A mechanical watch may be elegant, but what you can’t see is the intricate array of tiny parts that make up the watch movement and keep the device on time. To become a horologist, or someone who makes, repairs, and services timepieces, starts with getting to know the different components of a mechanical watch.
The Power Source
A mainspring is one of the vital parts to understand. This is a spring wound tight that powers the watch. It is slowly released over time, powering the gear train and allowing the hands to spin. Depending on the watch, the mainspring may last several hours, or several days.
The mainspring is either wound manually by turning the crown, or it is wound automatically through the motions of your wrist as it is worn.
The Gear Train and Escapement
The gear train is simply a system of gears. It is a series of gears that transfer power to every single part of the movement. It also controls the speed at which they work, and how fast the watch hands move.
The escapement is another very important part of the watch. In this part of the movement, the release of energy is done so by intervals or bursts, rather than in a constant flow. Without the escapement, the watch would run too fast and the mainspring would be completely spent.
The Balance Wheel
A balance wheel is just that, a wheel. It swings back and forth at an even rhythm. This even rhythm is what keeps the time on the movement and allows it to move in seconds, not hours or days. It’s such an important part of the watch that people often call it the heart of the watch movement. In fact, even a small shift in this wheel can throw off the entire accuracy of the watch.
How It All Works
A mechanical watch can be a complex machine with more than one hundred parts! Many of them work together in tiny tolerance so that the balance wheel stays in balance and the time is kept on the hour.
This is part of why we’re drawn to mechanical watches today; they are intricate devices that can require careful maintenance and a lot of care from the maker when they’re built, lubricated, serviced, and repaired.
Conclusion
A mechanical watch isn’t just a collection of springs and gears, it’s a system of parts that work together to measure time. A mechanical watch is a fascinating device, and the study of the parts is just as fascinating to learn more about them.