Before the First World War, most men carried pocket watches. But when millions of boys were sent to the trenches, these timepieces didn’t last long. Most were lost in the mud and the muck or were damaged during combat, which is why most soldiers had to ask their commanders for the time. You see, only the officers needed to know the time because they had to know when to schedule troop movements. As a result, they were often issued expensive wristwatches, which were called “officer” or “trench” watches by the men.

By the end of the war, most men wore wristwatches. As the industry grew, more and more specialty watches were offered for sale. These timepieces were designed for users that engaged in certain activities, such as flying (aviator watches), swimming (diving watches), or running (sport watches). They offered numerous sport-specific features that differentiated them for each other. While the technology of horology has come a long way over the past few years, watches are still defined by their features. In this article we will review some of the most popular features in men’s watches today.

Chronometer

A chronometer watch is one that has been tested to meet certain standards of precision. As a feature, the watch offers a basic stopwatch function. The user can start and stop the chronograph feature by pressing a single button. Another button will reset the hand. Most watches that offer this feature and have been passed through a battery of tests will have the word “chronometer” on the dial. These timepieces are quite popular with runners and swimmers.

Watch Crystals

A watch crystal is the cover that protects the watch face. It is commonly made of Plexiglas, mineral glass, or synthetic sapphire. Plexiglas is the cheapest of these materials, but it is also the most likely to scratch. Most inexpensive Quartz watches have Plexiglas watch crystals. Mineral glass doesn’t scratch quite as easily as Plexiglas, but it has been known to crack. Because it is the most expensive watch crystal, synthetic sapphire is typically found on high-end watches. It is almost completely scratch-resistant, but it has been known to crack or even shatter under extreme pressure.

Watch Strap

The three most popular materials for the watch strap are leather, rubber, and metal. Which is best? Well, it really does depend on what you will be using it for. If it is a dress watch that you intend to wear to the office or to formal occasions, then it is probably best to go with leather or other animal hides like alligator. If, however, it is a sport or outdoor watch, we prefer rubber. Not only is it far more durable than leather, but it is also cheaper to replace when damaged. Metal bands are perfect for casual wear and they do occasionally appear on dress watches.

Water Resistance

Most modern watches are water resistant, but only a small portion of them are actual diving watches. To be classified as a diving watch, a timepiece must be designed to survive at depths of up to 100 meters (330 feet).  But as you might expect, the bare minimum will not impress anyone in the diving community, which is why the average diving watch has a water resistance of at least 200 meters. A word of warning: there are many imitations on the market today. A real diving watch must meet minimum testing requirements and be in accordance with ISO 6425, an international standard for water resistance timepieces. Any watch that meets theses strict guidelines will be marked with the word “Diver’s” somewhere on the dial.

When watches are labeled as merely “water-resistant” this means that they can take a bit of splashing, but that they should not be submerged in water. In short, they are not diving watches, no matter how many meters or feet they claim to be water-resistant up to.

Second Hand

The second hand is a feature that is left off of some watches because it not important for most people to know the exact time. However, if you are using the watch to keep track of your running time or any other athletic or outdoor activity, it is a must.

Stopwatch

Even better than the secondhand is the stopwatch feature that is found on many sport watches. This feature works just like a regular stopwatch with the start, stop, and reset buttons.

Calendar Feature

The calendar window display is a feature that is available on most high-end wristwatches. It is not particularly practical, but some users simply like the way it looks. The standard calendar watch will tell you the date and the day of the week. There are even full calendar watches that can tell you the date, the day of the week, and the month.

Luminous Hands

Luminous means “to emit a glowing light,” so luminous watch hands glow in the dark. This is a popular feature on sport watches, especially those that are used by campers, hikers, and cyclists.

Watch Flap

One of the trendiest new features that we have encountered is a stainless steel flap that can be used to protect the watch face. Though it is most assuredly eye-catching, the flap is really more of a gimmick, since most outdoor watches have extremely durable watch covers or crystals.

GPS Feature

A far more contemporary feature than the calendar display is the Global Position System (GPS) feature. These watches offer a myriad of features, most of which are designed for outdoor enthusiasts like hikers, backpackers, climbers, cyclists, and runners. The navigational watches are typically used by hikers and campers who need to know where they are at all times. Just like the models that are designed for passenger cars, these devices can help users find their way back home when they wander off the beaten path. When worn by competitive athletes like runners and cyclists, the GPS feature can be used to keep track of speed, distance, elevation, and pace.

Knowing just what your options are can make finding the right watch a simple proposition. Find your perfect watch today with the help of these helpful descriptions.

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