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Horology R
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| Radium |
A radioactive material applied to watch hands and dials
to make them glow in the dark. Due to health concerns, it is banned. |
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| Ratchet Wheel |
The wheel attached to the barrel arbor that winds and
maintains the mainspring power in conjunction with the click. |
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| Rattrapante |
Refer to Split-seconds chronograph |
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| Regulating Pin |
Refer to Curb Pin |
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| Regulation |
The act of altering the daily rate of the watch by means
of moving the regulator (curb pins) or the adjustable masses on the
balance in the case of a free-
sprung balance. |
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| Regulator |
The part of the movement that alters the rate of the watch by changing
the position of the curb pins and the effective length of the hairspring.
Or
A watch or a clock with the hours and minutes (and seconds) indications
separated (non coaxial).Also known as the index.
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| Remontoire |
A device that ensures a consistent amount of power is
supplied to the escapement to improve the isochronism; it generally
consists of a secondary power source somewhere in the power train
or even on the escapement itself that is periodically rewound by the
mainspring. (Remontoir is French for "rewind." ) |
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| Repassage |
The thorough re-examination or overhaul of a completed watch, including
a verification of the rate before it leaves the factory for sale. |
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| Repeater |
Refer to Minute Repeater |
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| Resonating Ballance Wheels |
A set of two balances or pendulums housed within the
same structure, designed to vibrate in harmony with each other. Theoretically,
some of the imperfections inherent in a watch's hairspring and escapement
will be experienced in opposition (if one bal ance gains time in a
certain position, the other one will lose time in the same position).
The balances should maintain a sympathetic vibration with each other;
that is, should they deviate when disturbed, whether from shocks or
positional variations, the imbalances will average out. |
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| Retrograde Hands |
Hands that jump backward and begin again when they reach their
last indication.
e.g. a watch with a retrograde second hand will reach 60 on a scale,
jump back to zero, and start again. In order words, the second hand
moves like a windshield wiper.
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| Repoussé case |
A metal watchcase in which the design on the outside
is produced using a die on the inside. The design is then finished
by chasing and engraving, often to a very high degree of detail. |
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| Reverso |
A watchcase that can be turned over within the frame.
Although many brands, including Hamilton and Chronoswiss, have sold
models, JLC developed the Reverso and still manufactures far more
models than any other company. |
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| Rhodium |
A hard, bright silver-white metal often used to electroplate
white gold cases because of its chromelike appearance. |
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| Rolled Gold |
A thin sheet of gold bonded to a base metal. |
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| Rotor |
A chunk of metal that swivels on an axis and transmits winding
energy to an automatic watch's mainspring.
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| Rose Gold |
Gold with a slightly reddish color caused by additional
copper in the alloy. Rose gold, red gold, and pink gold are all slightly
different alloys with varying amounts of copper and other constituent
elements. |
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