Notes
Every page on the site
How-tos, explainers, comparisons, fixes and charts, newest first.
- Why some dive watches have helium valvesWhat a helium escape valve does, why saturation divers needed one, the difference between automatic and manual valves, and why most owners never use it.Explainer
- What is the Tissot Powermatic 80The Powermatic 80 is a Swatch Group automatic with an 80-hour power reserve. How it gets there, Nivachron and silicon versions, and which brands use it.Explainer
- What is Seiko 5 and why is it called thatSeiko 5 is named for five attributes: automatic winding, day-date, water resistance, a recessed 4 o'clock crown and a durable case. Here is what today's line offers.Explainer
- What makes a real dive watch: ISO 6425 explainedISO 6425 sets the tests a watch must pass to say DIVER'S on the dial: at least 100 m, an overpressure test, a timing bezel, night legibility and more.Explainer
- What is an automatic watch and how does it workHow an automatic watch works in plain terms: the rotor, mainspring, gear train, escapement and balance, plus why it needs no battery and how it differs from quartz.Explainer
- What is a field watchWhat makes a watch a field watch: military roots, simple high-contrast dials, 24-hour tracks and lume. Plus sizes, movements and how they compare with dive watches.Explainer
- What is a dress watchWhat makes a dress watch: modest size, slim case, simple dial and a leather strap. Rules of thumb, automatic options and how a Seiko 5 or Bambino fits in.Explainer
- Watch water resistance ratings explained: 30, 50, 100 and 200 mWhat 30 m, 50 m, 100 m, 200 m and 300 m water resistance ratings mean in real life, why 30 m is not 30 meters deep, and when a watch is truly a diver.Explainer
- Watch winder TPD settings by brand and movementHow to choose turns per day and rotation direction on a watch winder, where to find your movement's figure, and the TPD settings popular winders offer.Explainer
- Watch winder not turning: fixesWatch winder not turning? Check power, batteries, mode, rest cycles, lid sensors and the cushion before you assume the motor is dead or buy a new winder.Fix
- Watch size chart by wrist sizeA wrist size to watch size chart with case diameter and lug to lug ranges for wrists from under 6 to over 8 inches, plus how thickness and shape change fit.Explainer
- Watch lume explained: LumiBrite, Super-LumiNova and how to charge itHow watch lume works, LumiBrite vs Super-LumiNova vs tritium, why some dials glow all night and others fade fast, and how to charge lume properly.Explainer
- What 21, 23 and 24 jewels mean on a watchWhat jewels do in a mechanical watch, why a Seiko 5 says 21, 23 or 24 jewels, and why a higher jewel count is not a measure of quality or value.Explainer
- Tissot PRX vs Seiko PresageTissot PRX vs Seiko Presage compared: integrated bracelet vs patterned dial, movement, reserve, water resistance and price, from real listings.Comparison
- Tissot PRX vs Orient BambinoTissot PRX vs Orient Bambino for a first nice watch: steel sport vs classic dress automatic, size, movement, water resistance and price from listings.Comparison
- Tissot PRX vs Citizen TsuyosaTissot PRX vs Citizen Tsuyosa compared: sizes, movements, water resistance, crystals and price for two integrated bracelet automatics.Comparison
- Tissot PRX sizes: 35 mm and 40 mm on the wristTissot PRX sizes compared: 35 mm vs 40 mm, case thickness, bracelet fit, and why the integrated bracelet makes the PRX wear larger than its diameter.Explainer
- Tissot PRX quartz vs Powermatic 80Tissot PRX quartz vs Powermatic 80 automatic: power source, seconds hand sweep, thickness, reserve and price, with what the listings actually confirm.Comparison
- Skeleton vs open heart watches explainedAn open heart watch shows the balance wheel through a dial window; a skeleton cuts away the dial and movement. How they differ in view, legibility and price.Explainer
- Seiko vs Citizen automaticsSeiko vs Citizen automatic watches compared lineup by lineup, from Seiko 5 vs Tsuyosa to Prospex vs Promaster divers, using listing specs only.Comparison
- Seiko 5 Sports vs ProspexSeiko 5 Sports vs Prospex compared: diver's ratings, screw-down crowns, crystals and movements, using real SRPD59, SRPK01 and SRPL11 listings.Comparison
- Seiko 5 Sports vs PresageSeiko 5 Sports vs Presage compared: movements, water resistance, bezels, dials and price, using real SRPD59, SRPD63 and SRPG03 listings.Comparison
- Seiko 5 Sports size guide: 38, 40 and 42.5 mmSeiko 5 Sports case sizes compared: the 38 mm models, the 39.4 mm field watch and the 42.5 mm SKX style and GMT, with lug to lug and thickness where listed.Explainer
- Seiko 5 movements explained: 4R36, NH35 and 7S26Which movement your Seiko 5 uses and what it can do: hacking, hand winding, jewels and power reserve for the 4R36, 4R35, 4R34, NH35, NH36 and older 7S26.Explainer
- Orient vs Orient Star: is the step up worth itOrient vs Orient Star compared: accuracy, power reserve indicator, reserve, crystals and price, using Bambino, Kamasu and Orient Star listings.Comparison
- Magnetized watch: how to tell and fix itHow to tell if your automatic watch is magnetized with a simple compass test, how to use a demagnetizer safely, and how to keep it from happening again.Fix
- Lug width explained, with a strap size tableWhat lug width is, how to measure it with a ruler or calipers, and the strap widths of popular automatics like the Seiko 5, Orient Bambino and Kamasu.Explainer
- Lug to lug explained: the number that decides fitWhat lug to lug means, how to measure it, how it compares to case diameter and why a 40 mm diver can wear bigger than a 42 mm field watch.Explainer
- Is the Tissot PRX worth itWhat the Tissot PRX is, what PRX stands for, its strengths and common complaints, and the automatic watches buyers cross-shop against the PRX Powermatic 80.Explainer
- Is the Tissot PRX waterproofThe Tissot PRX is water resistant to 10 bar (100 m). What that means for swimming, showers and the beach, why it is not a dive watch, and when to check the crown.Explainer
- How to wind an automatic watchHow to hand wind an automatic watch, how many crown turns it takes, whether to wind it every day, and why you cannot overwind an automatic. Seiko 7S26 notes too.How-to
- How to wind a Seiko 5How to wind a Seiko 5: which models hand wind (4R36, 4R34), how to do it with the crown, and how to start older 7S26 Seiko 5s that cannot be hand wound.How-to
- How to use a watch winderHow to use a watch winder step by step: pre-wind the watch, fit the cuff, set turns per day and direction, then check it after a day. Plus how a winder works.How-to
- What is a GMT watch and how to use oneHow a GMT watch shows two or three time zones with a 24-hour hand and bezel, how to set home and local time, and true GMT vs caller GMT movements.How-to
- How to use a dive watch bezelHow to use the rotating bezel on a dive watch: line up the triangle, read elapsed time, and why the bezel only turns one way. Works for dives, parking and cooking.How-to
- How to store automatic watches when not wornLet an automatic stop, wind it weekly, or keep it on a winder. How to choose, and where to store watches away from magnets, heat and moisture.How-to
- How to start a stopped automatic watchGet a stopped automatic running again: hand wind it with the crown or swirl it gently, then set time and date in the safe order. Plus what to do if it stops again.How-to
- How to size a watch bracelet at homeRemove links from a watch bracelet at home: identify pin, screw or collar links, push them out safely, and work out how many links to remove.How-to
- How to set time and date on an automatic watchSet the time and date on an automatic watch in the safe order, avoid the 9 pm to 3 am date change zone, and get am and pm right on Seiko, Orient and Tissot.How-to
- How to measure your wrist for a watchMeasure your wrist with a tape, string or paper strip, then use the flat top of your wrist and lug to lug to pick a watch size that fits.How-to
- How to care for an automatic watchSimple habits that keep an automatic watch running well: winding, setting, water checks, cleaning, avoiding magnets and shocks, storage and service.How-to
- How often to service an automatic watchHow often an automatic watch needs a service, signs it is due, what a full service includes, and what affects the cost, so you can plan care for your watch.Explainer
- How long do automatic watches lastHow long an automatic watch lasts, what wears out first, how long Seiko automatics last, and the habits and services that keep one running for decades.Explainer
- How accurate should an automatic watch bePublished accuracy for Seiko, Orient, Miyota and COSC movements, what seconds per day really means, and when a fast or slow automatic needs attention.Explainer
- Hamilton Khaki Field vs MurphHamilton Khaki Field Automatic vs Khaki Field Murph 38mm: movement, size, water resistance and price from listings, plus what the listings leave out.Comparison
- Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical vs AutomaticHamilton Khaki Field Mechanical vs Automatic compared: H-50 vs H-10, hand winding, 80-hour reserve, water resistance, straps and listed prices.Comparison
- Hamilton Khaki Field 38mm vs 42mm: which size fitsHamilton Khaki Field Automatic 38mm vs 42mm: which size fits your wrist, what the listings confirm, and how to check lug to lug before you buy.Comparison
- Do you need a watch winderDo you need a watch winder for your automatic watch? When a winder saves time, when simply resetting the watch is fine, and what to look for if you buy one.Explainer
- Dive watch vs field watch: which one to wear every dayDive watch vs field watch for a one-watch collection: bezel, water resistance, size and lug to lug compared using real Seiko and Hamilton listings.Comparison
- Dive watch vs dress watchDive watch vs dress watch: thickness, dial, bezel, strap and water resistance compared, plus when a slim 38mm diver can cover both jobs.Comparison
- Dive watch straps: rubber, NATO, bracelet or leatherWhich dive watch strap suits water, heat and a dressier day: rubber, silicone, NATO, steel bracelet or leather, plus how to get the lug width and fit right.Explainer
- Automatic watch running fast or slow: fixesWhy an automatic watch runs fast or slow: magnetism, resting position, low power reserve or due service. How to check it and when regulation makes sense.Fix
- Power reserve explained: 40 hours vs 80 hoursWhat power reserve means on an automatic watch, how long a 40 or 80 hour movement keeps running off the wrist, and why it matters for watches you rotate.Explainer
- Automatic watch keeps stopping: causes and fixesWhy an automatic watch keeps stopping, overnight or when not worn: low activity, partial winding, magnetism or a worn mainspring, checked in order of likelihood.Fix
- Automatic vs quartz watches: what you actually give upAutomatic vs quartz watches compared on accuracy, battery vs self-winding, service intervals and cost, with real Hamilton and Tissot models side by side.Comparison
- Automatic vs manual wind watchesAutomatic vs manual wind watches compared: both are mechanical, but the rotor changes daily winding, thickness and the view through the case back.Comparison
- Automatic vs kinetic vs solar watchesAutomatic, kinetic and solar watches all avoid routine battery swaps. Compare how each is powered, accuracy, reserve and upkeep, with Seiko examples.Comparison
- Are watch winders bad for automatic watchesDo watch winders damage watches? How the slipping clutch prevents overwinding, the real wear trade off, magnetism concerns and settings that keep a winder safe.Explainer
- Are Orient watches goodAre Orient watches good? Who makes Orient, its in-house automatic movements, why the prices are low, how durable they are and when Orient Star is worth it.Explainer
- Are automatic watches worth itAre automatic watches worth it? What you get, what you give up versus quartz, why they cost more, and the service costs to plan for before you buy.Explainer