Fast facts about the parts of a watch:

- the clear covering and its surrounding border is called a case

- metal, rubber, or other flexible materials make up the band

- the main dial on the side of the watch (either on top or on the side) is called a crown

Every man has a style they wish to emulate with their clothing, accessories, and personality. Timepieces are no exception and with all the options available today to work with your style you can practically pick and choose each option within various brands to get exactly what you want. And since the 15 ^th century when these accessories first appeared, our technology, adornments, and customization have skyrocketed. Below we review all the available areas you can personalize your timepiece style, including bands,face styles, and even numerals depicted in various luxury and active brands of watches.

Parts of the watch 101

First, let’s review the basic anatomy of the watch. In first grade, maybe even kindergarten, we learned the minute and hour hands of a clock, so let’s hope we can knock that out as a new piece of knowledge. But did you know the dial on the side of the watch is called a “crown”? Or did you know the typically metallic piece binding the clear watch cover to the backing was called a “case”? Knowing the finer points of a timepiece will help you determine what options you like and the way to search out that perfect wrist adornment.

Various watch cases/faces have been revolutionized since the late 1800's, and watch designers like Breitling, Hermes, Shinola, Michele, and Baume and Mercier have taken full advantage of all the unique styles each watch shape can provide. More on watch shapes and their history can be found here. 

Bands, bands, and more bands

• Alligator
• Calfskin
• Lambskin
• Silicone
• Steel
• Stainless steel
• Military grade textile fiber (exclusive to Breitling)

The band chosen should follow your style (by color and material), comfort level, and activity levels. A silicone band tends to be the preferred type for men that wear their watches while exercising or working outdoors. The silicone bands are as easy to clean and care for as they are to wear. Luminox timepieces commonly use silicone bands because they are some of the most rugged and easy to clean. Alligator, lambskin, and calfskin leather types are great for a classic and sleek look without the bulk that can be felt with a steel or stainless steel bands. However, leather bands (like those used in Breitling watches or Michele watches) are some of the trickiest to keep clean and are at risk for damage by water, household cleaning products, etc. In contrast, the metal bands are still a popular choice by watch wearers because of their beauty and durability. Lastly, having a watch with a well-crafted, high quality band will prevent the likelihood of a condition called “contact dermatitis”, essentially an  allergy to cheaper metals, like those used in lower quality jewelry. Raymond Weil is featured in this brief clip about the production of alligator leather watchbands, and it is easy to see that it is something that takes a lot of practice to learn.

The ‘face’ of style

Shapes:

• Round
• Square

It’s no question that round-faced timepieces are the most commonly found, however square-faced pieces are taking hold on the market as well, like the  Baume and Mercier Hampton watch. Some faces, like those of Shinola, are round with a square case to give the illusion of a more rigid face.

Crowns:

One to three dials for time adjustments to tachymeters and date revisions.

The adjustable dials are no longer something you will always find on the right of the face jutting into the wrists of the left-handed watch wearers, rather they can be found with a protected edge like those created by Detroit-made (and Swiss-trained) Shinola.

Some faces expose the inner workings of the timepiece, while others like the  Luminox Automatic timepieces have a simple, durable face with their patented Tritium technology for luminescence.

Number types:

Various number types are available, from numerals to simple dots. Shinola has bold Arial-like font with easy to read numbers 1-12. In contrast, the  Buccellati Audachron watch features roman numerals on the inner face to designate time, and outer numb

ers in a Time New Roman-type font that is used as a tachymeter.

Cost of luxury

From about $300 to well over $30,000 you can own a timepiece worthy of any stylish man’s wrist.  Woodrow Jewelers of Rye, NY can help get you the timepiece of your dreams that matches your needs and personality.