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Jewelry Guide Ring Sizer Care & Maintenance Birthstones Precious Stones
  Types of Cuts Settings Clasps & Chains Jewelry Glossary
Watch Guide Watches Watch Features Watches Glossary

Jewelry

Priceless jewelry information!
We've created this guide to help give you a great jewelry shopping experience! To learn more, visit each of our links above.

Ring Sizer

Just follow our easy instructions below to find out!
  1. Click here to download our printable ring sizer.
  2. Open ring sizer in Adobe Acrobat.
    (Click here if you do not have Adobe Acrobat.)
  3. Print the image.
  4. Follow the simple instructions (Included on the ring sizer printout).

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Care & Maintenance*

Diamonds

Diamonds

Cleaning: Use a soft brush and jewelry cleaning solution or warm, soapy water. An ultrasonic cleaner may also by used. Wipe dry with a lint-free soft cloth.

Maintenance: If worn on a regular basis, a diamond should be cleaned at home every 2-3 weeks. And cleaned professionally every 6-9 months. It's also a good idea to have prongs checked for wear or possible loose stones.

Tips: Although diamonds are the hardest known substance, a blow of sufficient force can crack, chip or even break a diamond. Avoid sharp blows and don't wear fine jewelry when doing housework, gardening, playing sports, etc.

Other Information: When storing diamond jewelry, it is a good idea to keep diamonds separated from other stones. This helps avoid scratches on your other jewelry.

Gold

Gold

Cleaning: Between professional cleanings, gold can be maintained by using a soft brush or cloth with a nonabrasive cleaner.

Maintenance: Examine jewelry regularly to make sure settings are snug and clasps and joinings are secure.

Tips: As with all metals, do not wear gold jewelry in swimming pools because the chlorine may cause damage over a period of time.

Other Information: Gold is very soft in its pure form. For example, 24k (pure gold) is softer and less scratch-resistant than 14k and 10k gold.

Gemstones

Gemstones

Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Ruby, Sapphire: Clean with a soft brush and jewelry cleaner or warm, soapy water. Ultrasonic cleaners may also be used.

Aquamarine, Blue Topaz: It's best to use jewelry cleaner or warm, soapy water and a soft brush only. Do not use ultrasonic machines to clean these stones.

Other Information: Amethyst, aquamarine and citrine all fade or change color after prolonged exposure to the sun.

Emeralds

Emeralds

Cleaning: They may be cleaned gently with a soft brush and lukewarm water, but are best cleaned professionally by a jeweler. It is not recommended to immerse them in cleaning solutions (never wear your emeralds in the bath, shower or when doing dishes) and ultrasonic cleaners should never be used.

Tips: Since treatment is not permanent, it is recommended to have emeralds professionally re-oiled every 1 to 2 years.

Opals

Opals

Cleaning: You may clean them with a soft brush and warm, soapy water, but never use harsh chemical cleaners or immerse in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Tips: Apply a thin film of light oil with a swab or cloth to the surface of the stone (never soak it) at 6-month intervals to provide an extra measure of protection against dryness and cracking.

Pearls

Pearls

Cleaning: Wipe gently with a soft, lint-free cloth after each wearing. Although they are best maintained by professional cleaning, mild soap and water may be used. Dry on a soft, absorbent surface, and never hang to dry.

Tips: Store separately from other jewelry. Do not wear while applying makeup, hair spray and perfumes.

Peridots

Peridots

Cleaning: Use a soft brush with warm, soapy water to clean. Avoid the use of ultrasonic cleaners.

Tips: Should be handled with more care than some other gemstones. Avoid sudden changes in temperature or contact with caustic household substances.

* These guidelines are general jewelry care & maintenance suggestions only. They are not specific to any particular products sold on Kohls.com.

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Birthstones

A set of twelve gemstones that are associated with births during a specific zodiac sign or month of the year. Stones vary by culture.

Month
Birthstone
Picture
Symbol & Meaning
January Garnet Garnet
Constancy
Faith, eternity, truth, natural energy, self-confidence, creativity, friendship, constancy and good health.
February Amethyst Amethyst
Sincerity
Tranquility, sincerity, courage, calmness, spirituality and health.
March Aquamarine Aquamarine
Courage
Happiness, youth, calmness, tranquility and courage.
April Diamond Diamond
Innocence
Love, innocence, clarity, strength and courage.
May Emerald Emerald
Success
Love, prosperity and eternity.
June Pearl Pearl
Health
Peace, love, innocence, wealth and purity.
July Ruby Ruby
Contentment
Love, freedom and peace.
August Peridot Peridot
Happiness
Protection and happiness.
September Sapphire Sapphire
Insight
Truth, clarity, clear-thinking, sky and heaven.
October Opal Opal
Hope
Hope, good fortune and purity.
November Citrine Citrine
Protection
Romance, enlightenment, increase self-esteem and success.
December Blue Topaz Blue Topaz
Strength
Success, luck, forgiveness, strength and happiness.

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Precious Stones

More opaque than traditional gemstones, the natural elegance of precious stones is sure to capture your attention.

Stones
Picture
Description
Cateye Garnet Derived from the French word chatoyancy, which literally means "cat's eye," these unique stones have a lighter colored line down their center, simulating the look of a feline eye.
Turquoise Amethyst These blue-green stones have dark brown or black freckles, giving them a rustic, natural look. Used frequently in Native American jewelry.
Quartz Aquamarine One of the earth's most abundant minerals, quartz stones come in a rainbow of colors. They can be polished or left with a natural, faceted finish.
Onyx Diamond Onyx stones are a specific variety of quartz in a striking black. Often polished for a stunning shine.
Mother-of-Pearl Emerald Otherwise known as "nacre," mother-of-pearl is an iridescent substance found inside shells.
Chalcedony Pearl These bluish-gray stones have a waxy luster, giving their translucent shapes an intentionally cloudy finish.
Carnelian Ruby A variant of chalcedony, carnelian stones vary from a deep reddish-brown to a peachy flesh tone.
Marcasite Peridot These pyrite stones are typically black with a greenish shine, resembling the iridescence of an oil spot.
Olivine Sapphire Also known as "peridot," olivine stones come in a natural green tone. While peridot is practically translucent, olivine is significantly more opaque.
Jade Opal Considered the "imperial gem" of China, the milky-green beauty of jade is recognized the world over. Made of calcium-rich minerals, these stones are most stunning when polished to a glossy finish.

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Types of Cuts

The way a gemstone is cut can maximize its sparkle and beauty.

Cut
Picture
Description
Round Garnet The most popular gemstone cut, characterized by exquisite fire and brilliance. Accounts for 75% of all gemstone cuts today.
Princess Amethyst A relatively new cut with a square or slightly rectangular shape.
Emerald Aquamarine Also known as a "step cut," these rectangular gemstones have a clean, modern look.
Cushion Diamond One of the most brilliant cuts available, the cushion cut has deeper facets and rounded corners, making its fire even more evident.
Asscher Emerald This antique style of cut has stepped facets and cropped corners like the emerald cut with the shape of a princess cut.
Oval Pearl Evenly cut and perfectly symmetrical, the oval cut has the fire of a round cut in an elongated package.
Marquise Ruby Created to mimic the gorgeous smile of the Marquise de Pompadour, this cut has tapered ends and a lean center.
Pear Peridot A combination of the oval and marquise cuts, these teardrop-shaped gems make wonderful side stones, pendants and earrings.
Radiant Sapphire Radiant cuts meld the brilliance of round cuts and the shape of princess cuts, maximizing fire with their many facets.
Heart Opal A lovely cut that is essentially an upside-down pear cut with a notch in the top.
Trillion Citrine This triangular-shaped cut varies between traditional straight lines to more rounded edges. Works beautifully as a side stone or in solitaire earrings.
Bullet Blue Topaz Used primarily as a side stone, the bullet cut adds a triangular shape to the end of a rectangular stone.

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Settings

A gem's setting is what makes it unique, letting you show off your personal sense of style.

Setting
Picture
Description
Channel Emerald A tension setting that holds gemstones only by a slight rim of metal, which runs along the edges of the channel. Channel-set jewels are usually round or baguette shaped.
Pavé Pearl To maximize the sparkle of smaller stones, they are positioned close together and set apart by tiny beads of precious metal. Round-cut stones are commonly used.
Prong Ruby Traditional prong settings lift the gemstone away from the metal, holding it only by the corners. More light is allowed into the stone, creating excellent brilliance.
Trellis Peridot This setting crosses under the gemstone, creating the appearance of a trellis one would commonly find in a garden. It lifts the stone like traditional prong settings, but adds a touch of dramatic flair.
Cathedral Sapphire Crafted to imitate flying buttresses, the band in cathedral settings extends fully to meet the center stone on either side. This provides extra protection, keeping the gem safe.
Martini Opal A toastable setting shaped like a V, holding the stone with subtle prongs. Made to look like the traditional martini glass, it works best with round and princess-cut stones.
Bezel Citrine A ring of precious metal wraps fully around the gemstone, holding it securely in place. Creates a very modern look.
Flush Blue Topaz Flush settings are most commonly found in men's jewelry where the gem table is even with the band. A stylish, subtle way to set small stones.

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Clasps & Chains

Keeping your jewelry safely in place is just why these special closures were made! And with so many different chain styles available, mixing and matching to create the perfect accessory has never been easier.

Clasp
Picture
Description
Spring-Ring Clasp Used for necklaces and bracelets, this round, hinged closure provides a secure fit.
Lobster-Claw Clasp A secure type of closure for necklaces and bracelets, shaped like a lobster claw.
Safety Clasp These levered closures are usually used for bracelets. Typically deployed by holding down a pressure hook.
Toggle Clasp Peridot Typified by an anchoring bar that slides into a circular end, these closures are mostly found on bracelets.
Frenchwire Lightweight, clasped earring design similar to a hook-and-eye closure.
Leverback Earrings get extra security from this hinged closure. Also commonly referred to as a Euro clasp.
Screwback Post These secure backings screw into place. Especially important for larger or more valuable stones.
Wire Back Blue Topaz A type of tubular earring where the backing is secured by sliding into the hoop, creating a flawless look through the ear.
Chain
Picture
Description
Box Emerald A simple, sleek chain with a boxlike shape. Typically more slender, it makes a perfect pair with delicate gemstone pendants.
Omega Pearl Rectangular links are woven tightly together, creating a flawless, domed look. Pendants slide easily along these smooth chains.
Rope Ruby With a tried and true, ropelike weave design, rope chains are generally thicker.
Perfectina Peridot Typified by circular links braided very close together, these chains look fabulous on their own.
Singapore Sapphire Delicate, circular links are strung loosely along Singapore chains for excellent sparkle.
Snake Opal Crafted to copy the sleek scales of a snake, this thin chain is great on its own or with a larger pendant.
Tornado Citrine Like a snake chain, but twisted, this smooth chain pairs perfectly with pendants large and small.
Bismarck Blue Topaz With a basket weavelike finish, the open oval links of these chains can vary from one to three wide. Works well in bracelets as well as necklaces.
Venetian Box Emerald The open links of the Venetian box chain make it less visually dense than the traditional box chain.
Fox Tail Pearl Thicker with square-shaped links, the fox tail chain works well on its own for both men and women.
Popcorn Ruby With a bumpy, multifaceted finish crafted to look like a bowl of popcorn, this chain stands perfectly without other adornment.
Cordina Peridot The double-helix, twisting design of this chain creates incredible sparkle.
Figaro Sapphire Three small, circle-shaped links alternate with an elongated, oval-shaped link, making this open chain perfect for both genders.
Herringbone Opal Crafted with a V-shaped herringbone pattern, this chic chain is generally thicker in width.
Wheat Citrine Links are braided to form a textured, V-shaped pattern that resembles a head of wheat, giving this chain a natural touch.
Beveled Blue Topaz G-shaped links with open interiors create a thicker chain that looks great on its own.

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Jewelry Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Baguette - A gem with a narrow rectangle shape.
Birthstones - A set of twelve gemstones that are associated with births during a specific zodiac sign or month of the year. Stones vary by culture.
Bezel - The bezel is the part of a cut stone that protrudes above the edge of a setting. The bezel is also known as the crown.
Black Hills Gold - Only jewelry manufactured in the Black Hills of South Dakota can be sold under the name “Black Hills gold.” It is designated as the official jewelry of the state of South Dakota.
Body Color - The examination of a diamond by an experienced eye, under consistent lighting, against a white background and checked against "master" diamonds.
Brilliance - The total amount of light reflected from both the interior and exterior surfaces of a diamond.
Carat (ct.) - A unit of weight used to measure diamonds and gemstones. The weight is often stated in fractions of a carat. A carat is divided into 100 points, so that a diamond of 25 points equals 1/4 carat and of 50 points equals 1/2 carat.
Certification - When an independent company evaluates the quality of a diamond and the retail replacement value, and places this information in a certificate of authenticity.
Clarity - A term used to describe the absence or presence of a gemstone's internal and external flaws called inclusions. The grade ranges from internally flawless (IF) to imperfect (I3).
Color - A term used to describe the natural body color of a diamond. The more colorless a diamond, the rarer and more expensive. With a range from D (least color) to Z (most color). Color ratings of G through L are the most common.
Created - A gemstone made in a laboratory with the same properties as a genuine gemstone. Also known as synthetic.
Crown - The faceted part (between the flat table and the girdle) of a gem or diamond.
Cubic Zirconia - A man-made gemstone that is a simulate of a diamond.
Cutlet - The small facet on the pointed bottom of the pavillion on a diamond.
Cultured Pearls - Like natural pearls, cultured pearls grow inside a living organism. However, they do not begin as accidental intruders to the shell. Instead, humans insert mother-of-pearl beads or other shapes into a mollusk. Over time they become coated with nacre. The depth of the nacre coating depends on how long the beads are left in place before being harvested.
Cut - A gemstone's cut is what gives it sparkle. The stone admits light through the top, it bounces around inside and comes back out at the top. In this way, the maximum amount of light is reflected.
Diamond - A transparent gem made essentially of carbon which has crystallized under immense heat and pressure in the earth's crust. It is the hardest of all known natural substances. Hardness enables the diamond to be cut with precise accuracy.
Facet - A flat polished surface or plane on a diamond or gemstone.
Fire - This is a diamond's ability to break up white light into the rainbow of colors of the spectrum, or its dispersion.
Fractures - Whitish interruptions on the surface of a gemstone where light does not pass through.
Fracture Filling - A treatment applied mostly to diamonds, where fractures on their surfaces are filled with a substance that blends with the gem to improve clarity.
Freshwater Cultured Pearl - A pearl from a freshwater mussel or clam, instead of an oyster.
Freshwater Pearl - A natural or cultured pearl that grew inside of a freshwater mollusk.
Genuine - A gemstone or diamond found in nature.
Girdle - The narrow rim around a stone where the crown and pavillion meet. The portion that is usually grasped by the setting or mounting.
Gold Filled - An item with a sheet of gold applied to its surface by soldering, welding, pressure or heat. Newer items contain markings that indicate how much and what type of gold was used in the layer. A marking of 1/20 12k G.F. means that the piece is at least 1/20th 12k gold by weight.
Gold Plating (Electroplating) - When a base metal is covered with a thin layer of gold using the process of electroplating. The thin layer normally wears away more quickly than gold in a gold-filled item. The layer of gold must be at least .00001 of an inch thick, and cannot be called karat gold.
Heat Treatment - Commonly used to change or intensify the color of a gemstone. The change alters a stone's structure and is usually permanent.
I.G.I. - International Gemological Institute. The world's largest independent appraiser of diamonds.
Inclusions - Internal flaws in a gemstone such as specks, carbon, tiny bubbles, hairlines and other imperfections of crystallization. Sometimes referred to as the "fingerprints" of a stone because each stone has a unique set of inclusions and rarely duplicated in another.
Journey Styling - Consists of 11 or more diamonds in a graduated setting. The gems grow in size, symbolizing the way love grows.
Karat (k) - The percentage of fine gold in an object. 24k gold is pure, but pure gold is too soft to be used for jewelry so other metals are added. All gold is measured in terms of 24 parts. For example, if an item is listed as 14k, it is comprised of 14 parts of gold and 10 parts of some other metal.
Laser Drilling - A process used to remove inclusions (flaws) from diamonds, improving their clarity.
Loupe - A special magnifying glass that enables you to take a closer look at a gemstone or other object. It makes internal flaws and surface blemishes more apparent for assessing color, cut and other aspects of the stone.
Moissanite- Unique, lab-created gemstones reproduce the fire and brilliance of stones found in small portions inside meteorites. Their brilliance, fire and luster surpass other gemstones. They also exhibit exceptional hardness, as well as internally flawless, near-colorless forms. Every piece of Moissanite comes with a certificate of authenticity, as well as a limited lifetime warranty from Charles & ColvardŽ.
Murano/Venetian glass- Glass beads in a variety of colors with gold or silver leaf foiling directly inside the beads.
Mystic Fire Topaz - A topaz stone that has been color enhanced by coating it with a fine layer of metal atoms. The mystic fire topaz stone has red, green, violet and blue color streaks.
Natural Gemstone - A gemstone formed in nature, with no assistance from humans.
Natural Pearl - A pearl that begins as a piece of grit or other foreign substance that makes its way into the shell of a marine or freshwater mollusk (oysters, clams). A defense mechanism kicks in to coat the particle with layer after layer of a substance called nacre, eventually forming a pearl.
Oiling - A method used to seal a stone such as an opal from water loss. It is also used to fill fissures on the surface of emeralds, improving their clarity.
Organic Jewelry - Jewelry made from or produced by once-living organisms.
Pavillion - The bottom portion of a cut stone beginning at the girdle and going to the point at its end.
Scintillation - Winking or flashing of light from the facets of a diamond as it moves. Scintillation explains why diamonds are much more beautiful when they are in motion.

Simulated
- A gemstone that is usually man-made and looks like a genuine gemstone, but does not have the same properties. For example, a cubic zirconia is a simulate of a diamond.
Solid Gold - 24-karat gold. Technically, refers only to pure, or 24-karat gold. It can, however, also describe karat gold that does not have a hollow center and has at least 10-karat gold content.
Solitaire - A ring or other piece of jewelry containing a single diamond or gemstone.

Synthetic
- A gemstone created by humans in a lab. Synthetic stones mimic the structure of natural stones. It's often difficult for gemologists to tell a synthetic from a natural stone (also see created).
Table - The flat top of a cut stone, sometimes called its face.

Total Weight
- Total weight (T.W.) refers to the total weight of all the diamonds in a piece of jewelry. For example, a cluster ring with a number of small diamonds may have a total weight of 1/2 carat.
White Gold - Adding alloys (other metals) in varying mixtures can actually change the color of gold. Pure gold is mixed with the alloys nickel, zinc and copper in order to obtain the white color.
Yellow Gold - Yellow gold is pure gold mixed with alloys other than nickel, zinc and copper (which gives us Karat gold).
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Watches

Time out!
Take a minute to read our product guide for timeless watch information.

At Kohls.com, we have an endless assortment of watches to fit your personality, sense of style and everyday adventures. So, where do you begin? Considering what type of power source you would like is a good place to begin — in other words, what makes a watch tick?

Power Sources
Mechanical
Battery
Light
Kinetic

Mechanical-Powered

Mechanical-Powered

Before there were pea-sized batteries, watches ran on mechanical power. Otherwise known as manually powered, most mechanical watches require daily winding to keep the tiny wheels and gears tickin' away. A timeless classic — this type of watch is still made, but is not as popular as it once was.

How it works …
A wind-up watch is actually powered by a spring. When the watch is wound, the spring causes a mass to move back and forth — which acts as the timing element. Then, one or more gears are connected to the spring and the mass to keep the movement (time) of the mass at a constant pace.

Why this watch?
Mechanical watches can be considered collectible, like an antique. They are not the most accurate or the cheapest, but they offer a true piece of historic time. The appeal of a mechanical watch lies more in one's appreciation of craftsmanship and tradition than in technology.

Once wound, a mechanical watch keeps time accurately for about 1-2 days. Although a simple twist of the wrist a day is all that's needed, most people now prefer to depend on a more modern
watch that requires less attention. But with good care and
habitual winding, a mechanical watch can run, literally, as
long as you want it to.

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Mechanical Watches
At a Glance ...

  • Require daily winding.
  • Spring power reserve of approximately 2 days.
  • Limited special features available.

Who should wear/buy this type of watch?
Anyone who:

  • Enjoys collecting
    timepieces.
  • Appreciates traditional style and fine craftsmanship.

Mechanical-Powered

Battery-Powered

The most common power source for watches today is batteries. In the beginning, battery-powered watches, also known as quartz watches, allowed for more accurate time keeping, slimmer, lighter designs and they opened up the world of functionality.

How it works …
A battery powers a piece of quartz shaped like a tuning fork. An electrical charge from the battery causes the quartz to vibrate, creating a steady frequency used to count or measure time at an extremely accurate pace.

Why this watch?
Probably the largest benefit of battery-powered watches is that they are easy to find and can be the most cost-friendly when compared to some higher technological designs. Also, battery-powered watches are made by almost every watch manufacturer and are available with a large variety of optional functions.

Another benefit to battery-powered watches is that they keep running without constant maintenance. Unlike the mechanical watch, you can leave this type of watch on your dresser or jewelry box for months on end and it will still keep time. But remember, batteries don't last forever so they will need to be replaced at some point in time — but here's a tip … Battery life expectancy is usually a minimum of 12 months before you need to replace it. However, batteries can last for a number of years depending on the type of material used to make the battery and the voltage. For example, a 3-volt lithium battery lasts longer than a silver oxide 1.5-volt battery.

 

 

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Battery-Powered Watches
At a Glance ...

  • Highly accurate due to use of quartz.
  • Cost-friendly.
  • Unlimited special features.
  • Replace battery every
    1-3 years.

Who should wear/buy this type of watch?
Perfect for people who:

  • Own several different watches.
    (Because they require little to no maintenance to keep time accurately, you can leave them sitting on your dresser or jewelry box for the longest period of time.)
  • Prefer digital or a LCD screen.
    (Battery-powered watches are the only watch type that offers digital time or other LCD screen functions.

Mechanical-Powered

Light-Powered

It starts with a simple, yet revolutionary concept: a watch that never needs a battery! Although not completely new on the watch scene, light-powered watches are one of the latest developments in watch design and technology. Therefore, they have not become as common as the typical battery-powered watch, but it's possible that they are on their way!

Currently, Citizen® with their Eco-Drive model is the most well-known brand that offers light-powered watches. (There are also other manufacturers, such as Seiko's Pulsar Solar model.)

How it works …
Citizen Eco-Drive technology harnesses the power of light — from any natural or artificial light source — and converts it into energy.

Light passes through the sapphire glass face (1) and a high-porous dial (2). Then by the mechanism of a solar panel (3) and a charging device (4), light is converted into energy.

Light-Powered Watches
At a Glance ...

  • Battery free!
    Powered by natural and artificial light.
  • Environmentally friendly — no battery to dispose of.
  • Can run from 2-6 months on its stored energy.

Who should wear/buy this type of watch?
Perfect for people who:

  • Enjoy being outdoors.
  • Wear the same watch almost all the time.
  • Appreciate innovative technology.
The key to Eco-Drive lies in its reserve energy storage cell (5). This energy storage cell does not contain any harmful chemicals as an ordinary battery would. It is a lithium-ion device that stores the energy converted from light.

Why this watch?
The main advantage to having a light-powered watch is that it's battery free. They recharge by themselves so you don't have to worry about trips to the mall for a new battery. When fully charged, a light-powered watch can run from two to six months on its stored energy!

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Mechanical-Powered

Kinetic-Powered

Kinetic watches are another type of watch that will leave battery replacement behind! Instead of batteries, the movement of your arm or body is the power source for kinetic watches. Kinetic power is not a new technology, but what's done with the energy that is created from the movement is what sets these watches apart from the rest!

Currently, Seiko® is one of the biggest manufacturers in the lead of kinetic-powered watches with their Seiko Kinetic model.

How it works …
The basics behind kinetic watches are not much different than an automatic watch or a self-winding watch. A semicircular weight is attached to an axis — as your arm or body moves, the weight swings back and forth creating energy. In an automatic watch, when this weight swings, it is actually winding the spring of
the watch.

With a kinetic watch, there are a few differences in the mechanics. The first is that they have quartz movement like a battery-powered watch. In a kinetic watch, this means that the swinging weight is actually creating the energy that charges the piece of quartz to vibrate and hold its steady frequency.

The second difference is that once the electrical charge is created, a kinetic watch is able to store the energy in a capacitor. The capacitor then acts like a rechargeable
battery — allowing the watch to keep accurate time much
longer than an automatic.

Why this watch?
The benefits of kinetic watches are the same as light-powered watches. They don't require a battery and are more environmentally friendly than a battery-powered watch.

A kinetic watch can store enough energy to keep time for up to six months. However, usage of a watch winder will allow you leave your watch in a jewelry box or valet for even longer.

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Kinetic-Powered Watches
At a Glance …

  • Battery free! Powered by the movement of your arm and body.
  • Environmentally
    friendly — no battery to dispose of.
  • Can run for up to 6 months off its stored energy.

Who should wear/buy this type of watch?
Perfect for people who:

  • Enjoy an active lifestyle.
  • Wear the same watch almost every day.
  • Appreciate innovative technology.

Features

Another deciding factor when shopping for a watch is special features available — from calculators to chronographs, you can get a watch fully loaded for your lifestyle! However, sometimes it can be a bit confusing trying to figure out what these features do for you. Browse through our list below to learn about some popular features found in many watches today.

  Alarm
This feature allows you to preset an alarm to sound and can be found in sport- and casual-style watches.
Analog Display
A non-digital display used to tell time. One or more hands rotate around a dial with numbers or number markers. This feature is most popular with dress watches, but is easily found in all styles of watches. Also, almost all mechanical, light-powered and kinetic watches are only available with analog display.
Calendar
The calendar is one of the more popular features in all styles and power types of watches. It's most commonly available with either just the date displayed or the date and month displayed.
  Compass
A compass is an excellent safety feature to have on your watch, especially for outdoor enthusiasts. It helps determine direction with a magnetic needle(s) that points to the magnetic north. This feature is most often found in sport-style watches and is available in all power-types of watches.
Chronograph
A chronograph acts as a stopwatch by measuring and recording time, i.e., lap time. It usually appears as a smaller dial on analog displays and is accessible at the touch of a button for digital displays. Chronograph features are available in all power types of watches and are most popular in a sport-style watch.
Digital Display
A digital watch displays time in actual numbers on an LCD or LED screen, instead of a hand that rotates around markers or numbers. Digital watches are available in sport and casual styles. A digital display is most commonly found in battery-powered watches.
  Dual Timer (Dual Time Zones)
A watch that has dual timers is able to keep local time along with time from another time zone. This can be displayed with two dials, an extra hand or switched over to a different zone with a button depending on the type of watch. The dual-timer feature is available in all power types of watches.
Lighted Dials
The dial, or face, of the watch lights up for better visibility in the dark. This light is usually activated by a button on the side, such as the Indiglo® by Timex®. Lighted dials are more common in casual and sport styles than dress and are only available in battery-powered watches.
Luminous
Many watch styles may not have lighted dials but they may offer luminous parts, such as hands or markers, for better visibility at night. A self-illuminating material or paint is used on the hands and/or markers that causes these objects to glow in the dark. Luminous parts are common in all styles and power types of watches.
Perpetual Calendar™
A perpetual calendar appears to be just like a regular calendar feature, except it is automatic. You never have to reset the calendar, it's always right — it even adjusts for leap years! The perpetual calendar was trademarked by Seiko® but similar technologies can be found in other models.
  Power Reserve
You may hear or see this phrase when shopping for a mechanical, automatic or quartz watch. The power reserve is the amount of time the watch will keep time accurately once fully charged.
  Shock Resistant
This feature can most often be found in sport watches. Shock-resistant watches are able to be worn during vigorous activities without jarring the small parts inside the watch.
Subdial
Subdials are smaller dials on the larger main dial used to keep time in a different time zone or measure elapsed time. Sometimes the subdial is simply the second hand. This feature can be found on all styles and power types of watches.
Tachometer
This feature allows the wearer to calculate the speed of travel using the numeric scale on the bezel. Tachometers are not extremely common and are usually found on flight-style watches.

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Watches Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Alarm - This feature allows you to preset an alarm to sound.
Analog
An analog watch is nondigital. One or more hands spin around a dial of numbers or
number markers. Most mechanical, light-powered and kinetic watches are only
available in an analog style.
Bangle Band
A stiff, ornamental watch band that slips or clasps on. This is a popular style with women's fashion and dress watches.
Battery Life
The period of time a battery will continue to produce power. If battery life is low, your second hand will start to jump every four seconds before it stops completely.
Bezel
The bezel of a watch is the ring that holds the protective crystal in place. Some watches have rotating bezels that you can use for timing purposes. If a watch has more than one rotating bezel and numeric scales, it can be used for certain types of calculations.
Bracelet Band
A metallic watch band that fits loose like an ornamental band. Bracelet bands are common with both men's and women's dress and casual watches.
Calendar
A calendar feature is one of the more popular options available. Depending on the style of the watch, the calendar may show the day, date and month or just the date. Calendar features can be found in all power types of watches.
Changeable Band
Features interchangeable watch faces, bands or charms to offer a variety of looks.
Compass
This is an excellent safety feature, especially for outdoor enthusiasts. A compass helps determine direction with a magnetic needle(s) that points to the magnetic north. A compass function is available in all power types of watches.
Chronograph
A popular feature for sport watches, a chronograph acts as a stopwatch. It measures
and records time, i.e., lap time. Chronograph features are available in all power-types
of watches.
Crystal
The watch crystal is the clear, hard material that covers the watch face. Watch crystals come in many different materials. For example, there is scratch-resistant mineral crystal, non-reflective crystal (popular with sport watches) or the sapphire crystal used in light-powered watches, which is the one of the most expensive and durable.
Day/Date
The day/date function is the same thing as the calendar feature — which is commonly referred to as day/date.
Digital
A digital watch displays time in actual numbers on an LCD or LED screen, instead of a hand that rotates around markers or numbers. Digital watches are usually found in battery-powered styles only.
Dual Timer (Time Zones)
A watch that has dual timers is able to keep local time along with time from another time zone. This can be displayed with two dials or just an extra hand. The dual timer feature is available in all power types of watches.
Eco-Drive
Eco-Drive is Citizen's light-powered technology. Their Eco-Drive models absorb light, store it and convert it to energy to power the watch.
Expansion Band
Comfortable band with linked, expandable metal pieces that widen to fit your wrist. Found on dress and casual watches.
Face
This is the part of the watch where the dial is. Many times, face and dial are used to mean the same area.
Frequency
Number of times a function is repeated. For a watch, this usually means the number of vibrations in a second by the quartz piece found in battery-powered watches as well as some automatic styles.
Gold
A yellow metallic element.
Hands
Watch hands are the linear pieces attached to the center of the dial that rotate around the watch pointing at the numbers or number markers as time is measured. A typical watch has 2 to 3 hands: the hour hand is always the longest, the minute hand is shorter than the hour hand and the second hand is as long as the hour hand but thinner.
Kinetic Movement (Power)
Kinetic watches are powered by the movement of your arm and/or body. This movement causes a weight in the watch to swing creating energy to charging the frequency of a quartz piece. The energy is also able to be stored in a capacitor to keep the watch working while your arm or body is not moving.
Leather Band
A durable band that offers a casual look and comfortable feel.
Lighted Dial
Lighted dial simply means that the dial, or the face, of the watch lights up for better visibility at dark. This light is usually turned on by a button on the side such as in Indiglo® by Timex®.
Luminous
Many watch styles may not have lighted dials but they may offer luminous parts such as hands or markers. A self-illuminating paint or material is used on the hands and/or markers that causes these objects to glow in the dark.
Metallic Band
A ban