Get to know the watch on your wrist

Understanding Your Meridian Watch: A Comprehensive Guide

What makes your Meridian watch truly exceptional? At Meridian Watches, we believe that knowledge empowers you to appreciate the intricate craftsmanship of your timepiece. We've put together a concise glossary to demystify the terminology behind the myriad of features found in our watches. Take a few moments to explore and understand the elements that contribute to a Meridian watch's timeless appeal and enduring quality, perfectly complementing your evolving style. If you're new to the world of horology, this simple glossary will serve as your essential reference point. This is time well spent, trust us.

Watch Terminology

General Terms:

• Aperture: A small window on the watch dial that displays specific information, such as the date, day, or month.

• Band: In the context of watches, "band" refers to the bracelet or strap that secures the timepiece to your wrist.

• Bezel: This is the ring that encircles the crystal lens on the upper part of a watch. Often crafted from premium metals like stainless steel, gold, or gold-plate, it holds the crystal firmly in place.

• Case: The protective enclosure for the watch's intricate movement, contributing significantly to its aesthetic appeal. Meridian watch cases are available in various elegant shapes.

• Caseback: The underside of your Meridian watch that rests against your skin. Some Meridian models feature a transparent crystal caseback, allowing you to admire the beautiful movement within.

• Chronograph: A stopwatch function integrated into a watch, allowing you to measure intervals of time. Many Meridian chronograph watches offer this precise feature.

• Crown: A typically fluted button located on the side of the watch case. When pulled out, it's used to set the time and, on some models, adjust the calendar. A screw-down crown enhances water resistance and protects against dust.

• Crystal: The clear cover that safeguards the watch dial. Meridian watches utilize high-quality crystals made from glass or sapphire. Some crystals are treated with non-reflective coatings to minimize glare.

  • Mineral Crystals: Our heat-hardened glass crystals are highly scratch-resistant, though deep scratches may require replacement.

  • Sapphire Crystals: Found on many of our premium Meridian watches, sapphire crystals are exceptionally hard and virtually scratch-proof, second only to diamonds in durability. While incredibly tough, they can be more brittle than mineral glass.

• Dial: The face of the watch, often with a metal base, visible through the crystal. It displays indications such as hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds.

• Gold Plating: An electrodeposited layer of gold applied to watch components. Its thickness is measured in microns.

• Hand: The indicators that sweep across the dial, pointing to the hours, minutes, or seconds. Meridian watches typically feature three hands for precise time display.

• Horology: The fascinating science dedicated to the measurement of time.

• Hour Markers: Numerals (Arabic or Roman) or symbols positioned around the dial to indicate the hours.

• Lugs: Also known as horns, these are the projections on the watch case between which the strap or bracelet is attached using a spring bar. Meridian's design ensures seamless integration of straps with our watch cases.

• Luminescence: The property of emitting light. Meridian watches often feature luminescent material on numbers and hands, allowing you to read the time in low-light conditions.

• Movement: The intricate internal mechanism of a Meridian watch responsible for keeping accurate time and powering all its functions.A Movement can be quartz or mechanical.

• PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition): A sophisticated coating applied to the watch case for aesthetic purposes, such as adding color like gold, rose gold, or black. This advanced process contributes to the value of our specially coated Meridian timepieces.

• Tongue/Tang: A movable metal piece within a buckle that fits into holes on a leather strap, securing it.

• Water Resistance: The ability of your Meridian watch to withstand water exposure. This indicates the depth it can endure underwater. "ATM" refers to the atmospheric pressure a watch can resist. For instance, a Meridian watch with 10 ATM can withstand 100 meters of water pressure.

• Screw Back: A caseback that screws into the watch case, providing enhanced sealing and protection.

• Small Seconds Dial: A subsidiary dial where the seconds are displayed by a dedicated hand, separate from the main time display.

• Spring Bar: A spring-loaded metal bar used to attach the strap or bracelet to the watch case lugs. All Meridian leather straps feature a reliable spring bar mechanism for easy attachment.

• Strap: A non-metal band, typically made of leather or rubber, that secures the watch to your wrist. Metal versions are referred to as bracelets.

• Sub-Dial: A smaller dial positioned within the main watch dial. Meridian watches may feature multiple sub-dials providing additional information such as chronographs, alarms, dual time zones, or calendar functions.

We hope this guide enhances your appreciation for the meticulous engineering and timeless design that goes into every Meridian watch. Explore our collections and find the perfect timepiece that speaks to your style and passion for precision.