Bezel (Watch)
A bezel is a component in watches that frames and secures the watch crystal, often featuring functional or decorative elements.
- Part of speech
- noun
- Definition
- In watchmaking, the term "bezel" refers to the ring that surrounds the face of the watch and holds the crystal (or glass) in place. It can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, or ceramic, depending on the watch's design and purpose. Bezels can be either stationary, serving a purely aesthetic role, or rotatable, offering additional functionalities such as tracking elapsed time or serving as a compass. Rotatable bezels are particularly common in diver's watches, where they are used to measure underwater time intervals safely. The design and functionality of a bezel can significantly influence the overall look and utility of a watch, making it a critical feature for both fashion and professional use.
- How it looks
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Watch bezels serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. Functionally, they can help in tracking time, compass directions, or calculating speed, while aesthetically, they add a design element and can protect the watch face.
Dive watches have rotating bezels to help divers track their immersion time. The bezel is rotated to align the zero mark with the minute hand at the start of a dive, allowing divers to easily monitor the elapsed time underwater to manage their oxygen use safely.
The numbers on a watch bezel can serve various functions depending on the type of watch. For example, on a dive watch, the numbers indicate the elapsed time during a dive, while on a chronograph with a tachymeter bezel, they can be used to calculate speed based on travel time or measure distance based on speed.
The rotating bezel on a watch is primarily used as a timing tool, allowing the wearer to measure elapsed time by rotating the bezel to align with the minute hand. It is commonly found on divers' watches to track immersion time safely.
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