BASIC FUNCTIONALITY
The main spring is a source of stored energy, and the oscillating escapement assembly regulates the rate at which that energy is released. Because the gears in the “wheel train,” which consists of the mainspring and escapement, move at various speeds, the watch is able to “tell time.”
MAINSPRING
TRAIN OF WHEELS
BALANCE WHEEL
BLOG TO READ – WATCH MOVEMENTS 101
CAN’T TELL A QUARTZ FROM AN AUTOMATIC? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
A watch has many parts, but the most important of them by far is its movement. A movement
is composed of many pieces (hundreds in some cases), and it is the driving force behind your
watch, moving the hands and keeping time accurately day in, and day out. While watch
technology has been eclipsed by smartphones and other digital devices in recent years, it’s
still pretty fascinating when you get down to it – especially considering that people were
making accurate watches long before they could design them on computers. Not all movements,
however, are alike.
Discover how to differentiate between the most common kinds and
appreciate the merits of each.
READ MORE
, Written by Jeremy Freed
TIME SETTING & WINDING
Adjusting the time requires pulling out the crown and winding the watch requires pushing it in. Depending on whether you're pulling out or pushing in, a separate set of gears will be engaged.
HANDS
In conjunction with a dial, hands indicate what time it is. Hands indicate the hours,
minutes, and frequently the seconds. Hands come in a variety of styles from simple batons,
swords, and pointers, to ornate designs with curves and colors.
CROWN
The crown allows
the watch to be manually wound when required, when pulled out it allows the time to be set.
Watches with a date function often have a middle position between the winding position and the
time setting position which allows the date to be set as well. Waterproof watches often have a
screw-down crown to prevent it from being pulled out while being exposed to water.
MAINSPRING
A mainspring is a spring of metal used in mechanical watches and clocks. Turning
the crown winds the watch, tightening the mainspring. This is the energy source of the watch. The
power is transmitted through the train of wheels, through the escapement and gives the balance wheel
a gentle push every time it oscillates to keep the balance wheel moving back and forth, in turn
regulating the time keeping of the watch.
TRAIN OF WHEELS
The train of wheels connects the mainspring through a serious of wheels
connecting the mainspring and balance spring and escapement. The various gears are designed in
specific ratios to drive the hands of the watch to tell the correct time. Watch gears are called
wheels and pinions. Wheels are between the movement’s plates connected to pivots which rotate in
holes contained in the those plates which hold the watch together.
BALANCE WHEEL
The balancing wheel is protected by a jewel bearings and capstones, which are
mounted in a way that absorbs shock and protects the fine balance wheel pivots.
Together with the hairspring, pallet fork and escape wheel, they are the components which allow the
watch to keep time. The balance wheel and hairspring perform the same function as the pendulum on a
wall clock.
CRYSTAL
The crystal protects the dial and hands from dust and debris, revealing the time.
Although called a crystal, it may be constructed of plastic/acrylic, mineral glass, or sapphire.
Scratch resistant and durable, sapphire crystal is the typical choice in luxury
watchmaking.
To learn more and to discover what kind of sapphire crystal
Elka Watch Co.
use,
click here.