The spelling of the word "bezel" might seem tricky because of the unusual "z" in the middle. However, the IPA phonetic transcription can help to make sense of it. The first syllable "bez" is pronounced like "bees" with a Z sound instead of an S. The second syllable "el" is pronounced like "ell" with an L sound. So, "bezel" is pronounced as "beez-uhl". It refers to a part of a piece of jewelry or a watch that surrounds the face and holds the glass in place.
A bezel refers to a term utilized in various fields, primarily in the domains of jewelry, horology, and technology. In the realm of jewelry, a bezel is an elevated, smooth, and often metal rim that surrounds and secures a precious stone, such as a gem or diamond, within a piece of jewelry. This rim serves to enhance the stone's appearance, protect it from damage, and hold it securely in place. Bezels can come in various shapes, such as circular, square, or oval, depending on the desired aesthetic.
In horology, bezel indicates the outer ring or groove found on the exterior of a timepiece's watch face. This bezel can be stationary or rotatable and is primarily utilized for a variety of functions, such as measuring time intervals or tracking additional features like a compass or tachymeter. The rotation aspect allows the user to operate and adjust certain functions with ease.
Regarding technology, the term bezel is associated with the border area surrounding the display screen of electronic devices, like smartphones, tablets, or laptops. Bezel size refers to the measurement of the metal or plastic frame that encases the screen. In modern technology, the trend has been towards minimizing bezel size to maximize the screen-to-body ratio and enhance the visual experience for users.
Overall, whether referring to jewelry, horology, or technology, the bezel acts as a significant element serving multiple purposes such as decoration, protection, functionality, and optimization of design aesthetics.
The ledge which surrounds and retains a jewel or other object in the cavity in which it is set.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "bezel" originally comes from the Old French word "besel", which means "collet of a gemstone". It is believed to be derived from the Medieval Latin word "basiellus", meaning "little crown". The Latin term is a diminutive of "bases", which means "crown" or "royal insignia". Over time, the meaning of "bezel" expanded to refer to various types of settings for gemstones or other objects, particularly in the context of watches and jewelry.