Buzz
I recall when the first quartz watches hit the market; they were said to mark the end of traditional mechanical watches, just as video tapes were thought to spell the end of cinemas. Yet, that hasn’t been the case, and self-winding watches have only grown in popularity.
The images below show the backside of a typical self-winding watch:
This particular watch has a transparent back, allowing you to peer inside. In the second image, you'll notice a semi-circular metal part, which is the core of the self-winding mechanism. It’s relatively heavy and influenced by gravity. As the watch moves, this piece adjusts to always face downward. If you’ve got time to watch a 350-kilobyte MPEG, then this six-second video will demonstrate how the piece shifts. As you walk and your arm swings, the piece moves inside the watch.
This piece is connected to a gear train that reduces its movement. Every time you swing your arm, it winds the spring a tiny bit. Since your arm moves so often, the watch stays wound with ease. The spring stores enough energy to keep the watch running for about a day and a half if you leave it on your dresser.
Discover more through these links:
- Understanding Quartz Watches
- How Gears Function
- The Mechanics Behind an Indiglo Watch
