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Parts

Bezel

The bezel is the ring that holds the crystal and frames the dial. It may be fixed, or it may rotate to measure dive time (a unidirectional diver's bezel), a second time zone (GMT) or speed (tachymeter).

A bezel is more than a decorative ring; depending on its type it does a job. On dive watches it turns one way only: you align the minute marker with the hand before a dive to read elapsed time, and because it turns in just one direction, an accidental knock can only shorten the time, never dangerously extend it. A GMT bezel uses a 24-hour scale to show a second time zone. A tachymeter bezel calculates average speed over a set distance. Fixed bezels simply frame the dial.

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