For more than a decade, Nixon Watches have been a prominent brand in the action sports industry and beyond. What started out as a solid idea in 1997 has turned into a full blown collection of classic timepieces, apparel, accessories and more. Industry vets Chad DiNenna and Andy Laats put their minds together and set out to create something that the world seemed to be lacking at that time – watches for the action athletes of the world. With roots in snowboarding and skateboarding and quite impressive schooling backgrounds, the two worked hard and were able to gain funding from venture capitalists and start the brand. In ’97 they released their first catalog – including 7 watches – and the rest is history.
They’ve come a long way since those early days and so has the Nixon watch collection itself. From their early tide watches to a full automatic movement “Elite” collection, Nixon now shares the shelves with the biggest names in the watch game. In this article, we will break down all the terminology that goes along with shopping for a fancy watch so you know what to look for in your next investment. From movement to crystal materials to water proofing – here’s to understanding Nixon watches.
Anatomy Of A Watch
The band, the face, the turn-y thing on the side – turns out all these parts have real names.. The diagram below breaks down each individual part. Not all watches will have all of these specific parts but this will help you get familiar with the various names of each part.
Movement
The movement is what makes the watch tick. There are three main types of movement used for most watches – digital, quartz and mechanical (or automatic).
Digital
Nixon created a custom digital movement for all of their digital watches. Digital watches are the kind that do not have hands. Digital watches generally have a LCD or MLCD display and are the easiest to read. There are two kinds of digital display types – positive and negative. Positive Display uses a light background with dark numbers and Negative Display uses a dark background with light numbers.
Quartz
The tell-tale sign of a quartz movement watch is a second hand that makes a ticking sound. These are battery operated and will generally offer the most precise time keeping. Nixon uses MIYOTA quartz movements and is considered the best in its class. MIYOTA is also the movement division of Citizen Watch Company. Some of Nixon’s higher end quartz movement watches ISA and Ronda Swiss movement – while the 51-30 (one of Nixon’s most popular watches) uses a custom designed Swiss Quartz movement.
Mechanical (or Automatic) Movements
A mechanical or automatic movement watch will have a sweeping second hand that is spring / gear driven and does not operate on batteries. You will find this movement throughout the Elite Class, Nixon’s highest end line of watches.
Case Materials
This refers to the material around the face of the watch, that houses the movement. There are several different types of case materials and each has it’s own benefits. We will break down the most popular case materials that Nixon uses in their watches.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate watches are extremely durable, lightweight, immune to corrosion (won’t fade over time) and can come in countless different colors. You will find this case material in watches like The Time Teller P, The Unit and The Newton.
Acetate
Also lightweight and resistant to corrosion, Acetate offers a very rich coloring which can be mixed for a ton of gorgeous color options. Since every piece is hand finished, acetate watches will always vary in look from piece to piece. Some gorgeous acetate watches from Nixon include The Time Teller Acetate, The Vega and several colors in the 42-20.
Stainless Steel
The most commonly used case material throughout the Nixon line (and in most watch collections) is stainless steel. Rock hard and highly durable, Nixon uses only material grade 304 and 316 stainless steel. This material is available in a variety of finish options and has a long life span.
Titanium
Heading to the higher end of Nixon’s collection, you may stumble upon a titanium watch or two. Unbelievably lightweight and strong – titanium watches offer a similar look to a stainless steel watch without all the weight. Titanium is also less prone to allergic reactions so people with sensitive skin may be interested in this material.
Ceramic
Saving the best for last, ceramic hits the top of the baller watch material list. Immune to corrosion, highly scratch resistant and arguably the most attractive of all the finishes – ceramic is a must have in every time piece collection. Available throughout the Elite Class and in select watches in the regular line, Nixon’s ceramic collection rivals any other high end watch company on the market.
Crystal Materials
The crystal is the piece that covers the face of the watch, protecting the movement from the outside world. Each different material has various benefits like strength, scratch resistance and durability.
Plexi or Plastic
Only a couple watches in the line come with a plexi or plastic crystal – the Lowdown and the Rubber Re-Run to be exact. This option is perfect for a more active watch because of it’s lightweight and strong nature.
Hardened Mineral
Hardened mineral is highly impact resistant and a very dense / hard material getting a vickers rating of 1200. Meant to take a beating, this material is found on some of their most popular watches – the Player and the 51-30.
Sapphire Crystals
Reserved for a select few of their higher end watches, sapphire crystal is found on top dog’s like the Ceramic Player and Ceramic 51-30. Extremely scratch resistant and hard as a rock, getting a vickers rating of 2300. For their highest end watches that are still made to stand the test of time, Nixon uses only the best.
Water Resistance
With a background in the action sports industry you know these guys are going to make watches that can stand up to Mother Nature. Water resistance refers to the structural integrity of that watch, the ratings are a metric of static pressure. Water resistancy can fade over time as the watch endures wear and tear – water resistance ratings are always based on watches that are in good working condition. Also note that pushers (timers, lights, etc) should never be used underwater – this can compromise the water tight features. There are three types of water resistance rating systems – ATM (atmospheric pressure), Meters, and BAR rating. Nixon rates their watches in meters so that is what we will break down for you. (also note that these ratings apply to water 60 degrees and above, colder water can affect the watch differently and caution should be taken using your watch in lower temps.)
- 30 Meters – hand washing / light splashes
- 50 Meters – light swimming
- 100 Meters – surfing / swimming / rafting
- 200 Meters – suitable for professional marine surface activity
- 300 Meters or greater – suitable for diving at depth (in a non-helium rich environment)
Shape / Size
This category really comes down to personal preference. Some watches are round, some are square, some are big and some are, well, really big. Nixon has small icons next to each watch description notating the size of the watch casing. The sizes range S – XL. Measurements are as follows –
- Small – 31mm and below
- Medium – 32mm – 41mm
- Large – 42mm – 47mm
- XL – 48mm – 52mm
That about concludes our Nixon Watch breakdown. We hope this will help you narrow down your options the next time you embark on a watch shopping journey. Another side note is Nixon has a killer warranty.