Your watch tells you the time, but how exactly does it function? How does it indicate the time to us? This is a fundamental question for anyone interested in horology. In this section of our guide, you will find everything you need to know about how a watch operates, whether it is mechanical or electronic.

Indeed, a fundamental aspect of understanding your timepiece’s operation is identifying the type of movement it contains. Is it a Quartz (electronic) or a mechanical movement?

Let us now delve into the heart of a watch to better understand its operation.

Basic Concepts

A watch is a time-measuring instrument that, at a minimum, indicates the time. To achieve this, two primary technologies exist today: one with a mechanical movement, and the other with a movement powered by an electric current and quartz. Some movements can also be hybrid, leveraging the advantages of quartz to enhance the precision of the mechanical movement.

However, regardless of the technology employed, the following components are always essential:

  • an energy source
  • a motor that transmits energy via gear trains (in most cases)
  • an escapement mechanism that maintains and counts the transmitted oscillations
  • a regulator that stabilizes the transmitted power over time, ensuring the watch’s long-term accuracy
  • a display for reading the time, which can be analog with hands or digital

Most watches (quartz or mechanical) typically offer hour and minute functions, to which various complications can be added. The most common complications include: seconds, date, moon phase, chronograph, etc.

Mechanical or Electronic?

For the past 50 to 60 years, the world of horology has been deeply divided between quartz watches and mechanical watches. But what are the significant differences, and why might one prefer one over the other?

Operation of a Mechanical Watch

This is the oldest type of caliber, having been in use for several centuries. Its principle precisely follows what we described above. Specifically, it utilizes a mechanical energy source: a mainspring coiled within a barrel, which gradually unwinds to power the movement. To learn more, please visit this page.

Operation of a Quartz Watch

There are two primary differences in a quartz watch compared to a mechanical model. These lie in the energy source and the regulator. Here, the energy source is a battery. The regulator is no longer mechanical; instead, it is a quartz oscillator that operates electronically. To learn more, please visit this page.

Other Parts of a Watch

In addition to the movement, watches comprise several other components, namely:

  • The case
  • The dial
  • The hands
  • The strap