At its core, a mechanical watch uses a system of gears and springs to measure the passage of time. Here’s how it all comes together.
Power source: A mechanical watch is powered by a mainspring, which is a coiled spring that is wound up by the wearer. As the mainspring unwinds, it releases energy that powers the watch’s movement.
Escapement: The escapement is a mechanism that regulates the release of energy from the mainspring. It consists of a wheel with teeth and a pallet fork, which is a lever that catches and releases the teeth of the wheel. Each time the pallet fork releases a tooth, it allows the wheel to move forward slightly, causing the watch’s second hand to tick.
Balance wheel: The balance wheel is a small, weighted wheel that oscillates back and forth, and is regulated by a hairspring. The hairspring ensures that the balance wheel oscillates at a consistent rate, which in turn regulates the timekeeping of the watch.
Gears: The gears of a watch transmit the power from the mainspring to the various parts of the movement, including the escapement and the hands that indicate the time.
Overall, a mechanical watch is an intricate and precise machine that uses the interplay of various components to measure the passage of time.
