Today, the watch mechanism has a direct impact on the final cost of the goods. It is located in a special building, so in most cases it is hidden from sight. This does not apply only to special watches, in which the open part of the mechanism is provided. Thus, you can directly observe the operation of the product. However, when purchasing, you can evaluate the quality of the watch only by the dial and case. Depending on the type of regulator used, classification can be made into mechanical and quartz models.
The classic watch mechanism involves twisting the spring inside. This principle has not undergone any changes since the invention of the first compact products. The force is transmitted to the anchor wheel precisely by means of a spring, preventing the pendulum from stopping. The main disadvantage of mechanical watches is the relatively poor accuracy. A lag or acceleration of about twenty seconds during the day can be considered an acceptable result. However, certain models of Swiss chronometers that have protection against humidity and temperature influences were able to show the accuracy inherent in quartz analogues. The high cost of such products and a rather complicated design are unlikely to provide an opportunity to enter mass production.
Domestic and almost all Swiss manufacturers are trying to use a watch mechanism with a manual winding method, which involves the daily execution of certain actions. Thus, every day a certain ritual should be performed to help restore the work of the steel mechanism. However, with this method it is quite possible to reduce the thickness of the watch itself. In the modern world, an automatic winding is widely used, implying the presence of a special weight, which, when worn, rotates the clockwork mechanism. The downside is the impressive thickness that affects the appearance of the product.
A completely different option is the quartz watch mechanism, where the main element is a
crystal oscillator that transmits a special signal with a high level of frequency stabilization. Quartz is characterized by frequency stability, which is not influenced by external factors, such as
humidity and ambient temperature. With the advent of integrated circuits, these properties were realized in hours, ensuring accuracy with an accuracy of up to fifteen seconds per month.
Such a mechanism for watches has simplicity, reliability and a long service life, since the details of quartz models are devoid of constant voltage. People who prefer Swiss mechanics can speak out negatively about such products in terms of design. However, there is no doubt in the accuracy of the course. Recently, models with a battery indication system have appeared, which behave in a special way when energy is depleted. Mechanisms for wall clocks have the same operating principles as manual counterparts.