FAQ

Movements

What is the difference between a quartz watch and an automatic watch?

A quartz watch runs on a battery that makes a quartz crystal vibrate: very accurate, very slim, very little maintenance. An automatic watch runs on a spring wound by a rotor that your wrist movements set in motion: no battery, but lower accuracy. Neither is superior — they answer different expectations.

Does an automatic watch need a battery?

No. It draws its energy from your movements. If you set it down, it stops once its power reserve runs out, which is around 40 hours on the Seiko NH35 and Miyota 8215 calibres we offer.

How do I start a stopped automatic watch?

Turn the crown clockwise about twenty times to wind the spring, then set the time and date. Wear it for a few hours afterwards and the rotor will take over.

What accuracy can I expect?

Expect roughly -20 to +40 seconds per day on our automatic models. A quartz stays within a few seconds per month. A thirty-second daily variation on an automatic is not a fault.

What is a meca-quartz movement?

It's the principle behind the Seiko VK63 fitted to several of our chronographs: timekeeping is electronic, but the chronograph is triggered mechanically. The hand snaps back to zero as on a mechanical chronograph, for the price and accuracy of a quartz.

Water resistance and care

What does 100 metres of water resistance actually allow?

Water resistance figures correspond to static pressure in a laboratory, not a diving depth. In practice: 30 metres (3 bar) handles rain and hand washing; 50 metres (5 bar) tolerates a careful shower; 100 metres (10 bar) allows surface swimming; 200 metres (20 bar) suits heavy water use. In all cases, never operate the crown underwater and check that it is screwed down.

Why sapphire glass rather than mineral glass?

Synthetic sapphire is considerably harder than mineral glass and therefore resists everyday scratches far better — keys, door handles, desk edges. It's what keeps a watch looking new after two years. All our watches have it.

Can I swim with a leather strap?

No, even if the case is water resistant to 100 metres. It's the leather that degrades from repeated contact with water and perspiration, not the movement. Take the watch off, or switch to a steel or rubber strap.

How do I change a strap?

Check the lug width given on the product page — 17, 20 or 22 mm depending on the model — and choose a strap in that size. Most of our watches use standard spring bars, replaceable with a tool costing a few euros.

How do I look after a mechanical watch?

Wear it regularly, avoid strong magnetic fields (speakers, magnetic bag clasps) and plan a service every five to seven years if you want to keep it for a long time.