All wound up with watch queries? Time n Style helps you unwind

Send us your queries on timenstyle@indiatimes.com

What is a bezel?
Ravi Khanna, Ahmedabad
The bezel is the topmost ring of the watch, which surrounds the dial of the watch. It can either be fixed or, like in the case of a diver’s watch, it can be rotating. The bezel may be plain or it can be marked with, for example, a 0-60 minute scale in the case of a diver’s watch. The older rotating bezels were usually bi-directional. The modern diving watches are equipped with a unidirectional bezel.

Do you have any suggestions on how to charge my solar watch? Also, what can I do to conserve its battery power?
Rachel Thomas, Mumbai
Your solar watch will be sufficiently charged as long as it is exposed to indoor and outdoor lighting as much as possible throughout the day. However, charging your watch under very hot conditions, such as keeping it close to a source of intense heat, can lead to malfunction or burn injury. Do not, under any circumstances, keep it in an area that’s exposed to long periods of direct sunlight. But remember that the charging efficiency is degraded if any part of the solar cell is blocked. To conserve its battery power, use the light, alarm and other power-hungry features only when you really need them.

What is the purpose of a decorated movement?
Priya K, Delhi
Sometimes watch movements are highly decorated, for instance with Geneva stripes and blued screws. However, this is done purely for aesthetic purposes and does not in any way improve the function of the watch. What it does do is indicate the fine finishing and attention to detail that’s gone into the construction of the watch. Some watches flaunt their decorated movements through the use of a display back.

How should I wind my manual watch? Do automatic watches ever require winding?
Akash Parekh, Mumbai
In the case of a manual watch, try to wind it at the same time everyday. It is probably best wound in the morning, as you will have optimum power throughout the day. Wind your watch slowly and consistently. Do not exert extra force since you could damage the mainspring itself or the components in the escapement. You will know if your watch is fully wound when you feel the resistance as the mainspring tightens.

An automatic watch only requires winding if it has stopped working. The cheaper automatics do not have a manual winding capability. In this case, swing the watch gently in an arc for a minute or so to get the watch running. If the watch does have a winding capability, give it gentle and slow turns of the winder. Now the normal arm motion should be enough to keep the watch wound.

My watch says anti-magnetic on the back, what does that mean?
Homi Mistry, Thane
Most watches are anti-magnetic to some degree. It means that they will stand exposure to limited magnetic fields without impacting the timekeeping function adversely. There are some watches, however, that are specially built to withstand high magnetic fields. Every mechanical watch comprises a lot of metal parts. All these components are interacting with each other in some way. If any of these become magnetised then the watch will either run very erratically or stop altogether. One way to prevent this is to avoid taking your watch too close to magnets, stereo speakers, computer monitors, etc. If you are unlucky, a competent watchmaker should have the equipment to demagnetise the watch.

I’ve scratched the crystal of my watch. Can I polish it?
Soham, Delhi
In case your watch has an acrylic or plastic crystal, the answer’s yes. It can be done using different compounds like Brasso or specialist polishes such as Polywatch. If you are going in for toothpaste, it is advisable to go for the smoker’s variety. A little of your selected polishing compound on a soft cloth can be rubbed on the crystal in circular motions. Deeper scratches require more effort; it is necessary to follow the line of the scratch first and then go on for the circular motion.

In case of a mineral crystal, avoid polishing this yourself unless you have access to some optical lens polishing equipment. Instead just get a new crystal fitted. A sapphire crystal is really difficult to scratch. However, diamonds are known to do it so avoid contact with such jewellery. In case you do manage to scratch your sapphire crystal, then you just have to go in for a new one - it is not that expensive.