Watch 101

Why are mechanical watches so expensive? Mechanical vs quartz: which is better? Automatic vs manual winding: what is the difference? How accurate are mechanical watches? Why are mechanical watches less accurate than quartz? Should my first luxury watch be a Rolex? What are the "Holy Trinity" watch brands? What size watch should I buy? Lug-to-lug vs diameter: which matters? Can I shower with my watch? What is a sapphire crystal? Why do watches have crowns?

What is a tourbillon? What is a flying tourbillon? What is a chronograph? What is a flyback chronograph? What is a perpetual calendar? What is an annual calendar? What is a moonphase complication? What is a minute repeater? What is power reserve? GMT vs world time: what is the difference? What is <a href="/watch-calibers/spring-drive-9r65-9r86/">Spring Drive</a>? What is a balance wheel? What is a hairspring? (Nivarox, silicon, Parachrom, Spiromax) What is a co-axial escapement? What is a deadbeat seconds (true beat / jumping seconds)?

What is a sandwich dial? What is a meteorite dial? What is a guilloché dial? What is a tachymeter? Unidirectional vs bidirectional bezel?

What does "COSC certified" mean? Chronometer vs COSC vs METAS? Water resistance: 30m vs 100m vs 200m vs 300m? How often should you service a mechanical watch? How much does a watch service cost? Should I buy a pre-owned watch? What is "NOS" (New Old Stock)? What is full-set vs. naked? Where should I buy a luxury watch? What is the grey market? What is an authorised dealer (AD)? Why are some watches so hard to buy? How long does it take to receive a Rolex? How do I authenticate a Rolex? Should I get a watch winder? How should I store my watches? How do I avoid being targeted by watch robbers? Can I take my watch on a plane?

Should I polish my vintage watch? What is a tropical dial? What is patina vs damage? What is a relume vs original lume? What is "fauxntage" (faux-vintage)?

Rolex vs Tudor: what is the difference? Why is the Rolex Submariner so popular? Why is the Patek Nautilus so expensive? Why is the AP Royal Oak so hard to buy? What was the quartz crisis? Who is Gérald Genta? Who is Abraham-Louis Breguet? What does "Swiss Made" mean? What is the Geneva Seal? What is the Patek Philippe Seal?

What is anglage? What is Côtes de Genève? Why are some watches made of titanium? What is ceramic used for in watchmaking? What is Cerachrom? What is Super-LumiNova? Platinum vs white gold: what is the difference?

What is the <a href="/watch-calibers/eta-2824-2/">ETA 2824</a>? What is the <a href="/watch-calibers/valjoux-7750/">Valjoux 7750</a>? In-house vs third-party movements? What is a column wheel? What is a helium escape valve? What is a jewel bearing?

Are watches a good investment? Which watches hold their value best? Why do some watches sell above retail? What is the "Hodinkee effect"? Should I buy a vintage watch?