Hello everyone, I am Michael from Watches Global Store. I often chat with customers on the front line and I have found that many people want to understand the basic structure of watches. However, the internet is flooded with various introductions to famous watches, complicated watch functions, but lacks simple "introductory information". Therefore, I am writing this article in the hope that the "First Lesson on Watches" series can provide a brief overview of watches for beginners.
- Movement
Movement: The movement is the heart of the watch, responsible for converting energy (e.g. electricity) into the driving force of the watch. All the secrets that make the watch hands move are contained in the movement. The most popular movements currently are "mechanical movements" and battery-powered "quartz movements", and our discussion will revolve around these two types of watches. There are also Smart Watches, solar watches, tuning fork watches, etc.
Mechanical Movement: Mechanical watches are the original type of watch, where the mainspring is wound up to drive the watch with a wheel system. The winding-up of the watch can be done manually or automatically. Most mechanical watches today are automatic watches, using the oscillating weight to collect the energy from the wearer's movement. Some also have a manual winding structure.
Quartz Movement: Powered by a battery, the quartz crystal produces regular vibrations using electricity. This vibration drives the hands through the gear train and integrated circuit. Since the stability and high accuracy of quartz watch movements, they quickly became the mainstream watch style after being mass-produced in the 1960s.
- Case
Case: It houses the movement and protects the movement. The case not only protects the movement, but also enhances the appearance and quality of the watch. Generally, a watch's water resistance refers to its ability to resist water pressure, preventing water from entering the case through the gaps and affecting the movement. A well-designed case can provide higher water resistance and greater protection for the crystal and movement.
Common case materials: Plastic, alloy, brass, bronze, aluminum, stainless steel.
High-strength case materials: Titanium, carbon fiber, ceramic.
Precious metal case materials: gold, platinum, silver.
- Crown
Crown: In Taiwan and mainland China, it is called the "crown" or "head". The crown is composed of the "crown" and the "stem", with the part protruding from the case being the "crown" and the metal rod with a screw thread being the "stem". Although small, the crown has a great impact on the use of the watch! It is used to adjust the time and access various functions of the watch. By "pushing and rotating", you can activate and adjust the watch's functions.
- Strap
Strap: The material that binds the watch case to the wrist, with common options including nylon, stainless steel, leather, rubber, etc. When choosing a suitable strap, the watch user should consider the wearing occasion and attire.
Leather Strap: Creates elegance and nobility. The downside is that leather should not come into contact with water and can only be cleaned with a dry cloth. Prolonged contact with sweat can cause the strap to develop an odor or even break.
Nylon Strap: Originally designed as a military watch strap due to its low cost and durability. Later, nylon straps became more colorful and diverse, becoming a style for young people to mix and match with casual wear.
Steel Strap: Known for its durability and resistance to breakage. Watches found in vintage stores often have steel straps as the main option. The downside is the weight, being the heaviest among all strap materials.
Rubber Strap: Includes materials such as plastic, rubber, silicone, etc. Each material has its own characteristics, but generally rubber straps are very lightweight and easy to clean.
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