At the beginning of the production of wristwatches (around 1910 or so), every one was a mechanical timepiece. Batteries and quartz movements didn’t exist back then, so all watches had mechanical movements inside, movements adapted and miniaturized from pocket watches.
The mechanical watch ruled the roost for the next half-century. Then, in the late 1960s, the quartz watch was invented and popularized; the Swiss watch industry was caught off guard. Sales of quartz watches soared while mechanical watch sales plummeted. Many manufacturers of everything involved in a mechanical watch closed practically overnight. Some Swiss companies turned to quartz watch production altogether, while others continued making mechanical watches, even though the market was very small. For decades, the quartz watch was king and the mechanical watch was a dinosaur – kept alive by a small group of aficionados.
Then, A Funny Thing Happened
Mechanical watches started to make a comeback. In the 1990s, mechanical watches began selling strongly at auction and appearing in greater numbers in retail stores. Now, mechanical watches are occupying a larger percentage of total watch sales every year. Certainly, the lion’s share of watches sold today are still relatively inexpensive quartz timepieces, but more people are becoming aware of the value and enjoyment of wearing a fine timepiece, and in ever-increasing numbers, the movement powering that fine timepiece is mechanical.
The Magic Of A Mechanical Movement
There is something special about having a mechanical watch on your wrist. A movement is like a living thing – a tiny machine with parts that spin and turn, keeping time, your faithful companion that depends on your involvement to keep it running. A mechanical watch is a link to the past, to the way wristwatches were when first introduced, as well as a symbol of the future. Many watch companies today are committed to preserving the heritage of fine watchmaking, while still pushing the envelope of innovation with new movements, new materials, new ways of reading the time and more. Every mechanical watch requires input from a human being – during production, assembly, regulation and even daily use. Quartz watches, for the most part, are assembled automatically by machines, not humans. That’s not to say that quartz watches are not worth considering – quartz technology allows features and functions that cannot be accomplished with a mechanical movement (multiple alarms, altimeters, compasses, heart rate monitors and more). There is something to be said about the accuracy of quartz and the ease of just pulling a watch out of a drawer and not have to worry about setting it to the right time. There are even quartz timepieces that sleep when they are not in use, extending their already incredible battery life.
Having said that about quartz, however, there is something engaging about a mechanical movement – the tick tock, the heart beat of the watch’s balance wheel and escapement, is mesmerizing and comforting at the same time. Many manufacturers, knowing how much people want to see a movement in motion, are finding interesting ways to open up the dial to showcase the engine of the watch. Most companies today feature exhibition backs (sapphire crystal case backs that allow you to see into the movement from the back of the watch), while others have completely removed the dial to show the watch’s inner workings. Some companies only reveal a portion of the magic through a circle, a segment of the dial removed or even windows on the side of the case.
Entry-Level Timepieces
You might think that getting into mechanical watches is an expensive proposition, but there are plenty of choices in the $500 – $5,000 range. Now, these opening-price-point models are pretty simple: basic movement, basic time display, simple decoration and so on. But, they are mechanical and affordable, and a great way to start.
Moving Upscale
Once you own a mechanical watch, you will soon begin to want more: more complications, more attention to detail, proprietary movements, precious metals and cool features. There are so many brands to choose from that the possibilities are endless.
The Best Watches In The World
The majority of the best watches in the world come from Switzerland. All you need to do is a little research to determine which brands are doing things the right way (Swiss made, proven track record and fantastic after sales service) and decide which watches (style, complications, etc.) suit your lifestyle the best. The mechanical watch is back and here to stay.
