Tuesday, November 29, 2011

An Overview of Nautica Watches

!±8± An Overview of Nautica Watches

Nautica watches reflect the style and strength that has defined the brand since 1983. Founded by David Chu, the company started out with a small line of men's sailing jackets. Despite these small beginnings, Nautica quickly gained popularity and added more items to its increasingly impressive catalogue. The company was bought by the VF Corporation in 2003, but that did nothing to change the company's dedication to cutting-edge craftsmanship.

Even the brand name itself speaks to Nautica's purposeful design goals. Derived from the Latin word "Nauticus," which translates to ship, Nautica's apparel and accessories strive to capture the feeling of excitement and adventure that has always been associated with the sea, only with a modern day and land-friendly flair. To recreate this sensation, Nautica apparel is made to take individuals to the brink of their very own adventures, whether it be in the great outdoors, the open sea, or the corporate landscape.

It was not until 1994 that Nautica introduced watches to its arsenal of fashion designs. Since their inception, Nautica watches have been designed to be both fashionable and functional, with a particular focus on classically attractive sportswear watches. The majority of watches from Nautica are geared toward men, featuring large faces, usually with multiple sub-dials to provide extra information. In addition to this, most Nautica watches come equipped with extra perks, such as waterproofing or lighting. While Nautica's entire line of watches are crafted to hold up to the elements, many of the watches also transition well to the work place. With sleek features and classic elements, they can be worn in a variety of contexts.

Though most of the watches from Nautica are especially geared toward men, the brand also carries a few women's watches in its catalogue as well. Even though the selection of women's watches is far less vast, Nautica watches for women feature the same quality and durability, with an added touch of elegance.

While these characteristics define Nautica watches on a whole, it should be noted that the range of individual styles is quite expansive, especially for men. In order to cater to a variety of stylistic preferences and lifestyles, Nautica watches come in various shapes and in a number of materials. With leather bands, metal bracelets, and even resin straps, it is easy to find a watch that fits comfortably, no matter what one's personal taste may be.

Along with these features, Nautica offers much customer support for those who purchase these watches. Considered to be real pieces of jewellery, all Nautica watches can be serviced at official Nautica service centers around the world, which are equipped to handle watch repairs, including everything from lengthening a band to replacing a battery. In addition to a limited five year warranty, Nautica encourages its watch owners to register their watches on the company website, in order to keep up to date with maintenance and product information.

Overall, Nautica watches tend be affordable, high quality options, designed to be there no matter what adventure one's life becomes.


An Overview of Nautica Watches

Shop Aperion Speaker Good Young Life Mixers

Thursday, November 24, 2011

How a Mechanical Watch Works

!±8± How a Mechanical Watch Works

The first watches did not wind automatically. They did not light up with digital numbers, nor did they tell the date or have alarms that could be set. These completely mechanical watches didn't need batteries either, but they did need to be "powered" somehow. In order to keep on going, a mechanical watch needs to be wound regularly -- usually once per day. So why would people today opt for a mechanical watch in this age of inexpensive quartz and digital watches? It's all about aesthetics and an appreciation for the art of watch making.

What Makes a Watch Mechanical?

For a watch to be completely mechanical it must not only run by means of a wound spring and set of gears, but these must be powered by mechanical means. This is different from a quartz watch which also ticks off time by the movement of gears, but keeps those gears moving through the energy of a quartz crystal. With a mechanical watch the energy to move the gears is powered by the winding of the mainspring. When the spring is fully wound on a typical mechanical watch the watch will keep accurate time for about 40 hours. There are more complex mechanical watches that can keep time for much longer with a full wind of the mainspring. Automatic watches are also considered mechanical watches, but the movement of the wearer's wrist is able to activate the winding, hence the name automatic watches.

The same basic design of a mechanical watch is not all that different today than it was half a century ago. The intricate workings of a mechanical watch involves more than a dozen types of screws and about 40 more wheels, springs, plates, balances, and jewels -- and that doesn't even include the case, face or strap! All of these tiny parts go into making the precise movement of a mechanical watch. However, at the heart of the finer watch movement are the jewels.

The Hidden Jewels in Every Mechanical Watch

The jewels are named as such because they are literally jewels -- specifically rubies. Genuine rubies were once used because they are made of crystallized aluminum oxide. This is a very hard material with a smooth, slippery surface that allows the wheel pivots to move in a consistent, constant manner as powered by a wound mainspring. This also keeps the steel wheel pivots from wearing down from the friction of the movement. Today, synthetic rubies are used in numbers ranging from 5 to 35 jewels depending on the complexity of the movement. At one time, manufacturers believed more jewels were better, but have settled in with about 4-8 jewels being the most efficient way to power the mainspring.

How All of the Components Work Together

If you were to open the back of a mechanical watch you would see the ticking off of the mainspring. This is wound using the stem winder that sticks out from the watch's encasement, also know as the crown. The first mechanical watches used an oscillating balance wheel and spring as the time base. This was then replaced with a tuning fork that acts as the resonator to move the gears at the appropriate rate. These in turn move the hands on the face of the watch at right increments.

Caring For Your Mechanical Watch

A finely crafted mechanical watch can last a lifetime and even be the type of heirloom that gets passed from one generation to the next. In order to keep your mechanical watch functioning well it is important to take it to a watchmaker every 3 to 5 years to have it lubricated and cleaned of dust and debris. You want to keep a mechanical watch completely dry. When you take it in for its routine service, be sure to have the case checked for any cracks where water might get in. Water can be especially damaging to the steel parts of the watch including the escape wheel and anchor escapement.

A mechanical watch never needs batteries and a good one can keep time accurately to within 2-3 seconds per day (not as accurate as a cheaper quartz watch which is accurate to 0.5 seconds per day). Mechanical watches are typically purchased because of their appearance and the timeless craftsmanship that goes into them. Most people today have several types of watches in their wardrobe of accessories, so adding a mechanical watch is one way to balance yours out with a truly classic style.


How a Mechanical Watch Works

Promotional Abs By Allen Schwartz Chiffon Huggies Wipes Coupons Printable Coupon


Twitter Facebook Flickr RSS



Fran�ais Deutsch Italiano Portugu�s
Espa�ol ??? ??? ?????







Sponsor Links