Glossary

Below, you will find a list of various specialist terms pertaining to technical features and/or functions of Hanhart stopwatches, along with their brief definitions.

ABS

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) is a type of plastic that is characterised by a particularly high load-bearing capacity, strength and chemical resistance. In view of this, ABS offers advantages of solid workmanship and low wear.

Addition

Time measurement with an interrupt option.

Auto repeat

Automatically repeats after a set time has elapsed.

Balance wheel

The balance wheel is shorthand for the balance wheel-spiral pairing of an oscillating system, as used in mechanical clocks. It is the heart of the watch and acts as a rate regulator. Together with the spiral spring, it forms the oscillating system of a mechanical clock. The measurement of time is deduced from the oscillations. The balance frequency is the number of oscillations per hour.

Bezel

Fixed or rotating ring or rim around the dial of a watch.

Calibration

A measuring process for reliably and reproducibly detecting and documenting the deviation of a measuring device (in this case a stopwatch) compared to another device or other measuring standard that is designated as normal in that case.

Chronograph

Wristwatch with stopwatch function that can measure the duration of an event.

Countdown and count-up

Counting up or down function.

Crown

Corrugated wheel located at the top of the case for setting the time. In Hanhart's mechanical stopwatches, with crown winding, it is used to create tension in the tension spring.

Drag indicator

The second stop hand, which drags the first hand along with it. It can be independently stopped at any time by pressing a button, so as to measure split times. If you press the button one additional time, it jumps back underneath the first hand and resume travel alongside it. This makes it possible to measure further split times.

Dual measurement

Measuring two times in quick succession.

Escapement

The component mechanism of a watch movement that periodically inhibits the gear train, which is under tension, from uncontrolledly running away, so that the movement runs smoothly. See also Swiss lever escapements and pin lever escapements.

Flyback

A function, also known as tempo-switching, which makes it possible to instantaneously set the stop hand to zero whilst a time measurement is in progress at the press of just one button. After the push piece is released, a new measurement is started immediately. The otherwise necessary steps of "stop", "reset to zero" and "start" are here combined into one single action.

Jewels

Functional jewels of a watch, which serve to reduce friction as well as reduce wear. These functional jewels were formerly made of real rubies and diamonds. Today synthetic rubies are used.

Lap

Circuit or section times. After each stop, a new measuring process begins automatically at time “0”.

Memory

Memory: logs, which can be retrieved individually after the time recording has finished.

Pacer

Acoustic pace-setter that is freely adjustable.

Pin lever escapement

The pin lever escapement is the part of the movement that prevents the watch movement from freely running away. With its shock-resistant balance spring, it is Avery robust and reliable technology. It guarantees superb accuracy that will last for decades and is considered to be a more cost-effective escapement mechanism, where instead of the otherwise usual pallet jewels, steel pins sitting perpendicular to the escapement are used.

Reset, memory reset and system reset

Zero-setting, memory erasure and complete resetting of the stopwatch functions.

Shock resistance

For clocks to be designated as shock-resistant, they must meet the requirements of DIN 8308. The test apparatus strikes with a hammer at a rate of 4.43 m/s. The resulting time deviation must not be more than +/- 60 seconds per day. The designated speed of 4.43 m/s follows on from an adaptation of an older requirement that stipulated that a fall from a height of 1m onto hardwood parquet should not lead to any defect in the watch's movement.

Short lap

Shortest lap time.

Split

Split: split time measurement while timing continues.

Swiss lever escapement

The Swiss lever escapement is the part of the movement that prevents the watch movement from freely running away. With its shock-resistant balance spring, it increases the accuracy and lifespan of mechanical stopwatches. We use the Swiss lever escapement for stopwatches that will run for long periods and/or for ultrafast oscillators.

Tachymeter

Clock function/scale for measuring speeds. Using the tachymeter scale, readings can be taken of the average speeds travelled over a distance of 1km. The stop function must be activated at the beginning and end of the route. Using this same principle, the tachymeter scale can be used to read miles per hour (mph).

Telemeter

Clock function/scale for measuring distances.

Tempo-switching

See "Flyback".

Tension spring

The spring provides the force required by the balance spring to maintain its vibrations.

Ultrafast oscillator

An ultrafast oscillator is a clock whose oscillation frequency is above the norm of 18,000 vibrations per hour.