To Work With a Mechanical Watch
While reading this article, the first question that may come to the mind of the reader is why would someone still use a mechanical watch that needs wounding in today’s world? In a world filled with automatic and digital watches of the latest technology, it does seem like a waste of time, but it is not so for a watch collector. Owning and maintaining a mechanical watch is all about appreciating the art of watch making. A mechanical watch requires wounding once every forty hours roughly to keep it running but the rule is to wind it everyday when you go to sleep or get up from sleep.
Unlike a quartz watch which runs also through functioning gears, a mechanical watch does not run on the power of a quartz crystal. The mechanical means that run the watch is a mainspring that you need to wound daily. What is unknown to most people is that automatic watches are also mechanical watches but they do not require wounding of the main spring due to the reason that the wounding is done by the user’s wrist movement only.
The functioning of the mechanical watch is more complicated than you may think, imagine a dozen or more screws working in coordination with forty plus wheels, plates balances, springs and of course the all important jewels, inside a watch body to bring you the time.
The ruby is a jewel that was used inside mechanical watches due to its smooth and greasy surface, which is also very hard due to high content of aluminum oxide. The wheel pivots use the ruby’s smooth surface for maintaining consistent movement once wound by the mainspring. The number of jewels may vary from five to thirty five these days, but the most efficiency is believed to be achieved with four to eight jewels. Synthetic rubies have replaced the original jewels in most cases these days.
The crown of the mechanical watch is actually the stem winder of the main spring which is used to wind the watch. The oscillating balance wheel and spring was later replaced as a time base by the tuning fork which resonates to empower the gears to move accordingly. The gears are directly connected to the hands of the watch and thus you get the time.
Water is the enemy of vintage mechanical time pieces; therefore always check the casing of your mechanical watch for ruptures through which water or moisture can get in to damage the escape wheel and the anchor escapement. If you get your watch properly serviced every five years or so, then you can very well be sure that the watch will not only last a lifetime, but generations actually. It is an old but great invention that does not require any artificial power source like batteries or Quartz Crystals to give you time as accurate as within two or three seconds every day. You must remember that mechanical watches are not bought because they are better in performance than modern watches, but because they are vintages that display the aesthetics and mastery of the watch maker.
About the Author
Kevin Vargian is an author writing about motor sport related topics, and you are invited to visit his website covering
watch tools
and
watch repair tools
.
Sonic CD: Lazy custom music audio replacement test (Part 4 of 6)
|
|
VINTAGE ALEXANDER HI TEX SPECIAL COVER TOP QUARTZ MEN WATCH $11.50 |
|
|
HP Inner cover (Small Quartz Gray plastic cover with sensor flag sl – RB2-6453-0 $268.80 |
|
|
Unisex Celtic Steampunk Punk Skull Cover Finger Ring Watch Gift $0.99 |
|
|
Key Ring Pocket Quartz Watch Dolphin Cover Antique Girl Boy Women Ladies Analog $1.56 |
|
|
White Dial Hollow Cover ” DAD” Quartz Pocket Watch New $0.99 |
|
|
Stretch Skull Cover Quartz Finger Ring Watch Jewelry $3.38 |
|
|
Retro Flower Pattern Cover Pendant Quartz Pocket Watch $0.99 |
|
|
1 x VINTAGE-LOOK ENAMEL Crystals Cover Pocket Watch $4.99 |
|
|
19TH/20TH CENTURY CHINESE ROSE QUARTZ VASE AND COVER 8.5 INCHES HIGH $316.04 |
|
|
1PC Lively Blue Butterfly Cover Elegant Girls Keychain Pocket Quartz Watch $0.99 |
|
|
Tawny Mosaic Cover Quartz Unisex Pocket Watch W/ Chain $1.56 |
|
|
Doctor Nurse Brooch Fob Watch 7 Colors Silicone Cover $1.00 |
|
|
SILVER SL Crystal Cabochon Crown Cover Geneva Women’s Bracelet WATCH $23.99 |
|
|
Bronzy Case Three Horses Rider Plated Cover White Dial Quartz Pocket Watch NEW $0.01 |
|
|
New White Men‘s Women’s Gothic Skeleton Skull Cover Unisex Quartz Analog Watches $1.75 |
|
|
CIRCA Pocket Watch w/Chain In Original Tin WOLF On Cover NWOT VGC! $4.99 |
|
|
Doctor Nurse Brooch Fob Watch 12 Colors Silicone Cover $6.19 |
|
|
Antique Style Falcon Emboss Cover Pocket Watch Fob $0.01 |
|
|
Pink Pearl Like Crystal Bead cover Quartz Ring Watch $0.99 |
|
|
Red 3D Crystal Bead cover Finger Ring Quartz Watch $0.99 |
|
|
Vintage Pocket Watch Hand-winding Mechanical Bronze Chain Hole Cover Steampunk $0.99 |
|
|
“1″ Cover Girl Wetslicks Lipgloss & Crystals Lipgloss $2.95 |
|
|
Doctor Nurse Hanging Fob Watch 10 Color Silicone Cover $6.99 |
|
|
SILVER BLACK Crystal Cabochon Crown Cover Geneva Bracelet Women’s WATCH $19.99 |
|
|
1PCS NEW Retro style Coke cover Necklace Quartz Pocket Watch Xmas gift Y02 $3.21 |
|
|
Mini New Pocket Watch Battery Style Arabic Number Clear Watch Hollow Cover FOB $0.99 |
|
|
Gold Chinese Dragon Pattern Emboss Cover Pocket Watch $0.01 |
|
|
CALIFORNIA, QUARTZ COVER TO STOCKTON, CAL OCT 11, 1898 w/#267? STAMP EARLY CNCL $14.75 |
|
|
Antique Eiffel Tower Emboss Cover Pocket Watch Necklace $0.99 |
|
|
Antique Style Emboss Cover Copper Quartz Pocket Watch $0.01 |
|
|
Children’s Hello Kitty LCD Watch with Open-Close Cover $7.99 |
|
|
Vintage Owl Emboss Cover Pocket Watch Necklace Chain $0.99 |
|
|
Gold Skeleton Magnifying Case Mechanical Mens Pocket Watch Polish Back Cover FOB $0.99 |
|
|
Square Doctor Nurse Brooch Pocket Fob Watch + 10 Silicone Cover $8.19 |
|
|
Nurse Watches 7 Brooch Silicon Cover Fob Quartz Watches $4.59 |
|
|
Exclusive Marcasite Crystal Covered Dial Jewelry Women’s WATCH $23.99 |
|
|
UNISEX AMBER-COLOR CRYSTAL FLIP-OVER COVER FINGER QUARTZ WATCH RING ladies mens $0.99 |
|
|
JEWELED QUARTZ CLOCK~covered face~10-1/2″ DIAMETER~deluxe~NEW IN BOX~LAST 1~SALE $33.99 |
|
|
MILAN QUARTZ POCKET WATCH WITH WOLVES ON THE COVER NEW NOT IN BOX MINT $6.99 |
|
|
1PCS Retro Collection coke cover Quartz Pocket Watch Xmas gift $3.00 |
|
|
New Hollow Cover White Dial Quartz Style Mini Pocket Watch w/Chain FOB Gift $1.56 |
|
|
Geneva Women’s White Watch with Purple Face cover – Posh timepiece!! $12.99 |
|
|
Pink Rhinestone Covered Finger Ring Ladies Quartz Watch $5.26 |
|
|
Cute Mini Skeleton Cover Quartz Pocket Watch Silver Chain Watch Pocketwatch $5.99 |
|
|
HP Left side cover (Quartz Gray) – Does not include any attaching p – RB3-0028-0 $240.80 |
|
|
HP Right side cover assembly (Quartz Gray) plastic – Includes the D – RG5-6953-0 $205.00 |
|
|
HP Left side cover assembly (Quartz Gray) plastic – Includes the po – RG5-6902-0 $203.75 |
|
|
Key Ring Pocket Quartz Watch Dolphin Cover Antique Girl Boy Women Ladies Analog $1.56 |
|
|
1991 Disney Beauty and the Beast 5 function quartz watch flip top cover $9.99 |
|
|
Stardream Metallic 105lb Cover Wt Card Stock 12×12 – 25 pk $18.50 |
|
|
Stardream Metallic 105lb Cover Wt Card Stock 12×12 – 25 pk $18.50 |
|
|
Bronzy Case Three Horses Rider Plated Cover White Dial Quartz Pocket Watch NEW $0.01 |
|
|
NEW Sky by Style & Co Basic Solid Quartz Comforter Cover Set in Twin $135 MSRP $24.99 |
|
|
1PC Cross Cover Quartz Fashion Brozen Tone Necklace Watch Chain $0.99 |
|
|
LEXUS ES300 FRONT BUMPER COVER 92 96 OEM PART SHADOW ROSE QUARTZ 3K7 PAINTED $415.00 |
|
|
SUBARU LEGACY FRONT BUMPER COVER 08 09 QUARTZ SILVER MET A7K PAINTED $400.00 |
|
|
TRAILBLAZER SS REAR BUMPER COVER 06 09 OEM COSMIC QUARTZ MET 14 PAINTED $515.00 |
|
|
TRAILBLAZER SS REAR BUMPER COVER 06 09 OEM COSMIC QUARTZ MET 308N PAINTED $515.00 |
|
|
TRAILBLAZER SS REAR BUMPER COVER 06 09 OEM COSMIC QUARTZ MET WA308N PAINTED $515.00 |
|
|
BUICK LACROSSE CXS CXL FRONT BUMPER COVER 05 07 LUNAR QUARTZ MET 71 PAINTED $400.00 |
|
|
BUICK LACROSSE CXS CXL FRONT BUMPER COVER 05 07 LUNAR QUARTZ MET 320N PAINTED $400.00 |
|
|
BUICK LACROSSE CXS CXL FRONT BUMPER COVER 05 07 LUNAR QUARTZ MET WA320N PAINTED $400.00 |
|
|
Pink Rhinestone Covered Finger Ring Ladies Quartz Watch $5.83 |
|
|
1x Vintage Bronze Round Quartz Necklace Pocket Watch Men’s Magnifier Cover $7.29 |
|
|
Bronze-Cross Cover 10pcs Lots Quartz Necklace Watches Chain Gift Choice $9.99 |
|
|
GENEVA QUARTZ LADIES WATCH W/ ELEPHANT DIAL COVER & BANGLE CUFF $14.99 |
|
|
Skull Cover Round Dial Silver Tone Keyring Quartz Watch $5.97 |
|
|
TABBY Quartz Crystal Cluster Top Bottom & Middle covered in Tabular Crystals $0.99 |
|
|
Retro fashion smoky quartz cover pocket watch long chain necklace $0.99 |
|
|
New Hot VINTAGE BLACK HOLLOW POCKET WATCH CRYSTAL FLOWER COVER $6.51 |
|
|
New Hot ANTIQUE DAD EMBOSS COVER MENS QUARTZ POCKET WATCH/CHAIN $6.00 |
|
|
1PCS Retro style Collection Coke cover Necklace Quartz Pocket Watch Xmas gift $4.52 |
|
|
New White Men‘s Women’s Gothic Skeleton Skull Cover Unisex Quartz Analog Watches $1.04 |
|
|
No Cover White Dial Roman Numerals Display Quartz Pocket Watch $7.89 |
|
|
Disk Dial Covered Analog Quartz Wrist Watch White #RV8 $0.99 |
|
|
New Mens Ladies Clear Cover Quartz Pocket Watch Chain Z3 $5.98 |
|
|
New Womens Clear Cover Bronze Quartz Pocket Watch Chain Z3 $5.19 |
|
|
New Mens Clear Cover Bronze Quartz Pocket Watch Chain Z3 $5.98 |
|
|
101 Dalmatians Watch, MIP, 1991, Flip Top Cover, 5 Function Digital Quartz $4.99 |
|
|
White Elegant Dial Hollow Cover Quartz Pocket Watch New $0.97 |
|
|
MINERALS OF ROMANIA;TETRAEDRIT,QUARTZ,COPPER,GIPS,COVER $12.50 |
|
|
Men / Women Necklace Quartz Flower Cover Pocket Watches $5.99 |
|
|
HTC MAX 4G QUARTZ OEM BLACK FACEPLATE HOUSING COVER FIX $38.99 |
|
|
Ladies Crystal Flower Ceramic Cover Pocket Watch gift $6.99 |
|
|
Synthetic Glass Cover Oval Bronzy Roman Number Dial Pocket Watch $8.50 |
|
|
Antique Style Falcon Emboss Cover Pocket Watch Fob $5.99 |
|
|
Monroe Cover White Dial Jetson Essence Pocket Watch Ladies Gift $8.50 |
|
|
Eiffel Tower Cover White Dial Jetson Essence Pocket Watch Ladies Gift $8.50 |
|
|
50mm Case Diameter Oval Photo Cat Cover Quartz Pocket Watch $10.50 |
|
|
Oversized Photo Owl Cover Jetson Essence Pocket Watch Ladies Gift $10.50 |
|
|
Print Dog Shar Pei Cover Silver Roman Numerals Dial Pocket Watch $10.50 |
|
|
AK-Homme Silver Embossed Australia Map Cover Quartz Pocket Watch $10.50 |
|
|
VINTAGE BLACK HOLLOW POCKET WATCH CRYSTAL FLOWER COVER $6.50 |
|
|
ANTIQUE DAD EMBOSS COVER MENS QUARTZ POCKET WATCH/CHAIN $5.99 |
|
|
MR16 3W 220V 44SMD 3528 Quartz Glass Cover LED Light Bulb Lamp Warm White $6.99 |
|
|
GU10 3W 220V 44SMD 3528 Quartz Glass Cover LED Light Bulb Lamp Warm White $6.99 |
|
|
MR16 44SMD 3528 Quartz Glass Cover LED Light Bulb Lamp True White 3W 220V $6.99 |
|
|
fibrous TOURMALINE aggregate with QUARTZ covered-T016 $28.00 |
|
|
Quartz Cluster Covered in Yellow Mica & Lepidolite $120.00 |
|
|
Yellow Mica “Sheet” Covered in Quartz Points Lepidolite & Red Green Tourmaline $98.00 |