Quartz movementĭeveloped in the 1970s by Seiko, quartz watches revolutionised the horological world, offering a watch movement that was low-cost but accurate. Full service details will usually be provided in the manual that accompanies your mechanical watch. Hand-wound and mechanical watches require servicing once every 3 to 5 years in order to maintain reliability. Automatic watches from brands such as Longines , TAG Heuer, Rado and Omega are incredibly sought-after. As with hand-wound mechanical timepieces, automatic watches frequently have a transparent case back through which the often highly-decorated movement can be admired. However, if you don’t wear an automatic watch for several days, it will need to be hand-wound to get it started again. An oscillating weight, called the rotor, is connected to a gear train that keeps the mainspring wound while the watch is being worn regularly. The automatic winds itself automatically through the movement of the wearer’s wrist. Hand-wound mechanical watches are revered and extremely collectable. The original watch movement, the hand-wound mechanical consists of a coiled spring that, when wound through turning the crown, stores energy that is released through a series of gears in a regulated manner to keep time. When choosing a watch movement consider accuracy, battery replacement and general maintenance when you’re thinking about your watch’s movement. Here is a detailed guide on the different movements to help you choose the right watch for you or your loved one. There are different types of movements from battery operated to solar. The internal mechanism that drives the hands around and powers any additional functions such as chronograph or date.

Watch movementsĪ watch movement (or calibre in watchspeak) is the engine of a watch.

From discovering the different watch movements that are available to unravelling the complications of functions, it will help you choose the watch that’s just right for you. At Fraser Hart, we’re proud to be official stockists of many of the world’s leading luxury, designer and sports watch brands, and are delighted to combine our expertise and experience to bring you this useful watch buyer’s guide.

Calibre watch meaning