Watches
Shop great brands
Seiko, Fossil, & Victorinox
There was a day when ordinary men and women did not own clocks or watches. From morning until evening farmers and merchants listened for church or city bells to ring out the time of day. Brilliant and innovative men toiled to invent timepieces that could accurately guide the day-to-day activities of ordinary people. Navigation of the oceans depended on the development of accurate timepieces. Progress was slow but steady. Ultimately, clocks were developed, and then efforts were focused on the manufacture of pocket watches. Wristwatches followed and the amazing evolution of fine timepieces was on its way. Today there are hundreds and hundreds of watch manufacturers. Switzerland became the center of fine timepieces, but other European countries also excelled. At Ridglea Watch & Jewelry we love watches. We are one of the rare jewelry stores that actually has a full-time horologist on staff. When our store opened in 2003 we were determined to provide a small number of watch brands that represented state-of-the-art timekeeping, beauty, and innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Watches
We are frequently asked questions about watches. Among the questions most asked are the following:
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What is the difference between quartz and mechanical watches?
A quartz watch uses a high-tech power source like a battery or capacitor to measure time, date, moon phases, chronograph functions, etc. A mechanical watch utilizes the traditional time-proven technology of a hand-wound or automatically wound movement using the mainspring to store energy (instead of a battery or capacitor, as in quartz watches).
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Magnets and watches
Most wrist watches and clocks are susceptible to interference from magnets. All speakers have magnets in them. For example, if your quartz watch gets too close to a cell phone, even if it is turned off, a radio, TV, or computer speaker, the magnetized speaker could interfere with the timing of the watch. when this occurs, we make the adjustment by demagnetizing the watch.
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What is a jewel?
A jewel is a synthetic ruby that has been placed in the movement to act as a bearing for the various moving parts. Rubies have been selected for their low friction. Jewels also act as shock absorbers and are specially shaped to contain lubricating oil.
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What is a chronometer?
A chronometer is a watch that is tested for accuracy under adverse conditions such as extremes in temperatures. After demonstrating a variation of between -4 to +6 seconds per day, the watch will be issued an official rating certificate.
In Switzerland, official rating certificates are only issued by the observatories in Geneva and Neuchâtel, and by the Controle Official Suisse des Chronometers (COSC). In addition to selling fine watches, we repair most brands. Our in-house horologist does most repairs but we also have an agreement with one of the most experienced men in the nation to assist us with some work. Together our horologists have approximately 50 years of experience. Whether you have a Rolex or another well-known brand we can help when your watch needs servicing.
