If you are a watch enthusiast you must have heard the term “Bezel”, perhaps or perhaps not? In both cases, we are going to put an end to this question. Here we will provide a complete guide on the diver watch bezel.
If you are still confused about what bezel means, then the answer is it is the part of the watch. In most watches, it is plain but if you own the watch with advanced features then it comes up with a cool feature.
In this post, we’ll go through what a watch bezel is, what it does, and how to use each form.
What is a Watch Bezel?
A bezel is an upper circle that covers the crystal on a watch. Others can clip or lock on to a watch, while others are stationary and will move uni- or bi-directionally. Every watch has a bezel if it’s a small ring around the crystal or a strip of ceramic that holds a scale.
There are several different types of bezels, and they’re being combined with specific complexities and features. These bezels are rarely decorative, however, and each is crafted with a particular purpose in mind.
History of the Bezel
Watchmakers determined in the 1950s that it is best to install a bezel in a watch. As it was the ideal location to install features without dramatizing the watch movement. Since the 1930s, technological bezels have been used on watches. Rolex, in fact, fitted a revolving bezel to the Zero-graph, a very unusual timepiece. The revolving bezel has since become a standard feature on all dive watches. It has made it into ISO 6425, the international standard that governs what is called a dive watch.
Longines is another company that chose to include a bezel with a scale. Charles Lindbergh produced a constant Atlantic crossing, and his Longines watch served as a guiding tool. An internally revolving bezel was being used so that it could be adjusted and held accurately when listening to the radio beeps and trying to align the dial to the signals. The Longines Legend Diver pays homage to the iconic 1960s dive watch with an internal rotating bezel, identical to the Lindbergh.
The architecture and fishing expedition of bezels is influenced by World War II. Military watches with luminescent dials, as well as aircraft timepieces with slide rule bezels and a GMT feature, emerged as a result of this era.
Types of Watch Bezel and How to Use them
There are a variety of watch bezels available in the market, below we are going to discuss some. Not only this we are also going to cast light on how to use them without any difficulty.
1. Plain or Decorative Bezel – The very first one on our list is plain bezel also known as a decorative bezel. A plain bezel is one with a set and has no other purpose. The simple bezel could be made entirely of regular metal. It may also have a color or other patterns such as engravings, studs jewels, and other embellishments. As we have mentioned it doesn’t have any other functions so there is no need to focus on the “how to use plain bezel” part.
2. Count-Up Bezel – The count-up bezel was the first watch bezel to have a specific feature. This kind of bezel is usually seen on dive watches. The minutes of time elapsed are shown by a scale ranging from 0 to 60. The scale on the bezel is matched with the minute’s markers on the device while in the reference spot. The count-up bezel can only be rotated in the opposite direction. This is done so that if the bezel is mistakenly moved when diving, the time remaining is also reduced. This is a protective mechanism that ensures that if the bezel is inadvertently shifted, you will get more air in the tank rather than less.
Setting Up Count-Up Bezel – It is very easy to set up the bezel, all you need to do is adjust the bezel until the zero points are matched with the minute side, which is normally defined by an arrow. By finding the minute hand, you would be able to determine the elapsed time. The figure on the bezel to which the minute hand is pointed counts the set of minutes before you fixed the bezel.
3. Countdown Bezel – As the name speaks volumes, it is used for countdown purposes. The countdown bezel also has markers from 0 to 60. The countdown bezel will begin counting down from 60 to zero. In addition, unlike the count-up bezel, the countdown bezel can be rotated in any direction. For its purpose, this bezel is typically used by runners and other forms of runners.
Setting Up Countdown Bezel – The timer bezel decides the remaining time if the count-up bezel calculates the total time. All you have to do is rotate the bezel and match the zero direction of the bezel with the desired time.
4. Tachymeter Bezel – The tachymeter is perhaps the most popular watch bezel and its bezel is fixed. It means you can’t rotate the bezel like a countdown bezel. The scale of the bezels starts from 4000-1000 units and ends at 60 units when the reading of the dial is at the 12 o’clock position or you can say that in a clockwise movement. This bezel is basically used to calculate distance, time, and speed.
Setting Up Tachymeter Bezel – To calculate the speed using a tachometer bezel, you’ll have to begin the chronograph whenever the object leaves the beginning position and end the chronograph until it reaches the final location. Determine where your chronograph’s second hand has settled on the tachymeter scale. This is the pace in miles per hour.
5. Pulsometer Bezel – It is hard to find a pulsometer bezel nowadays. But this bezel was quite popular in 1920 and mostly used by health practitioners to know all about the patient heart rate. This bezel is expensive compared to others. However, the use of this bezel is not much with the advancement in technology.
Setting Up Pulsometer Bezel – When interpreted clockwise, the pulsometer meter has a scale that ranges from 200 to 40. Typically, this scale is graduated with 15 to 30 pulsations. If the chronograph is started, medical professionals can count the patient’s heartbeats before they exceed the pulsation scale rating. The number on which the second hand will rest is the heart rhythm in beats per minute.
6. Telemeter Bezel – This bezel is quite popular among military peoples. This bezel estimates the length between a visible and audible event. In the military, it is used to calculate the difference between a person and its opponent based on what they see and hear. This may also be used to determine the average of a lightning strike.
Setting Up Telemeter Bezel – Begin the chronograph when you see the event and end it when you hear the event. The second hand will indicate the average distance between you and the location of the event.
7. Compass Bezel – The name already had given you the idea, this bezel comes up with four directions and it has degrees within. The compass bezel simplifies it by allowing you to rotate it to mark where the north is for better understanding. Hikers and climbers will appreciate this bezel. Since it is not a magnetic compass, it can’t be used when the sun is apparent.
Setting Up Compass Bezel – To begin, place your watch horizontally. Align the hour Pointer of the watch in the sun’s direction. Then discover the hour hand’s midpoint and the 12 o’clock position on the dial. This midpoint represents the approximate location of the south. Then, rotate the bezel until the S aligns with your estimated south.
8. GMT Bezel – If you often travel internationally, then this watch is for you. GMT is an abbreviation for Greenwich Mean Time which is frequently used for time zones. The GMT bezel is surrounded by 24-hour markings, and there is a GMT hand on the dial.
Setting Up GMT Bezel – Let’s make sure that the time shown on the dial now corresponds to the time in your current place. To find out what time it is in your home place, you must first determine the time differential. Move the bezel to the left if your home country is forward of your local time. However, if it is behind then rotate the bezel to the right. Each rotation click signifies one hour behind or forward of the current time.
9. Decimal Bezel – It is a handy instrument for those in the scientific field. This watch bezel clearly displays the time in decimal format. For ease of calculation, scientists conducting experiments or industrial engineers handling time studies often quantify time in decimal format. As a result, this bezel will make the job easier for them.
Setting Up Decimal Bezel – The decimal bezel is simple to use. All you need to do is use the chronograph normally. When you pause the chronograph, the value on the bezel on which your chronograph second-hand points is your passed period.
10. Slide Rule Bezel – It is one of the most complex watches in entire history because of its functionality. It was first used in the 1950s by pilots for fuel consumption use. It helps them in commuting the mathematical operations.
Setting Up Slide Rule Bezel – Since this is a complex bezel, we can just have an incredibly simplistic guide about how to use it. Look at the interior stationary dial for conversions. Find the machine you want to convert. Locate the number you want to convert on the spinning side of the bezel. Align this number with the corresponding unit.
11. Yacht-Timer Bezel – Lastly we have a yacht timer bezel that is used for yachting and racing. The yacht-timer bezel functions primarily as a countdown timer with a scale ranging from 10 to 1. Racing on the river is not the same as racing on land. You can’t just stand there behind the starting line. Certain conditions, such as the wind and the fact that the engine is already running, make it more difficult. In addition, there is a penalty if a yacht crosses the starting line before the race begins. As a result, it is best to use the yacht-timer.
Setting Up Yacht-Timer Bezel – To set it all you need to do is begin the timer on the bezel until the trumpet signals the beginning of the countdown.
The diver’s watch bezel is one of the most recognizable watches in the world. This is attributed in part to the easily identifiable insert in the spinning bezel. Earlier we used to rely on mechanics but with the invention of technology, the work is a little simpler. At the moment, the only instrument a diver could use to dive and keep a record of distance traveled was a divers watch. The bezel of a diver’s watch is genuinely classic and is commonly recognized by enthusiasts. Now it tends to be very sporty and violent.
The Final Thought
There you have it! This is our complete guide to using a dive watch bezel. Watch is indeed a men’s first choice and before selecting the one you should pay proper attention to its bezels. Keep in check with what you are looking for and what is your requirement. It will help you shortlist the watch with bezels that have the same specifications you are looking for. Also, always properly examine your bezel before purchasing as some of the bezels are only for decoration purposes. And it won’t be justice to you if you are spending money on the plain bezel. Lastly, a watch is much more than a device used for telling time if it is used properly.
This is all for now. In case you have any queries and suggestions regarding the same, feel free to reach out to us in the comments sections. Don’t forget to let us know all about your experience too.
