A bezel is the round outer ring that surrounds and frames the dial of a watch. It closes off the top of the case and holds the crystal that sits over the dial. Its inner edge often carries scales, and some bezels turn to show information such as elapsed time.
How is a bezel fitted to the case?
A bezel sits on top of the case middle. Watchmakers have fixed it there in several ways. Some bezels were joined to the case by a hinge. Others were welded on, or snapped into a notch. In modern cases, the bezel is often screwed on. Most bezels are made of stainless steel, ceramic or precious metals.
What is a rotating bezel for?
A rotating bezel is a rim that can be turned to show information, such as how much time has passed. The same kind of rim is also found on some clocks. Its inner edge often carries one or more scales. These can mark hours, minutes or seconds, or form a tachymeter or a pulsometer. The best-known type is found on diving watches. A diving bezel turns in only one direction.
When did rotating bezels first appear?
Turning bezels have a long history. By 1907 they were already fairly common as a way to set an alarm time. In 1931 the Longines Weems-Lindbergh Hour Angle watch became the first with a rotating bezel that carried markings. The Mimo-Loga of 1941 was the first watch with a slide-rule bezel. In 1948 Louis Cottier patented the world-time rotating bezel. The word itself is much older. It is first recorded in English in the early 1600s.
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