Trystan Casey
The internal mechanism of a watch, excluding the face and hands, is called the movement. Watch movements, like engines in cars, are what make the whole thing run. Mechanical watches, which can run without batteries or other electronic components, are powered by a mainspring that stores and releases energy. The balance wheel and escapement work together to regulate the timing accuracy of the movement. The balance wheel is a weighted wheel that oscillates back and forth at a specific rate. The escapement controls the release of energy to the balance wheel in small, regular intervals. In 1952, the first electric watches were publicly displayed by Elgin National Watch Company and Lip, and in 1957, the Hamilton Watch Company became the first to produce and retail an electric watch.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Watch movements are the mechanisms that make the watch run. |
| Types | Electric, mechanical, automatic, quartz, smart. |
| Parts | Mainspring, gear train, keyless work, balance wheel, escapement, jewels. |
| Function | The mainspring stores and releases energy to power the watch. The gear train transmits the force of the mainspring to the balance wheel. The keyless work allows the user to wind the mainspring and move the hands to set the time. The balance wheel and escapement work together to regulate the timing accuracy of the movement. Jewels are used in the going train to reduce friction. |
| Duration of Run | Most mechanical watch movements have a duration of run between 36 and 72 hours. Some can run for a week. |
| Accuracy | Mechanical watches are not as accurate as digital watches. |
| Maintenance | Mechanical watches require more maintenance than digital watches. |
| Fragility | Mechanical watches are more fragile than digital watches. |
| Symbolism | Mechanical watches have become a symbol of luxury, style, and craftsmanship. |
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What You'll Learn
The history of electro-mechanical watches
The journey of electro-mechanical watches began in 1952 when the Elgin National Watch Company and Lip publicly displayed the first electric wristwatches in Chicago and Paris. These pioneering timepieces laid the foundation for the electric watch revolution. However, it was the Hamilton Watch Company that made history by producing and retailing the first electric watch in 1957, known as the Hamilton Electric 500. This watch featured a balance wheel with an integrated coil, resembling a mechanical watch but with an electric impulse.
Early electric watches faced challenges with the reliability of switch contacts on the balance wheel. To address this, later designs incorporated electromagnetic sensing and transistors to enhance accuracy and reliability. This evolution led to the development of transistorized watches, which included a balance wheel and a transistor acting as a switch, eliminating the need for mechanical contacts.
The race to innovate in the world of electro-mechanical watches continued with the introduction of tuning fork watches. Unlike traditional balance wheel watches, tuning fork watches utilized a tuning fork driven by a solenoid and a transistor oscillator circuit. Omega's Megasonic calibre, developed by Max Hetzel, featured a micromotor on the tuning fork, magnetically coupling with toothless gears. This innovation doubled the beat rate of its competitors, showcasing the advancements being made in electro-mechanical movements.
The evolution of electro-mechanical watches culminated with the commercial introduction of the quartz wristwatch in 1969 by Seiko. The Seiko Astron combined the precision of quartz timekeeping with the traditional elements of electric watches. While electric watches had their weaknesses, they paved the way for the development of all-electronic watches, where miniaturized electronic components allowed for complex circuitry and digital readouts.
In conclusion, the history of electro-mechanical watches spans from the groundbreaking electric wristwatches of the 1950s to the eventual integration of quartz technology. The advancements in electro-mechanical movements played a pivotal role in the evolution of timekeeping devices, leading to the highly accurate and durable quartz watches that we know and rely on today.
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How electro-mechanical watches work
The first electric watches were publicly displayed in 1952, with the first commercially available electric watch being produced and retailed by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1957. These early watches were driven by one of three systems: the galvanometer drive, the induction drive, or the resonance drive. The galvanometer drive consists of a conventional balance-hairspring oscillator, kept in motion by the magnetic interaction of a coil and a permanent magnet. The induction drive uses an electromagnet to attract a balance containing soft magnetic material. The resonance drive uses a tiny electrically-driven tuning fork to provide the motive power. Both the galvanometer and induction drives use a mechanical contact, actuated by the balance motion, to provide properly timed electric drive pulses. Each oscillation of the balance operates a time-indicating gear train by advancing a toothed wheel one tooth.
The early balance wheel electric watches had a design flaw in the switch contacts on the balance wheel, which provided the impulse to keep the wheel oscillating. These contacts wore out and were unreliable. Later designs used electromagnetic sensing, with a transistor in the circuit to turn the solenoid on. Some watches used a moving coil system, with a balance wheel with an integrated coil, fixed magnets, and mechanical contacts. Others used a fixed coil system, with a piece of refined iron attached to the balance wheel, a fixed coil, and mechanical contacts.
Tuning fork watches, which used a tuning fork instead of a balance wheel, were driven by a solenoid powered by a one-transistor oscillator circuit. The tuning fork had an attached pawl and 'index wheel', which turned the gear train. The common frequencies used in these watches were 300 Hz.
The Seiko Spring Drive, introduced in 1999, combines the high torque of a traditional mechanical watch with the high precision of a quartz watch. In a Spring Drive caliber, energy is generated by a mainspring that is wound manually or automatically via the motions of the wrist. The rotor or "glide wheel" rotates very fast, generating a slight electrical current that is transferred to a quartz oscillator vibrating at 32,768 Hz. This signal is then transmitted to an integrated circuit (IC) that compares the reference signal from the oscillator with the speed of the glide wheel and regulates the latter with a magnetic brake. This electromagnetically regulated rate is transferred to the gear train to move the watch's hands with precision.
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The parts of an electro-mechanical watch
An electromechanical watch is driven by a mainspring, which must be wound either by hand or via a self-winding mechanism. The force is then transmitted through a series of gears to power the balance wheel, a weighted wheel that oscillates at a constant rate. This is what allows the watch to tell the time.
The crown is the small knob on the exterior of the watch case, which is often the only point of contact between the wearer and the watch movement. It is used to set the time and date, and on a mechanical watch, it also winds the mainspring to power the watch. The crown typically features a grooved exterior to aid grip and is connected to the winding stem.
The mainspring is a thin, 20-30cm long strip of hardened metal, coiled to form a spring structure. It is contained within the toothed mainspring barrel, which prevents it from unravelling. The force of the mainspring turns the barrel, which has gear teeth that turn the centre wheel once per hour. The centre wheel then powers the minute hand of the watch.
The dial, often referred to as the "face" of the watch, displays the time through a combination of indices, numbers, and possibly other functions like date windows or subdials. It is the most visible component and comes in various designs, colours, and styles.
The escapement mechanism is positioned at the end of the wheel train and is the most delicate part of the watch movement. It controls the flow of power from the mainspring, ensuring that it doesn't release all its power at once. The force is transferred from the mainspring to the escape wheel via the gear train.
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The accuracy of electro-mechanical watches
Watch movements are the mechanisms that make a watch run, much like the engines in cars. The accuracy of an electromechanical watch depends on several factors, including the watch's movement type, the manufacturer's specifications, gravity, and temperature variations.
Movement Type: Different types of watch movements offer varying levels of accuracy. For example, the Seiko Spring Drive combines the high torque of a traditional mechanical watch with the precision of a quartz watch. The Spring Drive movement uses a rotor or "glide wheel" that rotates rapidly, generating a slight electrical current. This current is transferred to a quartz oscillator, which vibrates at a precise frequency of 32,768 Hz. The signal from the oscillator is then compared with the speed of the glide wheel, and a magnetic brake regulates the wheel's speed. This electromagnetically regulated rate is transferred to the gear train, resulting in highly accurate timekeeping.
Manufacturer's Specifications: The accuracy of an electromechanical watch can vary depending on the manufacturer and their published specifications. For instance, Rolex watches are expected to have an accuracy of +2/-2 seconds per day, while Grand Seiko Hi-Beat movements are specified at +5/-3 seconds per day. Swiss chronometer certification (COSC) is considered the gold standard for mechanical watch accuracy, with only 6% of Swiss watches earning this certification. COSC-certified watches typically have an accuracy of -4/+6 seconds per day.
Gravity and Wearing Habits: Gravity plays a significant role in rate deviations, as a watch movement runs at slightly different rates depending on its position. This means that the way a watch is worn can impact its accuracy. For example, a construction worker's activities may cause different rate deviations compared to an office worker's more sedentary routine. Watchmakers can adjust the balance wheel to compensate for these deviations, and owners can also try placing their watch in different positions when not wearing it to balance out the losses and gains.
Temperature Variations: Temperature changes can also affect the accuracy of an electromechanical watch. Extreme and rapid temperature variations can impact the inner mechanisms and cause deviations in timekeeping. Modern mechanical watches are designed to compensate for temperature influences, utilizing the temperature insensitivity of different metals and alloys. For example, wearing the watch directly on the skin helps maintain a stable temperature, as the body's warmth prevents the watch's interior from getting too cold.
In summary, the accuracy of electromechanical watches has improved significantly over the centuries, and modern mechanical watches typically vary by +/- 10 seconds daily, with some high-precision watches achieving even tighter margins of deviation. The interplay of movement type, manufacturer specifications, gravity, and temperature variations all contribute to the overall accuracy of these timepieces.
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Electro-mechanical vs. automatic watches
Watch movements, like engines in cars, are the mechanisms that make the watch work. There are two primary systems for powering watches: one is via batteries (known as quartz), and the other is via a slowly unwinding spring, which is mechanical.
A mechanical watch is a timepiece that operates through intricate mechanical components such as springs, wheels, and gears. Within the realm of mechanical watches, there are two main categories: manual winding and self-winding (also known as automatic), with the latter being the most common nowadays. Therefore, there are no distinctions between a mechanical and an automatic watch since an automatic watch is a form of mechanical watch.
A mechanical watch with automatic winding features a rotating weight (a rotor) that pivots when the watch moves, i.e., when you wear it and move your wrist. As it spins, it winds the spring. The term self-winding is anachronistic, but it is a more descriptive term for automatic winding. Automatic watches are convenient as you don't have to worry about forgetting to keep your watch wound. They are also prized for their unique mechanical beauty, craftsmanship, and accuracy.
On the other hand, manually wound watches are thinner, cheaper, and more old-school. They also foster an intimate connection between the wearer and the timepiece, as the rhythmic task of winding the watch to restore its energy highlights a unique bond between the person and the machine. Additionally, some collectors enjoy the ritual, interaction, and tactile experience of manually winding a watch.
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Frequently asked questions
Watch movements are the mechanisms that make the watch run, like the engines in cars. An electromechanical watch movement is a hybrid of a traditional mechanical watch and a quartz watch. Seiko's Spring Drive, introduced in 1999, is an example of an electromechanical watch movement.
In an electromechanical watch movement, energy is generated by a mainspring that is wound manually or automatically via the motions of the wrist. The rotor or "glide wheel" rotates rapidly, generating a small electrical current that is transferred to a quartz oscillator. The oscillator vibrates at 32,768 Hz and is then transmitted to an integrated circuit (IC) that regulates the speed of the glide wheel with a magnetic brake. This electromagnetically regulated rate is transferred to the gear train to move the watch's hands with precision.
A mechanical watch movement can run without the use of batteries or other electronic components, whereas an electromechanical watch movement combines the high torque of a mechanical watch with the high precision of a quartz watch. Mechanical watches are not as accurate as electromechanical watches and require more maintenance.
