The specificities of your watch

A fixed bezel surrounding the crystal is often decorative, but it can also serve a specific function, such as a tachymeter.

On diving watches, the bezel includes a 60-minute scale to monitor air consumption. It is unidirectional to avoid any errors that could delay the ascent. This is particularly the case for our OCEAN model from the MUREX brand.

When not intended for diving, a bidirectional bezel offers added convenience. GMT bezels, which display the time in a second time zone, rotate in either direction for quicker adjustment.

The internal bezel has the advantage of being less subject to shocks. It is often adjusted by an external crown which can lock it in one position.

Modern watches typically feature a colorless synthetic sapphire, also called corundum, which offers superior scratch resistance to most other crystals.

Before the advent of synthetic sapphires, manufacturers mainly used acrylic for crystals. For strength, these were often thick and domed, making them easily recognizable.

Due to the lack of space on the dial, the date can be difficult to read. This is why some watches are equipped with a magnifying glass above the date to make it easier to read.

Since an automatic movement is a true work of art, some people want to admire it. That's why some quality watches have a sapphire case back, allowing you to admire the movement from the back while protecting it.

A radial texture extending from the center of the dial outwards creates a striking, almost holographic visual effect, subtly playing with light and shadow.

The "structured" dial is a technical feat, where the effect is generated by the relief of squares engraved in the metal. This design is found on our PRESTIGE model from Mercury.

Sometimes a movement is so beautiful that it doesn't deserve to be hidden by an opaque dial. So, the latter is often partially cut away to reveal the beauty of the complex mechanism hidden behind.

This numeral system, devised by the Romans from an older Etruscan system, is noted for using the letters of the alphabet and not including a symbol representing zero.

This type of marker, designed to improve the readability of diving watches, does not have numbers, but simple shapes, often in relief, on which luminous paint is sometimes applied.

It was after the fall of the Roman Empire in 300 AD that the Arabic numeral system spread. With the introduction of zero, this system revolutionized mathematics.

Baton hands, characteristic of the most classic models, are distinguished by their slender and elegant shape, often made from precious metals. They are frequently found on vintage watches, generally with smaller dials. When they are particularly thin, they are called "fil hands".

Glaive-type hands are distinguished by their pointed, tapered shape, reminiscent of a sword blade. This bold design, often found on modern or sports watches, offers both readability and visual impact.

The dauphine needle, both thick and very readable, is located between the thread needle and the lance needle. It perfectly combines clarity and elegance, and can sometimes be covered with luminous paint.

This type of hand, developed for diving watches, was designed to provide optimal distinction between minutes and hours, particularly on sports models.

A manual movement is a mechanical movement powered by a main spring, which must be manually wound every two days to maintain its tension.

Like the manual movement, the automatic movement is a mechanical mechanism, but it winds itself automatically thanks to a rotor which captures the energy of the movements of the wrist.

This movement is powered by a precise battery, whose innovative technology and low cost have almost made the mechanical watch disappear. Quartz watches thus represent a more affordable alternative.

Watch movements are usually assembled between laminated plates that hide the moving parts. Skeleton movements were designed to reveal the workings of all the parts of the mechanism.

Soft and comfortable, leather comes in a variety of styles, from natural suede to gold-tone Cordoba leather. However, most of these straps are not water-resistant.

Typical of the sporty style, the rubber strap is both comfortable and very durable. It is a lighter alternative to the stainless steel strap.

Metal bracelets, made of assembled metal links, combine elegance and robustness. In stainless steel or precious metals, they give the watch both solidity and style.

Simple and elegant, the pin buckle looks like a belt buckle. The strap is inserted into it and held in place by the mechanism.

This is the perfect buckle for those looking for both the comfort of a bracelet and the tactile feel of a clip-on clasp. The deployant locks and unlocks from one side only, offering greater simplicity.

This is a type of buckle similar to the simple folding clasp, but with two flaps. Often used with a metal bracelet, it adapts better to the wrist for a more comfortable wear.

On diving watches, whose main function is to indicate the immersion time, the "flip lock" clasp provides additional security thanks to its clip-on safety tab.