Type of watch which uses a clockwork mechanism to measure the passage of time
The hand-winding movement of a Russian watch
A mechanical watch is a watch that uses a clockwork mechanism to measure the passage of time, as opposed to quartz watches which function using the vibration modes of a piezoelectric quartz tuning fork, or radio watches, which are quartz watches synchronized to an atomic clock via radio waves. A mechanical watch is driven by a mainspring which must be wound either periodically by hand or via a self-winding mechanism. Its force is transmitted through a series of gears to power the balance wheel, a weighted wheel which oscillates back and forth at a constant rate. A device called an escapement releases the watch's wheels to move forward a small amount with each swing of the balance wheel, moving the watch's hands forward at a constant rate. The escapement is what makes the 'ticking' sound which is heard in an operating mechanical watch. Mechanical watches evolved in Europe in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century.
Mechanical watches are typically not as accurate as quartz watches,[1][2][3] and they eventually require periodic cleaning, lubrication and calibration by a skilled watchmaker.[3] Since the 1970s and 1980s, as a result of the quartz crisis, quartz watches have taken over most of the watch market, and mechanical watches (especially Swiss-made watches) are now mostly marketed as luxury goods, purchased for their aesthetic and luxury values, for appreciation of their fine craftsmanship,[2] or as a status symbol.[2]
^Hahn, Ed; et al. (The TimeZone Community) (2003-10-04). "Question 1.5: Why should I get a mechanical watch when a quartz watch is so much cheaper and more accurate?". Mechanical Watch FAQ V1.0. TimeZone.com. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
^ abcLynch, Annette; Strauss, Mitchell (2007). Changing Fashion: A Critical Introduction to Trend Analysis and Cultural Meaning. Berg. pp. 148–149. ISBN 978-1845203900.
^ abHaines, Reyne (2010). Vintage Wristwatches. Krause Publications. p. 9. ISBN 978-1440214790.
A mechanicalwatch is a watch that uses a clockwork mechanism to measure the passage of time, as opposed to quartz watches which function using the vibration...
vibrating quartz crystal. By the 1980s the quartz watch had taken over most of the market from the mechanicalwatch. Historically, this is called the quartz revolution...
horological terms, a complication in a mechanicalwatch is a special feature that causes the design of the watch movement to become more complicated. Examples...
An automatic watch, also known as a self-winding watch or simply an automatic, is a mechanicalwatch where the natural motion of the wearer provides energy...
machine labor instead of human or animal labor Mechanicalwatch, utilizing a non-electric mechanism Mechanical engineering, a branch of engineering concerned...
the 15th century. The watch was developed by inventors and engineers from the 16th century to the mid-20th century as a mechanical device, powered by winding...
A watch timing machine or timegrapher is a machine that acoustically measures the ticks of a mechanicalwatch to assess its accuracy and enable calibration...
skeleton watch is a mechanicalwatch in which the moving parts are visible. This may be through either the front of the watch, the back of the watch or a...
water resistance) guarantees a very high-quality mechanicalwatch for the end customer. Mechanical watches can be first COSC ISO 3159 "Chronometer" certified...
the mechanicalwatch in continuous production for the longest. Eco-Drive watches use a battery recharged by a solar panel hidden under the watch face...
Watch Group (Chinese: 天津海鸥) is a watchmaking company located in Tianjin, China. Founded in 1955, it is the world's largest manufacturer of mechanical...
the world's most complicated mechanicalwatch until 1989, currently holds the title of the most expensive pocket watch ever sold at auction (US$24 million/21...
hack watch is a mechanicalwatch whose movement offers a mechanism for stopping and setting the seconds hand of the watch, then restarting the watch the...
commonly known as the "Tongji" (Chinese: 统机, "unified") movement, is a mechanicalwatch movement that was developed in the People's Republic of China during...
the invention of the verge escapement, which made possible the first mechanical clocks around 1300 in Europe, which kept time with oscillating timekeepers...
predominant use of jewel bearings is in mechanical watches, where their low and predictable friction improves watch accuracy as well as improving bearing...
balance wheel in a mechanicalwatch, to protect the wheel's delicate pivots from damage in the event of physical shock, such as if the watch is dropped. The...
Constantin introduced the pocket watch Reference 57260, which currently holds the title of the most complicated mechanicalwatch ever made, with 57 horological...
Sellita (Sellita Watch Co. SA) is a Swiss manufacturer of mechanicalwatch movements based in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the canton of Neuchâtel. Founded in...
type of mechanicalwatch where the movement is transmitted to the hands through a transparent crystal toothed wheel. The first see-through watch, known...
escapements to be invented in modern times and is used in most of the mechanicalwatch models currently produced by Omega SA. During the quartz crisis, English...
artisanal craftsmanship producing mostly mechanical watches. The name Swatch is a contraction of "second watch", as the watches were intended as casual...
pressure and temperature, as well as dynamic mechanical stresses encountered by a watch. Every "diver's" badged watch has to be taken through a small but highly...
George Savage in the early 1800s. Since about 1900 virtually every mechanicalwatch, alarm clock and other portable timepiece has used the lever escapement...
An escapement is a mechanical linkage in mechanical watches and clocks that gives impulses to the timekeeping element and periodically releases the gear...
rugged military and amfibia mechanical watches. It also makes clocks and watch movements for other watch brands. The Vostok Watch Makers company was founded...
and 19GS for women's watch. The 61GS was Japan's first automatic ten beat watch, and it was the most accurate mechanicalwatch due to the high beat calibers...
Global Information