Watch Tips

 
The types of watches available are quartz battery operated or a fine mechanical watch with a winding mechanism.

Quartz Watches

Quartz watches are popular watches. Each watch contains quartz crystals that vibrate ensuring accurate time keeping. They are known to lose on average 10 seconds of time a month.

There are two types of quartz watches:

• Analog - These are watches that have hands. Some may have a second hand which moves in a continuous motion. These watches have numbers or tick markings indicating intervals of time on the watch face.
• Digital - These watches show the time in hours, minutes and seconds on the watch face. These watches also come with extra features like depth sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS), altimeters, calculators, phone books and compasses.

Mechanical Watches

Mechanical watches are more expensive as there is more skill involved in building a mechanical watch than a quartz watch. They work using a series of gears and a spring which powers the gears.

There are two types of mechanical watches:

• Manual - These watches need winding the watch up by the wearer.
• Automatic - These watches use rotor swings that respond to movement which winds the mainspring that runs the watch. The watch may have a clear or partially clear display showing the rotor movements. By wearing the watch for more than 12 hours a day, the movement will keep the watch wound up. However if you don't wear it regularly, the watch will need to be wound up.

Which Watch Materials?

• Precious metals - For a classic look choose a watch and strap made of precious metals such as gold, sterling silver, platinum. For a bit of glitz watches and straps can include diamond highlights.
• Aluminium - Hardwearing durability is what aluminium watches are known for. They are also resistant to tarnish, rust, and corrosion.
• Stainless steel - Another durable material used by m any manufacturers for watch cases and bands.
• Carbon fibre - These watches have a dark colour to them and are quite hardwearing. Carbon fibre is used on watch casing and dials.
• Titanium - Mostly used for s ports watches that require a sturdy, strong material. Titanium watches are usually a white metal are light in weight. Titanium is 30 percent stronger than steel, and is resistant to corrosion. They normally have a coating to make them scratch resistant.
• Plastic and rubber - Sports and fashion watches are normally made of plastic and rubber. They are usually colourful and light in weight, yet quite sturdy. You may come across a watch with a face that appeals to you but you may not be too keen on the strap. What do you do? Well you always have the option of replacing the original strap for something more suitable and give the watch a different look.