When you decide to purchase a watch, the challenge would be choosing the right mechanism that will give you the features that you need. But to know what type of watch you would get, you must know each watch movement.
Aside from quartz movements, a particular option would be mechanical watches. You may have heard about the mechanical movement of a watch but you may not know much. So, before you decide on buying a mechanical watch, you need to know first what these fine timepieces are all about.
What Are Mechanical Watches?
Mechanical watches use springs and gears for power. To regulate the time, these timepieces utilize a calibrated motion.
The basic mechanical watch principle is that the user winds a spring, called the mainspring, by turning the crown of the watch. And then, the spring applies force on a train of gears particularly the first gear. The gear train applies a small amount of pressure to a mechanism which is called the escapement and reduces the force significantly by using leverage.
The escapement, as the name suggests, releases the energy found in the mainspring slowly. For the hands of the watch to be at the correct speed to keep time accurately, the escapement also regulates the energy that escapes from the mainspring.
Without a clock nearby, people use mechanical watches to keep time before the invention of quartz watches. During this time, the mechanisms of watches were already considered advanced which created demand around the late 1800s and early 1900s. With the historical and heritage factors of mechanical watches, it is no doubt that they are more expensive than quartz watches.
Mechanical watches never run out of battery, which means that they are not disposable. If taken care of, these mechanical timepieces will last a lifetime.
Features of Mechanical Watches
1. Durability
Compared to quartz watches, mechanical watches can last significantly longer. When you buy cheap quartz watches, you will most likely throw them away once their battery dies which usually happens in a few years.
If you are planning to pass something to your future generations, quartz watches are not what you need. However, mechanical watches continue to tick year after year. Even when they are serviced, the hands of these mechanical timepieces will still tick even if a century has passed buy. This kind of durability is something that quartz watches do not have.
Quartz watches are more affordable yet more disposable. But good mechanical watches are the perfect heirlooms you will have to pass on to the next generation.
2. Aesthetics
Advanced mechanical watches are more beautiful to look at than quartz watches. This makes sense since making a mechanical movement demands countless hours of work to get the job done.
When you want something aesthetic and beautiful, nothing beats a mechanical watch that has been refined, iterated, and innovated into a reliable workhorse by a professional craftsman. From the case down to the intricate details, you will marvel at how complicated these watches are which makes them great pieces of art.
3. Craftsmanship
For mechanical watches, the most essential and significant point is its craftsmanship. As we look into the intricate details, it is the craftsmanship of the watch that we will get to appreciate so much.
If you are interested in engineering and all its related aspects, it is no surprise if you get fascinated with mechanical watches. These timepieces are the epitome of exquisite engineering. A mechanical watch is composed of parts that are assembled meticulously to make the watch functional and useful. Mechanical watchmaking is a tedious process, which means that it took several hours of work for a professional craftsman to make this beautiful timepiece.
4. Value
Mechanical watches have excellent craftsmanship, which means they obtain a very high value. These timepieces can be used as heirlooms. This means that the older mechanical watches get, there is an increase in their monetary value.
High-quality mechanical timepieces are obviously expensive. But this is because they are assembled by a very professional watchmaker that employs the complex mechanism this type of watch has. Mechanical watches are very durable, indicating that these timepieces last for a very long time. This characteristic adds more value to these watches.
Conclusion
It is normal to be taken aback by the price that you will pay once you decide to get yourself a mechanical watch. Yes, it is way, way more expensive than a quartz watch. But it is worth the price you pay since they are aesthetically designed, made out of exceptional craftsmanship, and very durable.
Mechanical watches are a great heirloom that you can pass on to your children and the next generations to come. That way, they can also utilize and enjoy the features of these timepieces.
Your mechanical watches need components so they could last for a long time. SOFLY is a trusted distributor of high-quality watch parts that are best suitable for many watch brands.