Types of pocket watches and names of parts
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Pocket Watch Types (Case Shape)
Open Face
This style of pocket watch has no cover and the dial is covered only by a crystal.
It is easy to check the time immediately, making it convenient and the most common type.
Hunter Case
This style of pocket watch has covers on both the front and back of the watch.
It is said to have originated from adding covers to prevent the crystal from breaking during hunting, and is also called a hunting case or full hunter.
The front cover is designed to open when the crown is pressed.
Because the exterior surface area is large, many have decorations such as engravings on the case.
Half Hunter Case
This style of pocket watch has a small window in the center of the front cover of a hunter case.
It is also called a demi-hunter case or Napoleon case.
The time can be checked through the small window without opening the cover, and there are also indices around the small window.
The name Napoleon case is said to have come from the anecdote that Napoleon Bonaparte, who was so busy that he didn't have time to open the watch cover, used it.
Component Names (Exterior)
This is a list of the names of the parts of the pocket watch that can be seen from the outside, such as the case and dial.
The names may differ from country to country, but here we cover the most representative ones.
Case-Related
| Component Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Crown (Windlass) |
This part is used to wind the mainspring and set the time. It is not found on key-wound watches. In English, it is also called a crown. It also serves as the button to open the cover of a hunter case. Because it is often moved by turning or pulling, it is a part that frequently experiences wear and failure. |
| Bow | This is the ring part for attaching an Albert chain or cord. This is also a part that frequently experiences wear and damage. |
| Stem | This is the base part for attaching the crown or bow. |
| Pendant | This is the name of the part that combines the crown, bow, and stem. The method of pulling out the crown to set the time is also called a stem-set or pendant-set. |
| Crystal | This is a part to protect the dial. There are glass (mineral glass) and plastic (acrylic glass) ones. Glass has higher transparency, but it is easier to break or chip. Plastic ones are harder to break and prone to scratches, but small scratches can be polished out with a polishing agent. The crystal of a hunter case is thin because it is placed between the cover, making it easy to break. In the case of a half hunter case, the small window of the cover also has a crystal. |
| Bezel | This is a ring-shaped part for fitting the crystal. |
| Lip | This is the part where you hook a nail or opener (pry tool) when opening the bezel or back cover. There are cases where there is no lip and only a slight gap. |
| Cover (Front Cover) | This is the cover on the dial side of the hunter case and half hunter case. Its purpose is to prevent the crystal glass from breaking. It is designed to open when the crown is pressed. |
| Back Cover | This is the cover on the opposite side of the dial. It may be opened when viewing the movement (mechanism). There are ones without hinges, and screw-back types called screw backs. In cases where the mechanism is exposed from the front, such as swing-out, there may be no back cover. |
| Hinge | This is the part that connects the case, cover, and back cover, and serves as the hinge when opening and closing. In the case of a hunter case or half hunter case, a spring is installed so that the cover opens easily by pressing the button. |
| Dust Cover (Inner Cover) |
This is the cover between the back cover and the movement (mechanism) to protect the movement (mechanism) from dust and water. Some do not have one. Exhibition logos or the owner's name are often engraved here. Rarely, some are skeletonized so that the mechanism can be easily seen. |
| Button (Stud) |
This is found on watches with a time-setting method called nail-set (stud-set). By pressing the small button with a nail or similar tool while turning the crown, you can set the time. It is commonly seen on watches from around 1900. |
| Lever (Sword) *Photo below |
This is found on watches with a time-setting method called lever-set (sword-set). By pulling out the lever and turning the crown, you can set the time. There are also types where you slide it without pulling it out. It is commonly used in railway clocks. |
Dial-Related
| Component Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Dial (Face) |
This is the part where numbers and brand names are engraved, forming the face of the watch. There are porcelain (ceramic), enamel, and metal ones. |
| Indices | This is the part where numbers from 1 to 12 and other markings are engraved on the dial. In addition to Arabic numerals and Roman numerals, there are various designs such as dots and bars. |
| Hour and Minute Hands | The long hand indicates the minutes, and the short hand indicates the hours. There are hands in various designs. |
| Small Seconds | This is the part where the second hand rotates to indicate the seconds, also known as small seconds. Most antique pocket watches have this type, except for some watches such as chronographs. Some small and old watches do not have a second hand. |
The basic names are the same as wristwatches, but there are also pocket watch-specific parts such as pendants and covers.
The time-setting methods, indices, hand types, and other details will be explained in a separate article in the future.
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