Why Should You Buy A Mechanical Watch?

THE HISTORY OF MECHANICAL WATCHES

During the Renaissance period, it is believed that the first mechanical clocks emerged as tower clocks in the region encompassing northern Italy to southern Germany, approximately between 1270 and 1300. These early clocks lacked dials and hands, and instead relied on the striking of bells to indicate the time.

Initial mechanical clock

Automatic watch with rotor weight. Signed on the dial "Mazzi à Locarno", ca. 1778

The first mechanical pocket watch was invented in 1510, in Germany by Peter Henlein. It could only measure the passage of the hours as opposed to the modern watch which also measures minutes and seconds. It was fastened to belts or carried around the neck. 

Mechanical watches are often credited for changing the common practice of measuring time.

Major advancements in watchmaking took place after the 14th century with screws being used in clocks in 1540 and the introduction of glass protection for watches in 1610.

Personal mechanical watches and clocks entered the mainstream in the 1900s. This was possible with the inexpensive manufacturing costs of watch parts that were a result of mass production and industrialization. This made owing a mechanical watch more accessible.

What are Mechanical Watches?

Mechanical watches are watches that are made up of mechanical movements and use a clockwork-like mechanism to measure the passage of time, as opposed to the quartz watch which utilizes a battery.

The mechanical watch works by having a mainspring that gets wound and holds the force which then goes on to power the balance wheel. The gear train transfers the force and calculates the seconds, minutes, and hours. From that point, the escapement creates a constant motion – moving the watch's hands at a steady rate.

The two types of mechanical watches:

1. Manual mechanical watches:

Manual mechanical watches are watches that must be rewound by turning the crown at least once per day.

2. Automatic mechanical watches:

Automatic mechanical watches are watches that rewind automatically through the movements of the wrist.

Why buy mechanical watches?

Buying a mechanical watch has multiple advantages as opposed to a quartz/battery powered watch:

Product Lifespan:

A well-made quartz watch might last 10 - 15 years with battery changes every 2 to 3 years however their lifespan is much shorter than a mechanical watch because their electronic parts get worn out very quickly. However, a well-made mechanical watch made over a century ago can be restored to perfect condition even today.

Craftsmanship:

Mechanical watches are synonymous with Craftsmanship. A watch made with fine craftsmanship has an indefinite lifespan. A mechanical watch is known for its ability to come back to life after years of inactivity as a result of the watch's craftsmanship.

More sustainable and Eco-friendly:

In today’s world, we have so many low-quality quartz watches but a mechanical watch is made to last and made to be repaired. A well-made mechanical watch can function properly for more than a person's lifetime with any battery changes. This makes the mechanical watch more eco-friendly as opposed to quartz watches whose battery has to be replaced every 2 to 3 years, thus creating more waste for the environment.

Investment pieces:

A high-quality mechanical watch can hold its value over time, sometimes even increasing in value, which is typically not the case with quartz watches. This makes them a sound investment for those who are interested in collecting rare, vintage mechanical timepieces.

Also read:

Things To Remember While Buying Your First Vintage Watch