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What Is a Mechanical Watch: A Clear and Complete Guide

By Karlton Miko Tyack Updated February 26, 2024

Exactly what is a mechanical watch? The way the work “mechanical” is used in everyday watch talk can make it confusing — until now.

If you’re a beginner in the watch world, you might not exactly know what a mechanical watch is. One minute, the phrase gets used interchangeably with other terms. Then, in another conversation, it’s considered a markedly different thing. 

You know the terms I’m referring to —  mechanical movements. Automatic movements. Manual Movements. What’s what?

Perhaps you’re not a complete novice, but you’re just deep in it enough. It’s like when you’ve been associated with a coworker long enough, but you still don’t know his name. You certainly don’t want to ask him directly.

No problem. I’m here to clear everything up.

Table of Contents

  • Mechanical Watches: What Exactly Are They? 
  • Mechanical vs Automatic Watch 
  • Mechanical Movements: Unnecessary Yet Beloved 
  • FAQs
  • Conclusion: The Original Watches 

Mechanical Watches: What Exactly Are They? 

The best way to answer is by first phrasing it this way: How does a mechanical watch work? Relatedly, what makes it different from other watches?

Seiko Sarb035 6R15 Movement

There are two main types of watches, each with a different type of movement. You have quartz watches, which are powered by an electronic oscillator.

It’s regulated by a quartz crystal, which is how it gets its name. For an in-depth look at this and all other types of movements, we have an excellent guide on the matter.

A mechanical movement is analogous to a quartz electronic. 

It’s powered by traditional clockwork mechanisms, meaning it’s mechanized by a mainspring which needs to be wound.

Tourbillon-Watch-Movement
Source: Wikimedia.org

The mainspring stores the energy that turns into power, which is transferred through a gear train. This gear train also works with a part of the movement called the balance wheel to make the seconds, minutes, and hours tick.

As such, the gear train also contains the part of the movement that allows the mainspring to be wound. 

Then, there’s the escapement, which is a link, part of which is a toothed wheel and pallet. The escapement unfastens the gear train and stimulates the balance wheel. This causes the movement of the hands.

The escapement also prevents the wheels from uncontrollably spinning. Each tooth of the escapement wheel is released every time the balance wheel swings.

Meanwhile, the pallet mentioned above holds the escapement wheel back. So, the gear train advances incrementally, as do the watch hands.

Watch Movements Explained

These are the most important parts of a mechanical movement. I’ve also set up a whole dictionary of watch terminology. You can use it to understand what every term is in relation to the other.

Mechanical vs Automatic Watch 

One of the reasons why defining a mechanical can often be confusing is its relation to what an automatic is. To clear this up, there are two kinds of mechanical watches, and an automatic is one of them. The other kind is a manual wind watch.

Automatic movements feature a self-winding mechanism. You don’t need to wind your automatic watch when the power reserve runs out. It’ll simply repower itself using the motions of your wrist thanks to a rotating weight in the movement. 

Of course, if you never take it for a long enough time for the power reserve to exhaust, it’ll never stop running.

Winding A Watch

Meanwhile, you must rewind a timepiece with a manual wind movement after every time you wear it or before its power reserve runs out.

Since automatics are far more common these days, manual winds often get described as being simply “mechanical”. Even though both manuals and automatics are both mechanical, this makes it confusing.

Some might think that, as a rule, a mechanical watch is always a manual wind. Now you know it isn’t, even if a watch description seems to treat it as if that’s the case.

Mechanical Movements: Unnecessary Yet Beloved 

So, why are there still mechanical watches? And why are automatics often deemed a higher form of horology than other movements?

Well, let’s put it this way. We live at a point in history when most people don’t actually need watches at all. At least, we certainly don’t need them to tell time.

Though frankly, I think wristwatches are a great way to avoid the doom scroll of your phone. Even more, quartz watches are more accurate than mechanicals, anyway.

Still, very few watchmakers bother to showcase a movement via an exhibition caseback if it isn’t mechanical. Even fewer watchmakers subject their movements to rigorous testing to get certifications for strength and accuracy if they aren’t mechanicals.

We wear watches for style, stories, and the fact they combine art with science. Mechanicals represent that history and exhibit a level of engineering.

Often, but not always, a mechanical movement takes more skill to build. At the very least, any cheap fashion watch can be outfitted with a low-level quartz watch. They’re simply easier to build on a budget.

Heck, manual wind watches still get made. A lot of us, myself included, love the engagement factor and tactility watches offer.

FAQs

If you want some at-a-glance answers to common questions about mechanicals, we’ve got them right here!

What Is a Mechanical Watch vs an Automatic?

An automatic watch is a type of mechanical watch that winds itself. The other type is a manual wind, which one needs to restart once its power runs out.

Does a Mechanical Watch Have a Battery?

No, unlike a quartz watch, a mechanical isn’t electronic. It has an analog, mechanized clockwork system that features a mainspring to release and store energy.

What Is the Point of a Mechanical Watch?

The movement technically never dies the way an electronic quartz watch can. Moreover, people love the engineering and historical quality of mechanical movements.

Conclusion: The Original Watches 

Essentially, mechanical movements are the original watch movements. They’re the shrunken version of what you’d find in a vintage clock. 

This is why we love them so much.

And now you know what exactly a mechanical watch is. I hope that was helpful!

What do you love about mechanical watches? Do you prefer them to quartz models? And, are you like me and still love a manual-wind? Let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter at The Slenderwrist!

Categories: Watch Guides

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Karlton Miko Tyack

About Karlton Miko Tyack

A lifelong watch enthusiast, Karlton has worked with quality timepieces of all price points and calibers, vintage and contemporary. He was born in LA, studied art history in Boston, and is a lover of rugby, football, and optimism.

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