Mechanical movement: how does it work?

The mechanical movement is the oldest operating mode for a watch. For several decades, it has been replaced by quartz movements (and therefore batteries) across the watch range. Today, mechanical calibres are primarily used in mid-range and high-end timepieces. And why? Quite simply because this type of movement is considered more “noble” and more costly than its equivalent, but also more durable. You will find on this page the mechanical movement, its operating mode, and also the difference between automatic mechanical movements and manual mechanical movements.

The functioning of the mechanical movement

Thanks to simple mechanical parts that utilize energy stored by a spring, this type of calibre allows the time to be displayed for several dozen hours, or even more than a hundred hours. But then, how do they function? In a mechanical horological movement, we find: The driving organ: this component provides energy to the entire movement. In a mechanical watch, it is primarily a spring (the mainspring) and in clocks, a weight. The mainspring seeks to return to its initial shape by unwinding, simultaneously distributing its energy (stored through winding) to the next stage.

• Transmitting organ: next is a set of wheel trains (mostly in the form of gears, but sometimes also chains) which allows the transfer of energy from the driving organ to the rest of the movement, specifically the maintaining organ and resonator. It is also through these multiplying gear trains that the time is displayed via specific wheels (center, second, and third wheels).
• Maintaining organ: the objective of this organ is to receive energy from the gear train, which is then maintained thanks to an escapement. The latter allows the movement’s oscillations to be counted. Several types of escapements exist, the most well-known being the Swiss lever escapement.
• Resonator or regulating organ: of great importance, it regulates the mechanical energy of the movement into equal time intervals (the frequency of which varies according to the model) thanks to an essential element, the balance wheel and its hairspring. It is thanks to this that a reliable indication of time can be obtained.
• Winding and time-setting organ: this is where the main difference between a manual movement and an automatic movement is found. Indeed, for winding the watch, both types can be wound via the winding stem, which is also used for setting the time. However, the automatic version is primarily wound thanks to an oscillating weight, or rotor, which is activated when the wrist moves.

The two main types of movements

There are two main types of movements: the manual-winding mechanical version, which is the oldest, and the automatic-winding version, which appeared over a century ago.

The automatic movement

Functioning like a standard mechanical movement, the major difference lies primarily in the winding, as it is no longer only ensured by the winding stem, but also by an oscillating weight or a rotor. More information on the automatic movement

The manual movement

This is the basic version of the mechanical horological movement. But how does it work and what is its history? More information on the manual movement

List of the different components of a calibre

In a horological movement for mechanical watches, a whole set of parts and components is found. The simplest calibres have only about fifty, while the most complex can reach 500, or even 1,000 for exceptional pieces. Among the most common components are the barrel, the escapement, the lever, the balance wheel, the gear trains, etc.

Horological complications

Most watches offer you the reading of the time (with hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds), but others go a little further, or even much further! A horological complication is therefore an additional function offered by a mechanical watch. Among the best known are the date display (quantième), the tourbillon, the GMT, or the moon phase.

How to disassemble and reassemble a horological watch?

Are you wondering how a watch movement works and do you want to see for yourself? Then you can embark on the disassembly and reassembly of a watch and a horological calibre. More information on how to disassemble or reassemble a movement