Types of Watch Movement. Watches are more than just an accessory; they’re an heirloom, an identification, and, of course, a timepiece. They are one of the most favourite accessories for anybody to own, here’s 7 reasons why.

If you’re in the market for a new watch, the sheer number of options can be make the experience daunting. So, which ones are actually better?

1403’s 2021 Watch Guide will discuss how to choose the right wrist watch for you, This article is for you if you’ve been thinking of becoming a watch wearer, or if you already are, but know very little about the timepiece you wear on your wrist. whatever you have in mind, you’re sure to find a worthy recommendation.

We’ll cover the basics of everything you’ve always wanted to know about Watch movement mechanisms. The following is a comprehensive list of wristwatch movement types — all the important details in one location, presented in an open, easy-to-understand manner.

Movement / Watch Movement

When you first start learning about watches, you’ll notice that the word “movement” appears often. What is a watch’s mechanism? What’s the big deal about it? A watch’s movement, or caliber, is what keeps it ticking.

The mechanism that drives the hands on a watch face and powers complications such as a clock, chronograph, or the sweeping of a watch’s hands across its face, as well as the way its inner mechanisms create the effect, are all part of movement. The movement of a watch is crucial to how it functions and keeps time; consider it the watch’s “heart.”

The appearance of a watch is one of the main purchasing reasons why people buy watches. A man with a keen eye for detail would value the mechanism on the inside of a timepiece.

The interior of a watch is carefully designed by a watchmaker, who spends the majority of his time doing so. Many who understand the intricacies of watchmaking insist that meticulously designed mechanisms characterize a masterpiece and distinguish it from a mediocre watch.

There are three types of watch movement:

Mechanical – the movement will cause the second hand to move in a smooth sweeping motion. The watch requires manual winding to operate.

Automatic – kinetic energy from the wearer’s wrist is transferred automatically to drive the mechanism inside the watch.

Quartz – the movement causes the second hand to move in individual ticks. Powered by a battery.

Outlined below are the differences between the types of watch movements, including their advantages and disadvantages.

Mechanical Movement

First among the types of Watch movement is the mechanical movement watch that is powered by a mainspring — a coiled wire of metal — that is wound by hand.

Once the mainspring is wound, it slowly and evenly unwinds, causing the second hand to move in a smooth, sweeping motion around the watch’s face. Most mainsprings are about 9-13 inches long. The longer the mainspring, the longer your mechanical watch lasts, and the longer you can go between each winding and the next.

Not all mechanical movements are made the same though. The attention to detail and craftsmanship that goes into each watch determines its smoothness and accuracy.

For many Watch aficionados, mechanical movement represent the crème de la crème of timepieces due to their traditional pedigree and the intricate work and engineering that must go into creating them. For these enthusiasts, owning a mechanical watch isn’t just about telling time, it’s a way to express their appreciation for history, refinement, and craftsmanship.

Pros of Mechanical Watches:

It doesn’t need a Battery. Because a mechanical watch is powered by a hand-wound mainspring, you’ll never have to go to a jeweler to replace a battery. When the watch stops ticking, all you need do is to wind it up.
Smooth movement. For some folks, a smooth sweeping movement on the second hand is more aesthetically pleasing than listening to the tick sounds of quartz watches. If that’s important to you, then go with a mechanical watch.
Unique Craftsmanship. The engineering and craftswork that goes into a mechanical watch is a breathtaking art form on its own merit. Inside your watchcase are tiny gears and springs that work together to give you the time. Sure, no one usually sees it, but that’s part of the charm; a watchmaker has spent hours and hours perfecting a mechanism that’s hidden from the eye. If you appreciate craftsmanship, then consider adding a mechanical movement watch to your collection.
Traditional. For some, one of the appeals of a mechanical watch is that the owner must hand-wind it to keep it working. There’s something about the ritual of winding your watch at the end of the day that connects you more with time. There’s also something to be said for having to regularly tend to one of your possessions to keep it “alive” and ticking.

Cons of Mechanical Watches:

Requires regular winding. While most mechanical watch mainsprings can go two days without winding, it’s recommended that you wind it once a day. As mentioned above, some folks get pleasure from this, but others find it tiring.
Sensitive to the environment. A mechanical watch’s movement is particularly sensitive to the setting because it relies on a plethora of complex springs and gears to keep time. The Four Horsemen of the Mechanical Watch Apocalypse are moisture, dust, shocks, and magnets.

Fortunately, most modern varieties have been engineered to withstand these conditions, but caution should still be exercised. Choose a quartz watch for everyday wear if you work in an area that exposes you to moisture, dirt, magnets, and/or large bumps (such as hammering or splitting wood), and save the mechanical watch for dressier occasions.
Accuracy deteriorates with time. Although a well-made mechanical watch can hold time to 99.999 percent precision (roughly +/- 1 second every day), the accuracy begins to deteriorate with age and usage.

To keep your mechanical watch accurate, you’ll need to take it to a jeweler every 5 to 10 years for a tune-up. Furthermore, mechanical watches are not all made equal; some are more accurate than others.
Expensive. A mechanical watch can cost you more because of the craftsmanship and precision engineering that goes into it. Although there are some fine mechanical watches under $500, the majority are much more — sometimes much more.

Automatic Movement

Among the types of watch movement is the Automatic watches, which are similar to mechanical watches in that they are operated by a mainspring and shift the watch hands using complicated gears, but they do not require the user to wind the watch manually to keep it ticking.

Instead, the mainspring is wound up by your activity during the day as you wear the watch. As a result, the term “automatic movement” was coined. They’re often referred to as “self-winding” timepieces.

How does a self-winding automatic movement watch work? Well, inside the watch, there’s a tiny weight called a “rotor” that swings as your wrist moves during the day. It’s attached to the mainspring and goes with it, winding the mainspring. A slipping clutch device is also included in automatic watches to prevent the watch from being over-wound when you’re wearing it.

You can put your automatic watch in a watch winder if you aren’t wearing it. It’s a small gadget that keeps the watch wound by rotating it in a circular motion while it’s being stored.

This is especially important to do. for example, say you have a calendar on your automatic watch, but you decide not to wear it for a few days. The power will run out if you don’t store it in a winder, and then you’ll have to reset both the time and calendar when you decide to wear the watch again.

Pros of Automatic Watches

Also No battery needed. The watch movement, like the mechanical watch uses a hand-wound mainspring. So you’ll never have to worry about replacing a battery.
Don’t have to wind it by hand. If having to hand-wind a mechanical watch bothers you. But you still want the sophistication of a mechanical watch, an automatic watch is a nice compromise.
Smooth movement. Just like manually-wound mechanical watches, automatic watches have a nice, smooth hand movement.
Craftsmanship. The same amount of engineering and craftsmanship goes into an automatic watch as a mechanical watch.

Cons of Automatic Watches

Sensitive to the environment. The same environmental factors that affects a mechanical watch also affects an automatic watch.
It needs storage when not in use. While an automatic watch doesn’t require winding if you wear it regularly, if you don’t, you’ll need to store it in a watch winder.
Winders are relatively inexpensive and they don’t take up too much shelf space. But it’s one extra thing you have to buy in order to own an automatic watch.
Less accurate over time. A well-made automatic watch can be as accurate as a well-made mechanical watch. But it will lose some accuracy over time and will need regular maintenance.
Expensive. Same issue as mechanical watches. Craftsmanship and engineering is not cheap!

Quartz Movement

The watch on your wrist right now, if you’re like most people would probably be a quartz watch. There’s a good reason for it. Among all types of movement watch, the Quartz watches are extremely reliable and inexpensive.

A Quartz movement wristwatch unlike the automatic or mechanical wristwatches. Has a different movement which draws power from a small battery and not a wound mainspring.

Electricity is transmitted from the battery via a small quartz crystal that vibrates at a rate of one vibration per second.
A circuit detects the vibrations and converts them into a pulse that shifts the watch’s second hand.

Quartz watches have a distinct “tick tick tick” movement since the second hand is moved by electric pulses. It doesn’t have the same smoothness as an automatic or a mechanical watch.

Quartz movements are much more precise and can endure a lot more abuse than mechanical or automatic watches because they rely on energy and have less moving parts.
As a result of this, most “sport” and “field” wristwatches are quartz movement pieces.

Quartz movements are also very inexpensive. Naturally, if you want anything with a little more style and refinement, you’ll have to pay a more.

Pros of Quartz Watches:

Accurate time. Quartz is by far the most accurate of all the watch movement types. Will never lose or add seconds throughout the day.
Doesn’t require as much maintenance. Besides changing the battery every year or so, there’s little maintenance you have to perform on a quartz movement watch.
Not susceptible to environmental changes and is Durable. Because they have few moving parts, a quartz watch can “take a beating and keep on ticking.”
It’s not as susceptible to the Four Horsemen of the Watch Apocalypse. If you’re in a job that requires a lot of rough and dirty work, then go with a Quartz movement watch.
Affordable. You can get quartz watches for as cheap as a few bucks. Though nicer looking ones can cost into the hundreds of dollars, they’re almost always cheaper than mechanical and automatic varieties.

Cons of Quartz Watches:

No smooth movement. The staggered movement of the second hand on a quartz watch isn’t as smooth as that of a mechanical or automatic watch.
Less romantic. The biggest con of quartz watches is that they lack the charm, character, and romance of mechanical or Automatic watches because they lack the history, technical craftsmanship, and engineering such timepieces possess.

Types of Watch Movement | The Watch Lover’s Guide