Conversely, if the watch remains motionless for too long - say, in a safe or on a nightstand - its mainspring will run down and the watch will need to be wound and set again to start timekeeping anew. Continually wearing this type of watch will “automatically” wind it. The two main types of mechanical movements are manually wound (or “hand-winding”), in which the user needs to periodically wind the watch via the crown to keep it working and automatic (or “self-winding”), in which the mainspring is wound by a rotor (or “oscillating weight”), usually a rounded semicircular mass that swings with the natural motions of the wearer’s wrist. It isn’t really a question of difference: the latter is simply a specific type of the former, à la a Cognac and a brandy. What is the difference between a mechanical movement and an automatic movement? Later, a type of movement was developed that could be wound “automatically,” through the motions of the wearer’s wrist. Originally, the mainspring needed to be wound periodically by hand, first by a key, then by a winding crown attached via a stem to the movement. The balance wheel’s oscillations are linked to an escapement, which periodically releases the gear train to move the hands forward to record the passing of hours, minutes, and seconds. What is a Mechanical Movement?Ī mechanical movement, the oldest type of movement in horology, uses a coiled metal spring, called a mainspring, that releases energy as it uncoils through a series of gears to drive a weighted, oscillating wheel called a balance wheel. In this comprehensive guide to watch movements, we will attempt to answer every question that you might have about movements - their different types, their important parts, who makes them, and even a bit of history and trivia. Watch movements, like the engines in cars, are the mechanisms that make the whole thing run, and if you're new to the world of avid watch enthusiasm, there's more to learn about them, and how they work, than you think. Get 5% Off Your First Order Of Select Brands - Use Code 'FirstOrder'. Book a Consultation with our Watch Specialist Here.

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