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A mechanical watch is a beautifully intricate timekeeping device that has been admired for centuries. Unlike modern battery-operated quartz watches, mechanical watches rely on a meticulously designed system of gears, springs, and oscillating weights to power their movement. These timepieces are often cherished for their craftsmanship, precision, and artistic value. Among mechanical watches, automatic watches are a popular subtype that offers the convenience of self-winding capabilities. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of a mechanical watch and provide you with some quick tips to recognize an automatic watch, allowing you to appreciate the wonders of this traditional timekeeping marvel.
Mechanical watches today are still one of the most popular wristwatches around the world. At the same time, the types of mechanical movements are still focused on improvement and continuous development by famous brands. So what is a mechanical watch that is so popular with so many people, let’s find out with Tnhelearning.edu.vn right away!
What is a mechanical watch?
A mechanical watch is a watch assembled from purely mechanical parts , the active energy completely existing in the form of mechanical energy. Mechanical watches do not use batteries or any other electronic devices.
Mechanical watches, especially famous Swiss watches, are mostly processed and decorated by hand by skilled craftsmen, so their lines look very delicate, sharp, and luxurious than other watches. Modern technology watches are molded by machines.
How are mechanical watches structured?
The structure of mechanical watches is very complicated, forming a unified block, transmitting kinetic energy to each other. The ultimate goal is to create the movement of the hands on the dial.
A mechanical watch has 5 parts: the dynamo, gears, escapement, controller, and time display.
Advantages and disadvantages
About advantages
– No need to change batteries during wear.
In the manufacturing process, although the watch production technique is much more modern, for mechanical watches, it is still forced to undergo manual processing in some parts. Therefore, these mechanical watches are highly appreciated in terms of aesthetics as well as artistic value.
– Unlike quartz watches with rather monotonous and boring designs, the design of mechanical watches is more diverse, quite unique and strange such as open-heart, tourbillon, ultra-thin designs, …
– Engine runs smoother.
However, there is an extremely unique line of quartz battery watches, which is the Bulova Precisionist, capable of creating 16 beats per second, creating a very smooth drift that is not inferior to mechanical watches. In addition, Bulova Precisionist has a lifespan of 2-3 years like conventional batteries, but the accuracy is 12 times higher with an error of only +-10 seconds in a year.
However, mechanical watches also carry some of the following disadvantages:
– Higher accuracy than quartz watches. Errors range from -20 to +30 seconds/day, high-standard models range from -4 to +6 seconds/day (quartz watches are ± 20 to ± 15 seconds/month).
– High price.
– Unstable in environments with many magnetic fields and electronic devices such as microwave ovens, magnets, etc.
Working principle
– The wearer’s wrist movement causes the flywheel to rotate and, through the gears, the main winding. It is also possible to wind up via the crown, as on a manual watch.
– The mainspring is made of large but thin metal wire, with good elasticity, durability and coiled. After being wound tightly, the mainspring will gradually unfurl, returning to its original state. It is this force that pulls the gears in motion.
– The gears rotate and drive each other. To prevent the gears from turbulent rotation, the watch needs an escapement (recovery). This escapement runs to the beat, continuously locking and unlocking the escape wheel so that the gear runs to the beat.
– The shafts of the gears are connected to the time hands (hours, minutes or seconds). When we put these hands on the watch face, we will know the time.
Classify
Based on how energy is charged to the mainspring, people divide mechanical watches into 2 types :
Handwinding (manual winding):
– It is a mechanical watch that must be wound manually, by turning the knob so that the mainspring coils tightly in the mainspring box to create energy for the watch. Wearing this watch line requires the user to wind it regularly. Depending on the type, there are types of power reserve for 1 day, some types for a few days.
Pros: Slim design and up to 2/3 times lighter than automatic mechanical watches. This thinness helps to add more functions or upgrade the power reserve to a higher level. In addition, having fewer machine parts also ensures a simpler and quicker maintenance and repair of the winding machine.
Defect:
– It is very inconvenient to have to sit on the wire every day by turning the knob (or using the key). If one day forgets to wind, the watch will be at risk of stalling, especially the old ones because they have a power reserve of only 36 hours or less. Letting the clock near the end of its power is also a cause for them to run less accurately.
– If the crown shaft is twisted a lot, it will wear out the core and if the user winds up incorrectly, it will easily bend the crown shaft. At the same time, the continuous opening and turning of the knob is also the cause of faster damage to the waterproof rubber seal.
Automatic (automatic winding):
– A type of watch that works on the principle of automatic winding by the operation of the user’s wrist. Just wear the watch on your hand and operate normally, the flywheel will rotate and transmit to the transmission wheels and rotate the mainspring cover.
– Based on the form of winding , people often divide Automatic watches into 2 types:
- Automatic watch : You will not need to manually act on the mainspring, instead just wear the watch on your hand for about 8 hours a day.
- Semi-Automatic Watch : This is the type of watch that integrates both Automatic and self-winding, so if you don’t wear it long enough for the watch to reserve power, you can turn the crown to generate power. for the apparatus to be able to operate sequentially.
Advantages: If users use them regularly, they will work stably, no need to periodically wind up.
Cons : Must wear watches often, otherwise when restarting it takes a long time to initialize them to work properly again.
How to distinguish a mechanical watch from a regular quartz watch?
The special feature of mechanical watches to help distinguish them from other watches is the movement of the seconds hand. The seconds hands on mechanical watches work very smoothly, looking like they are gently sweeping a lap, while the battery watches will have a characteristic jerky movement that looks quite rough.
– Flip the back of the watch up, most mechanical watches will allow you to see the flywheel and their internals.
– The accuracy of automatic movements is often not as high as that of quartz watches, with a deviation of about 20 to 30 seconds a day.
– Usually on the automatic mechanical watch face will write the words “Automatic”, or many mechanical watch lines will design to expose the machine to the outside.
Notes when buying mechanical watches
– Because of the complex structure of hundreds of small joints, mechanical watches are less resistant to shock and force than battery watches.
Metal watch parts are very sensitive to moisture, chemicals, and magnetic fields, so keep the watch away from all of them. When the watch glass breaks, entering the water must go for repair and maintenance immediately.
– If you are a person who is often active and plays high-intensity sports, you should consider choosing the right “sports” automatic watch model. These models are also very easy to find, currently Seiko, Orient, Citizen, Bulova, Tissot, Doxa, Longines, …
Above is information about mechanical watches that Tnhelearning.edu.vn shares with you. Hope the above information will help you choose to buy the right watch.
In conclusion, a mechanical watch is a timekeeping device that operates using a complex system of gears and springs, without relying on electricity or batteries. It is a traditional and classic choice for watch enthusiasts, sought after for its craftsmanship, precision, and aesthetic appeal.
To recognize a mechanical watch quickly, one can look out for certain key features. Firstly, mechanical watches usually have a sweeping seconds hand that moves smoothly rather than ticking. This signifies the intricate movement of the gears within. Additionally, mechanical watches often have a transparent case back, allowing a glimpse into the intricate mechanics and craftsmanship.
Other visual cues include the absence of a battery compartment or a digital display. Instead, mechanical watches typically have a crown on the side, used for winding the watch or setting the time. It is also worth noting that mechanical watches tend to be heavier than their quartz counterparts due to the presence of the delicate internal mechanisms.
Furthermore, the overall design and presentation of a mechanical watch often exude a timeless elegance, with intricately designed dials, hands, and markers that are meticulously crafted.
In conclusion, mechanical watches offer a blend of artistry, engineering, and tradition, making them a desirable choice for wristwear. By recognizing the distinct features mentioned above, one can quickly identify a mechanical watch, appreciating the skill and craftsmanship that goes into creating such a timeless timepiece.
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