What is a watch movement?
A watch movement is the device housed in the case that powers the watch. The term originated in early clocks and watches that consisted of many functioning parts. Movement types vary from watch to watch and include mechanical, automatic and quartz movements. Remember, regardless of the type of movement in a watch, its core purpose is to tell accurate time. Ready to learn what a mechanical movement is? This watch basics guide will explain mechanical movements and much more.
- What are the types of watch movements?
Watch movements can be divided into two categories: mechanical movements and quartz movements. As the name suggests, a mechanical movement consists of a series of interconnected parts that operate "mechanically" without the use of electricity or batteries. Quartz movements, on the other hand, are battery-operated watch movements.
- How does a Mechanical Watch work?
There are two types of mechanical watches: manual and automatic. The former requires the watch to be wound manually by turning the crown every few days. The latter, invented at the end of the 18th century, has an automatic winding mechanism, meaning that it does not need to be wound manually if the watch is worn continuously.
The movements of both types of mechanical watches consist of a crown, a mainspring, a gear train, an escapement and a balance wheel. The principle is not complicated. The mainspring is the power reserve, which stores energy and transfers it through the gears and hairspring, regulating the release of energy and ultimately powering the watch.
The amount of energy that can be stored (power reserve) depends on the specific movement. For example, a mechanical hand-wound watch with an 80-hour power reserve must be rewound every 80 hours to continue running.
A mechanical self-winding watch also has a power reserve, but with the addition of a metal weight called an oscillating weight, so that the energy is transferred automatically with the movement of the wrist. What does this mean? If you own an automatic watch, unless the oscillating weight is not fully activated (for example, if you are not wearing the watch), the watch will continue to function beyond the specified power reserve.
- How does a Quartz Watch work?
In 1957, Hamilton unveiled the first battery-powered electronic wristwatch, the triangular-shaped Expedition. Favored by Elvis Presley, this iconic watch revolutionized watchmaking by using a battery as its primary power source.
As technology evolved, a quartz crystal resonator now replaced the balance wheel and integrated circuits were built to deliver a constant flow of battery power to the quartz crystal.
In 1970, Hamilton again revolutionized watchmaking by announcing the Hamilton Pulsar, the first electrically powered digital wristwatch, featuring a bright red LED display and a futuristic look with no running parts. 2020, we pay tribute to this model with the PSR. In 2020, we honor the 50th anniversary of the PSR with a digital quartz watch.
- How can I tell what type of movement powers my watch?
Either a mechanical or a quartz movement can power a hand-operated watch. You can easily tell the difference by watching the movement of the second hand. A mechanical watch has a continuous, silent sweep of the seconds, while a quartz watch jumps from one second to the next with a "click".
In addition, all digital watches are powered by electricity, from simple LCD watches to complex smartwatches.
- Which watch movement is right for me?
While quartz watches are superior in terms of accuracy and reliability, watch enthusiasts and collectors often prefer mechanical watches because of the craftsmanship and heritage they represent. If you want a watch that tells the time and is full of character, then a mechanical watch is the ideal choice. Take a look at the brand's original military timepiece, the Khaki Field Mechanical with its hand-wound movement, which tells a fascinating story.
