Know your watch.
Choose it better.
Plain-English guides to how watches work, how they should fit and how to look after them, written by the Watch Ritual editors.
How an automatic watch works.
An automatic watch is a mechanical watch that winds itself.
Read the guideWhat size watch should I wear? A wrist-by-wrist guide.
Measure your wrist, then look at lug-to-lug first and diameter second.
Read the guideWatch water resistance explained: what 30 m, 100 m and 200 m really mean.
A water resistance rating is a pressure test, not a depth you can dive to.
Read the guideMovements.
How watches keep time, from automatics to solar quartz.
Automatic or quartz? Start with your routine.
MovementsHow an automatic watch works.
MovementsWatch movements explained: automatic, manual, quartz, solar and more.
MovementsPower reserve explained: how long your watch runs off the wrist.
MovementsWhat is a GMT watch, and how do you use one?
MovementsChronographs explained: how to use the stopwatch on your watch.
MovementsWatch complications explained, from date to tourbillon.
MovementsEco-Drive vs Seiko Solar: how light-powered watches work.
MovementsGMT vs world timer: which time-zone watch do you need?
MovementsNH35 vs PT5000 vs Miyota 9015: the common microbrand movements.
MovementsMecha-quartz explained: quartz accuracy with a mechanical chronograph feel.
MovementsPowermatic 80 and Nivachron: what Tissot’s movement offers.
MovementsSkeleton watches: what they are and what to know before buying.
Fit and sizing.
Choosing a size, reading dimensions and picking straps.
Lug-to-lug: the dimension that changes the fit
Fit and sizingWhat size watch should I wear? A wrist-by-wrist guide.
Fit and sizingWatch bracelets and straps: every type explained.
Fit and sizingHow to size a watch bracelet and remove links at home.
Fit and sizingWatch strap materials compared: leather, rubber, NATO, canvas and metal.
Fit and sizingHow to choose an Apple Watch band: fit, material and case options
Fit and sizingWatch strap sizing
Materials.
Crystals, case metals and finishes, and how they age.
Sapphire, mineral or acrylic? Watch crystals explained.
MaterialsSteel, titanium, bronze and more: watch case materials explained.
MaterialsWatch lume explained: Super-LumiNova, tritium and how it glows.
MaterialsBronze watches: how patina works and how to care for one.
Water and wear.
What ratings mean and how to wear a watch in real life.
Watch water resistance explained: what 30 m, 100 m and 200 m really mean.
Water and wearISO 6425 and dive watches: what the certification means.
Water and wearHow to read and use a dive watch bezel.
Care and ownership.
Setting, winding, servicing and keeping a watch running well.
How to wind and set an automatic watch, and avoid the date danger zone.
Care and ownershipIs your watch magnetised? How to tell and how to fix it.
Care and ownershipWatch servicing: how often, what happens and what it costs.
Care and ownershipHow to clean a watch and its bracelet safely.
Care and ownershipDo you need a watch winder? A short, practical answer.
Care and ownershipQuartz watch battery replacement: how often and what to expect.
Care and ownershipTravelling with watches: care, security and time zones.
Buying well.
Microbrands, collections and getting good value.
Build a collection around the days you actually live.
Buying wellMicrobrand watches: what they are and how to buy one well.
Buying wellHow to choose a dive watch: what actually matters.
Buying wellThe dress watch: size, style and when to wear one.
Buying wellField watches explained: the simplest good watch you can own.
Buying wellSwiss vs Japanese watches: what the difference really is.
Buying wellHow to buy a watch online safely and get a good price.
Buying wellPilot watches explained: what makes a watch a pilot watch.
Buying wellHow to read a watch spec sheet and spot what matters.
Buying wellHow much should you spend on a first watch?
Buying wellTissot collections explained: PRX, PR 100, Gentleman, Seastar and more.
Buying wellCitizen watch lines explained: Eco-Drive, Promaster, Zenshin, Tsuyosa and more.
Buying wellSeiko lines explained: Seiko 5, Presage, Prospex and more.
Buying wellAuthorized dealer vs grey market: what it means for your warranty.
Buying wellBest Dive Watches Under $500
Buying wellBest Automatic Watches Under $500
Buying wellBest Tissot Watches
Buying wellBest Citizen Eco-Drive Watches
Buying wellBest Chronographs Under $500
Buying wellBest Field Watches
Buying wellBest Dress Watches Under $1,000
Buying wellBest Titanium Watches
Buying wellBest GMT Watches
Buying wellBest Watches Under $200
Buying wellBest Small Watches (38 mm and Under)
Buying wellBest Vintage-Style Dive Watches
Buying wellWhich Tissot PRX should you buy?
Buying wellHow to use watch discount codes
Reference.
Look up any term, or compare two watches side by side.