What is a bezel?

In our modern, digital world, classic wristwatches are still very popular and are still very popular, despite the possibility of conveniently reading the time on a smartphone. But regardless of whether the time is read from your own wristwatch or from the nearest church tower, every watch has what is known as a bezel. But what does this term mean?

The bezel is easy to find

The so-called bezel of a watch is the border next to the dial. This term, which comes from French vocabulary, refers to the moon, or more precisely to the small moon. If you take a closer look at the bezel of a watch, you can actually see that the shape is comparable to a moon. A bezel can have a very different meaning depending on the type of watch. A distinction must be made between small watches and large clocks.

Different meanings of the bezel

In earlier times, the so-called bezel on wristwatches was initially used as a decoration. It was also intended to provide additional protection and had no other function. This is completely different today. Sometimes you can turn a bezel and thus mark the exact time. However, each bezel can also have a completely different scale.

Some watches that have a particularly modern bezel are now also able to determine the pulse rate. In this context, one also speaks of a so-called pulsometer scale. The bezel does not necessarily have to be rotatable. In addition, the breathing rate can also be determined here. Such watches are often used in the medical field to obtain a precise overview of relevant parameters that relate to the patient's health.

What is the importance of the bezel in large watches?

Strictly speaking, the bezel does not have an important function in larger watches. However, here it serves a particularly decorative purpose. Especially in the Biedermeier period, watches were given this feature in order to make them particularly attractive. Back then, bezels could also be made from particularly high-quality materials. A watch therefore became a particularly important status symbol during this period. In any case, ordinary people could not afford watches at this time. It was not until the course of the 20th century, around the end of the First World War, that watches could also be worn by ordinary people. This was mainly due to technological progress. It was now possible to produce a watch in large numbers in a short space of time using simple materials and modern machines. If a wristwatch had a bezel, it could therefore also be made from a very simple and inexpensive material.

The first modern bezels

The first modern rotating bezel came onto the market in 1953. These were diving watches. This was a truly outstanding innovation at the time, because from then on, divers could not only read the exact time, but could also mark the exact moment of their descent.

Over time, other important functions were added. Many of these watches with a modern bezel can measure the pulse rate, record distances or even determine the exact speed.

The fixed bezel and its meaning

The so-called fixed bezel is comparable to the models from the early days. It is inseparably connected to the case of the watch and is also considered particularly attractive. Sometimes there is also an additional scale that can measure physical parameters.

A bezel can also be found on so-called pilot's watches

In watches of this type, the bezel is anything but fixed; it can and must be rotated in all conceivable directions for optimal use. The minute scale on this bezel is used for navigation. This enables the pilot to read the minutes of flight that have already passed. This also makes it possible to determine any necessary changes in direction. With every takeoff, the zero point is set exactly to the minute hand. The rotating bezel is also the most common feature in watches of this type.

This is not just about determining the minutes, but ultimately also about planning suitable flight routes. You can imagine this system as a kind of abacus or slide rule. The pilot is also able to convert nautical miles precisely.

Bezels are also very interesting for small watches

Even the smallest watch models can be equipped with the most modern rotating bezels. Contrary to what some people assume, this is not just an additional decorative feature, but can provide a wide range of functions. The range of functions available can vary greatly depending on the model. One popular function is certainly the setting of alarm times. It is also often possible to determine the direction of the compass.

So what are the specific advantages of a bezel?

Ultimately, the advantages of such a feature are obvious. A few decades ago, the main purpose was to decorate watches and thereby attract attention. However, this has changed completely. Only a few watches are given a bezel purely for the sake of visual enhancement. It is usually much more about accessing specific functions.

The most important functions include setting alarm times, marking the date or the exact time. In addition, such a bezel can also be used as a diving watch or a pilot's watch. It can also be used to determine important parameters related to health. Some of these watches are therefore able to determine the pulse and the exact breathing rate.

What distance did I cover on a particular day? How many minutes did it take me? All of this can be determined using the bezel. Some of these can also be rotated, sometimes in both directions.

Even if it is now almost exclusively about determining certain parameters and the possibility of using certain functions or even carrying out calculations, bezels still remain an attractive feature. It kills two birds with one stone, so to speak. Great technical achievements are combined with an outstanding design. This is what inspires many lovers of such watches.