WRISTWATCH GENRES
Chronograph: A type of watch that features an additional stopwatch function in addition to the main time. A chronograph can be either quartz or mechanical (or a hybrid of the two) and is activated via a set of pushers protruding from the side of the case. Flyback Chronograph: A type of chronograph that can be reset without stopping the chronograph function (which is necessary in a normal chronograph). It’s particularly useful among pilots and other users who need to record multiple times in quick succession. Rattrapante Chronograph: Also called a double chronograph or split-seconds chronograph, this adds an additional seconds hand and pusher to the standard chronograph function. The additional seconds hand moves in sync with the standard seconds hand, but stops when the extra pusher is depressed, allowing the user to record two times at once. Field Watch: Iterations of early wartime watches form this category. They are generally recognized as being sturdy and austere, with a bold and clearly legible face. They are sometimes referred to as officer’s watches.
Dive Watch: A dive watch is a water-resistant watch, but not all water-resistant watches are dive watches. True dive watches should meet a specific standard for diving like ISO 6425, which requires the watch to be water-resistant to at least 200 meters, feature a unidirectional rotating bezel and some form of illumination. GMT: Though it stands for Greenwich Mean Time, a watch referred to as a GMT has the ability to track two time zones at once. Originally developed by Rolex for pilots in the ’50s, they’re particularly useful for any frequent flyer. Pilot Watch: Watches designed to meet the needs of aircraft pilots. Ideally, pilot watches have a distinct dial layout that is inspired from the German flieger watches used by german pilots in World War 2. These watches also have a large diamond shaped crown that helped the pilots make adjustments to their watches with their gloves on. Different iterations of pilot watches will feature rotating bezels (like diver’s watches), logarithmic slide rules, and a flyback function (ability to reset stopwatch with one button push).
World timer: A watch with a dial that can be adjusted to show the time in 24 different time zones represented by 24 major cities across the globe. (See some of our favorite world time watches here.) Dress Watch: A dress watch needs to be simplistic. Elegant. And above all, minimalistic. It isn’t some gaudy watch that’s bejeweled with diamonds or a chronograph that is so big it looks like a clock. It is subtle, understated and charming. They aren’t intended to be worn with jeans and a t-shirt; to the gym; or beach shorts and floral printed shirts. They are meant to pair with your business suit, your dinner jacket, and a tuxedo. Fashion Watch: This is a term that comes with great disdain in serious horological communities. A fashion watch is a watch sold by a fashion company that doesn’t make its own watches. These watches look beautiful but are made with low grade materials and often powered by questionable movements. It’s the brand name of the Fashion company that sells this watch, not the functionality of the watch or watchmaking pedigree of the manufacturer. These watches can get very expensive but will often be sold as low as 70% off during clearance sales.
Graduation Project | Titan Vision Next: Explorations in Recrafting the Watch Proposition | 37
