A mechanical watch is a watch that uses a mechanical mechanism to measure the passage of time, as opposed to modern quartz watches which function electronically. It is driven by a spring (called a mainspring) which must be wound periodically. Its force is transmitted through a series of gears to power the balance wheel, a weighted wheel which oscillates back and forth at a constant rate. A device called an escapement releases the watch's wheels to move forward a small amount with each swing of the balance wheel, moving the watch's hands forward at a constant rate. This makes the 'ticking' sound characteristic of all mechanical watches. Mechanical watches evolved in Europe in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century.
Mechanical watches are not as accurate as modern quartz watches and are generally more expensive. They are now worn more for their aesthetic attributes, as a piece of jewellery and as a statement of one's personal style, than for their timekeeping ability.
Read more about Mechanical Watch: Mechanism, How It Works, Watch Jewels, History
Famous quotes containing the words mechanical and/or watch:
“Prejudices are so to speak the mechanical instincts of men: through their prejudices they do without any effort many things they would find too difficult to think through to the point of resolving to do them.”
—G.C. (Georg Christoph)
“On a snug evening I shall watch her fingers,
Cleverly ringed, declining to clever pink,
Beg glory from the willing keys. Old hungers
Will break their coffins, rise to eat and thank.”
—Gwendolyn Brooks (b. 1917)