For a watch to know the exact time, all the parts that make it up must be connected and perform their function. In small comparison, for a human being to have life to be able to carry out all the activities he proposes, all his organs must interact, doing work according to it.

However, not all organs are as fundamental as the heart. Most of the vital functions depend on it. The same goes for watches and watch movements, their hearts. However, we will further explore the roles and types on the market.

What is the movement of the watch?

We have seen how, straightforwardly, we can understand that the movement of a watch is as fundamental to its operation as the human heart. It is a complex mechanism where all the parts have to be perfectly connected as accuracy and precision are required for all the information they transmit.

In some cases, this information transcends time. You can also find out which day and month we are in or the phase of the moon that corresponds to each period. It causes the mechanism to widen, making the clock’s movement more complicated.

How many types of watch movements are there?

Without going into excessive detail, the movement of the watch is divided into two:

1. Mechanical watch movement

It consists of many pieces which, as in a good puzzle, are all linked together. These are what we know as classic watches and are most appreciated in watchmaking, especially by collectors.

The parts that make up this mechanism are the main spring, the gear, the flywheel, and the release. These parts are actuated when the user manually turns the knob so that the main spring is energized and thus initiates the movement.

However, there are also mechanical watch movements that work automatically. In this case, the owner does not need to turn the knob because the rotor is responsible for turning every action of the wrist.

2. Quartz clock movement

Let’s compare the birth of traditional watches, namely mechanical manual winding watches, which occurred in the 16th century, with quartz watches, which happened in the 70s of the 20th century. We will see that they had to cost money. a little over four centuries, for someone to decide to change a mechanism that was, hitherto, perfect.

They work through the vibration of a piece of quartz crystal mounted inside, which is operated through the current generated by the battery. A small chip makes these vibrations reach the electric motor that moves the hand.

Quartz watches are divided into analog quartz (they show the time thanks to classic hands) and LCD digital quartz, which shows the time thanks to a liquid crystal display. And a combination of both digital analog quartz watches abbreviated as Ana-Digi.

Maintenance service is essential in quartz watches. The repair process is similar in many ways to the repair work of a mechanical watch.

If you are an expert in watch repair, you need the right repair watch tools and do the necessary watch repair, covering this type of work from washing the watch mechanism to assembling; followed by readjustment, understood as the repair and correction of wear and tear caused by the passage of time on the movement; and finally, only the lubrication and adjustment of the action will be lost.

Difference between mechanical movement and quartz movement

Choosing one movement or another will determine many aspects of the function and value of our watch, which is why it is essential to know what differences will separate them before deciding.

In general terms, and without going into deep technicalities, we’ve come across these differences:

  1. Economy. When buying a watch, a quartz watch is much cheaper than a mechanical one; even the latter can become a relic of the original, so the price can be very high.
  2. Precision. Quartz ones are more precise than mechanical ones.
  3. Maintenance. While mechanical ones require excellent care and regular maintenance, this is not the case with quartz ones, which will suffice to replace the battery when necessary.
  4. Value. The manual is a real gem for collectors and lovers of fine watches, mechanics, and more, unlike quartz, which they hardly notice.

We have seen how the movement of a watch gives life to the precise and necessary mechanisms to control the passage of time. Choosing the most comfortable one will be a decision that should be carefully considered and evaluated because don’t forget that a watch is more than just a timer. It’s unintentionally talking about us and the way we understand the world.

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