A movement of a watch can be considered the engine of the watch. The mechanical watch movement works as a tiny powerhouse to your watch. It is important to understand the movement of your mechanical watch to better take care of it.
1. The Mainspring
The mainspring stores the mechanical energy needed to power the watch. It can be compared to the gas needed to power an engine. This is the power source for a mechanical movement.
2. The Balance Wheel
The balance wheel serves as a mechanism to keep the time of the watch. It acts like a pendulum in a pendulum clock. Each swing of the wheel leads to a transfer of energy that moves the hands forward. The wheel is also a cause for the ticking sound that is heard with a mechanical watch.
3. The Gear Train
The gear train is the system formed by mounting gears on each other so the teeth of the gears work together in a transfer of energy. This mechanism can also be called the wheel train. The gears are needed to move the hands and mechanism of the watch. This also includes the key-less works that allow the wearer to move the hands to the preferred time in the outward stem position.
4. The Escapement
This mechanism has two functions. The first is to keep the balance wheel vibrating and moving and the second function is to advance the gears a controlled amount with each swing.
5. The Watch Dial
The dial is the face of the watch, right below the hands. Watch dials are what most people think of when they envision a watch. Dials vary widely in design and are often a major selling point for watches. Many admire skeleton dials that show the innerworkings of the watch, or dials with lume that’ll glow in the dark.
If you are interested in learning more or creating your own mechanical watch head to the Rotate Watchmaking shop page here!