At
the beginning of the production of wristwatches (around 1910 or
so), every one was a mechanical timepiece. Batteries and quartz
movements didn't exist back then, so all watches had mechanical
movements inside, movements adapted and miniaturized from pocket
watches.
The
mechanical watch
ruled the roost for the next half-century. Then, in the late 1960s,
the quartz watch
was invented and popularized; the Swiss watch industry was caught
off guard. Sales of quartz
watches soared while mechanical watch sales plummeted.
Many manufacturers of everything involved in a mechanical watch
closed practically overnight. Some Swiss companies turned to quartz
watch production altogether, while others continued making mechanical
watches, even though the market was very small. For decades, the
quartz watch was king and the mechanical watch was a dinosaur
- kept alive by a small group of aficionados.
Then,
A Funny Thing Happened
Mechanical watches
started to make a comeback. In the 1990s, mechanical watches began
selling strongly at auction and appearing in greater numbers in
retail stores. Now, mechanical watches are occupying a larger
percentage of total watch sales every year. Certainly, the lion's
share of watches sold today are still relatively inexpensive quartz
timepieces, but more people are becoming aware of the
value and enjoyment of wearing a fine timepiece, and in ever-increasing
numbers, the movement powering that fine timepiece is mechanical.
The
Magic Of A Mechanical Movement
There is something special about having a mechanical watch on
your wrist. A movement is like a living thing - a tiny machine
with parts that spin and turn, keeping time, your faithful companion
that depends on your involvement to keep it running. A mechanical
watch is a link to the past, to the way wristwatches were when
first introduced, as well as a symbol of the future. Many watch
companies today are committed to preserving the heritage of fine
watchmaking, while still pushing the envelope of innovation with
new movements, new materials, new ways of reading the time and
more. Every mechanical
watch requires input from a human being - during production,
assembly, regulation and even daily use.
Quartz watches, for the most part, are assembled automatically
by machines, not humans. That's not to say that quartz watches
are not worth considering - quartz technology allows features
and functions that cannot be accomplished with a mechanical movement
(multiple alarms, altimeters, compasses, heart rate monitors and
more). There is something to be said about the accuracy of quartz
and the ease of just pulling a watch out of a drawer and not have
to worry about setting it to the right time. There are even quartz
timepieces that sleep when they are not in use, extending their
already incredible battery life.
Having
said that about quartz, however, there is something engaging about
a mechanical movement - the tick tock, the heart beat of the watch's
balance wheel and escapement, is mesmerizing and comforting at
the same time. Many manufacturers,
knowing how much people want to see a movement in motion, are
finding interesting ways to open up the dial to showcase the engine
of the watch. Most companies today feature exhibition backs (sapphire
crystal case backs that allow you to see into the movement from
the back of the watch), while others have completely removed the
dial to show the watch's inner workings. Some companies only reveal
a portion of the magic through a circle, a segment of the dial
removed or even windows on the side of the case.
Entry-Level
Timepieces
You might think that getting into mechanical watches is an expensive
proposition, but there are plenty of choices in the $500 - $5,000
range. Now, these opening-price-point models are pretty simple:
basic movement, basic time display, simple decoration and so on.
But, they are mechanical and affordable, and a great way to start.
Moving
Upscale
Once you own a mechanical watch, you will soon begin to
want more: more complications, more attention to detail, proprietary
movements, precious metals and cool features. There are so many
brands to choose from that the possibilities are endless.
The
Best Watches In The World
The majority of the best watches in the world come from Switzerland.
All you need to do is a little research to determine which brands
are doing things the right way (Swiss made, proven track record
and fantastic after sales service) and decide which watches (style,
complications,
etc.) suit your lifestyle the best. The mechanical watch
is back and here to stay.
