Some would say mechanical watches are outdated. While others wouldn’t even think of buying a watch that doesn’t feature a mechanical movement. This article will help anyone who is in a dilemma to decide whether a mechanical watch is worth it or not.

Mechanical watches are usually worn by people who loves tradition and appreciates fine engineering. These beautiful mechanical timepieces are definitely worth any person’s money for the work that has been invested in designing them, as well as for being true wonders of engineering.

Mechanical watches shouldn’t be seen just as fashion accessories because they’re much more than that. In fact, they are complicated mechanisms that is able to tell time.

Mechanical watches are impressive mechanisms usually bought by true watch lovers and collectors. Luxury watch makers sell them for small fortunes, especially if the mechanical movement includes complications that increases the complexity of the design.

Not Everyone Likes Mechanical Watches

For people who love technology should think twice before buying a mechanical watch because they could end up thinking they’ve got something outdated.

However, people who want more class should definitely go for a mechanical watch. A mechanical watch lover could own one or more mechanical watches to wear at different events, with the proper suits or dresses.

There isn’t a rule that mechanical watches should have a classic and traditional dull looking design. For example, Tissot and Seiko sell watches with mechanical movements that are perfect for sneakers and a sports attire.

Collectors Prefer Mechanical Watches

Mechanical watches are fascinating for collectors because their movements can be very complex and unique. Watch manufacturers are competing to create the most intricate mechanisms for their models, so those who really love watches have many options to choose from.

At the same time, mechanical watches are symbols for social status, this being the reason why wealthy people prefer them over the cheaper quartz models.

Mechanical watches can work for hundreds of years. Many of them can be admired in museums. When buying such a timepiece, it is a good idea to go for reputable brands that have been on the market for at least a century.

Mechanical Watches for Kids

Children may have difficulties taking care of a mechanical watch because they’re be tempted to push all the buttons and to take apart the mechanism.

Older children who understand the movement of a watch shouldn’t be messed with could be bought a Tissot T-Navigator or a PRS 516 from the same manufacturer. These watches are mechanical and have a design children would love.

Why Are Mechanical Watches so Expensive?

Buying a good mechanical watch with some history can sometimes break a bank. While this may not have so much importance for some, many are perplexed when seeing how much such a timepiece costs.

The reasons to why mechanical watches are so expensive are many. One of them is that these time measuring mechanical pieces are considered as jewelry. Another reason is that mechanical watches consists of hundreds of microscopic components and assembling them by hand is not an easy task.

It’s obvious mechanical watches are much more interesting, since they incorporate the knowledge of centuries on making watches. The price obviously matters, but watch lovers prefer not to think of it most of the time.  

There’s a Lot of Work in Making a Mechanical Watch

There are hundreds of watch parts that move inside a mechanical movement, these parts are often assembled by hand and every part is unique by its own purpose. Mechanical movements are truly created and invented by brilliant engineering minds.  

It can be said mechanical watches are among the most impressive machineries, especially after looking at some incredible mechanisms created by Patek Phillipe, Invicta, Rolex, Maurice Lacroix and many other names that make them.

Mechanical Watches and Their Distribution Costs

Watches with mechanical movements aren’t sold as much as those with quartz, so the distribution is not the equal in the watch industry. 

For example, collectors and watch lovers prefer mechanical watches, whereas people who only want to have an everyday watch decide for quartz. And watch collectors aren’t that many.

All this means mechanical watches don’t turn over as much inventory as the mechanical ones, causing the dealers to have a slower return on their investments.  

Buying an Expensive Mechanical Watch: Yes or No?

Not everyone can afford a mechanical watch from luxury manufacturers. While these timepieces are incredibly beautiful, it’s not a good idea to spend $23,000 on a Patek Phillipe Palatrava at a $24,000 a year salary.

Besides, some people grow tired of having to wind their mechanical watch every time it no longer has power. The decision to buy a mechanical watch should be informed.

There Are Affordable Mechanical Watches

Instead of the more expensive mechanical movements, a person who doesn’t have a fortune to spend on watches but wants something mechanical can start with the Seiko Presage.

The Seiko Presage is a mechanical watch that looks serious but doesn’t seem in any way flashy. The best news is that it costs less than $300 and its power lasts for around two days at full wound.

Going for Something More…

A person who just started to be interested in mechanical watches could start with the Seiko and decide to go for something more different later, like the Bulova 96A120 or the intriguing Stauer Dashtronic.

Of course, with time, the passion for mechanical watches can increase, so the decision to get something even more expensive luxury could be made when ready.

How Are Mechanical Watches Made?

The first watches ever made didn’t wind on their own. They were all mechanical and powered after each winding. The mechanical watches built these days are still working based on the same principles.

The mechanisms inside a mechanical watch are made to move by a mainspring that needs to be wound from time to time. The energy which the mainspring transmits makes the balance wheel move. The balance wheel has a constant rate of moving back and forth.

Mechanical watches need to be wounded at least once a day for the tension in the mainspring to be re-established.

What Makes a Watch Mechanical

A mechanical watch have no battery, microchip or circuitry. It is made up of hundreds of microscopic components which are interconnected mostly by gears and springs. The precise engineering behind a mechanical watch can produce timekeeping accuracy of up to +/-1 to 2 seconds per day.

A mechanical watch is driven by a mainspring which needs to be hand-wound. A device inside the mechanical watch 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.

Automatic Watches Are Also Mechanical

Automatic watches like the Seiko 5 are also mechanical timepieces. Automatic watches are driven by the movement of the arm when they’re being worn around the wrist. Automatic watches are often referred to as self-winding while mechanical watches are referred to as manual winding watches.

Automatic watches design and that of other mechanical watches is not much different from what it used to be 50 years ago. It involves the same screws, more than 40 wheels, balances, springs, plates and even jewels.

These are all very small watch parts that make the mechanism of a mechanical watch. The most important of them are considered to be the jewels.

The Jewels in a Mechanical Movement

Jewels of a mechanical movement are called like jewels because they are real jewels, more precisely rubies. This is mostly true in the past, which is one of the reason why mechanical watches are sought after.

Rubies have a very hard surface and are made from crystallized aluminum oxide. They allow the wheel pivots in a mechanical watch to move constantly when powered by the mainspring, not to mention they keep them from wearing down as a result of movement.

Nowadays, mechanical watches feature synthetic rubies. One watch could feature from 5 to 35 rubies, depending how complex its movement is.

There used to be a time when watch manufacturers believed the more jewels in a mechanism, the better. But today, only 4 to 8 jewels are being used for a mechanical timepiece.

Parts in a Mechanical Watch All Work Together

When opening the back of a mechanical watch, it can be seen how the mainspring ticks, after the stem winder has been turned.

There’s a tuning fork as well, which is the resonator to keep the gears moving at a rate at which they need to work. The gears are the ones moving the hands of the watch at the right increments.

Mechanical watches don’t need batteries because they’re powered by the tension in the mainspring. While they’re most of the time bought for their classic appearance, it’s amazing to know how complex they are under the encasement.

Are Mechanical Watches Better?

There are some advantages and disadvantages to buying a mechanical watch. For example, one advantage is that mechanical timepieces are better in harsh weather conditions.

Mechanical watches are known to be the best in cold environment because it does not have any circuitry that can be affected by the drop in temperature. In terms of time keeping reliability and accuracy, a well-maintained mechanical watch is definitely on par with quartz watches.

However, if you want to have an in-depth comparison of mechanical watches versus quartz watches, we have a comprehensive article here for you.

Mechanical movements are more durable but require servicing every few years, so they’re high maintenance and need more attention.

Mechanical Watches Have a Longer Lifespan

If properly maintained and wound periodically, a mechanical watch can last for a lifetime and even more. Besides, if it breaks, it can be fixed with spare parts and made to work as good as new.

Furthermore, mechanical watches are often sought after for its increased in value. There are so numerous mechanical watch which are auctioned off at hundreds of thousands of dollars for its legacy. Indeed, a mechanical watch can be a timepiece legacy and a real investment if it is well taken care of.

On the other hand, the circuits in a quartz watch can easily break, not to mention reparations on a quartz movement are difficult because the electronic components would no longer be available.

Are Mechanical Watches Accurate?

It’s very important to own a watch that tells time accurately and doesn’t lose too many seconds. After all, the main purpose of a watch is to keep time and not only to be a fashion accessory or a jewel.

While mechanical watches are less accurate than the quartz ones powered by a battery, they still can tell time properly. The quartz can lose only 1 to 2 seconds a month, a mechanical movement loses as much as 1 to 2 seconds every day.

Mechanical watches are not the most practical ones, but those who are passionate about engineering and like to own a timepiece with a complicated mechanism should definitely have one.

Mechanical Watches Need Winding for Accuracy

Some mechanical movements like the automatic ones are self-winding. The movement of the wrist makes it possible for the rotor, which is a small weight, to pivot and to rotate and to wind the mainspring.

However, many of the mechanical watches out there aren’t automatic and need to be wound every day. This is something truly amazing for those who want to have more interaction with their watch and the reason why collectors are so interested in mechanical movements.

When a mechanical watch isn’t wound, it can no longer accurately tell the time because its mechanisms simply stop working as a result of no more power being provided by the mainspring.

Servicing Mechanical Watches

In order for a mechanical watch to tell the time correctly, its movement needs to be oiled and cleaned every 3 years. If this is not done, the mechanism becomes dry or too dirty to move.

Taking the movement of a mechanical watch apart and putting it back together shouldn’t be done by someone who doesn’t have experience or isn’t a professional because the watch can be ruined forever if not re-assembled correctly.

Servicing a mechanical watch is another investment the owner should make, so not many watch lovers are ready to own a timepiece that needs so much attention.

The mechanical movement is like an engine. Those who like wearing such a complicated mechanism around their wrist are usually passionate about watches and collect them.

There are many mechanical watch manufacturers for every taste. While some mechanical watches can be very expensive, they surely are engineering masterpieces that could impress anyone with their movement mechanism and design.