier.

Inside all automatic watches is a crescent-shaped weight anchored by a central axis. As you move your wrist throughout the day, the weight swings back and forth and automatically winds your watch. 95% of Rolex watches have automatic movements, making this oscillating weight a major component of luxury watches.

BALANCE WHEEL AND HAIRSPRING

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picture of a balance wheel and mainspring

JEWELS

One way to assess the quality of your watch is to simply look for the jewels - and we don't mean the decorative ones on the outside. Many luxury brands use tiny, specially cut jewels as bearings in the watch movement.

They create a smooth surface for the movement, which cuts down on friction and makes the parts last longer. So the more jewels your watch has, the higher quality it is, and the longer it will last.

lubrication

None of the tiny, hair-thin components in a luxury watch would work properly without proper lubrication. Each watch has a few different oils and lubricants that must be applied in just the right place and quantity to keep thinks running smoothly.

Dried oil and lubricants are some of the biggest problems seen by watchmakers when performing a repair. Most luxury watch brands recommend re-lubricating every 5 years or so. Unfortunately, watches often go significantly longer before getting the proper service.

Thinking of purchasing a luxury watch? Hamra Jewelers is happy to assist you every step of the way, from choosing the perfect timepiece to maintaining your investment. To see our collection of luxury timepieces, visit our showroom or give us a call at 480-946-5110.