Five Major Operating Structures of a Watch

Depending on the power source, watches can be categorised into mechanical watches (further divided into manual-winding and automatic-winding), quartz watches, automatic quartz watches, solar-powered watches, and the recently invented manual-winding quartz watches. Due to their different structures and unique characteristics, there are different precautions for their use, which we will outline for you one by one.

    I. Automatic Mechanical Watches:

    Generally refers to watches that use a mainspring barrel to store power. All power begins by winding the mainspring, which sends force to the centre wheel, third wheel, fourth wheel, fifth wheel (escape wheel), and pallet fork, then to the balance wheel. The balance wheel then exerts a counter-force back to the pallet fork, returning it to its previous position. This allows the entire operation to repeat in a cycle, continuously generating power. Mechanical watches can be divided into manual-winding and automatic-winding types.

    A. Manual-winding watches: By manually turning the crown, the winding system is driven, which in turn winds the mainspring to full capacity.

    Precautions: When winding for the first time, wind it yourself until it is full to see how many turns are required. Afterwards, follow the same method to wind it to 8 or 9 capacity. Do not overwind to avoid breaking the mainspring.

    B. Automatic-winding watches: Rely on the movement of the arm to drive the rotor to swing back and forth, achieving the effect of automatically tightening the mainspring.!~3d

    Precautions: Automatic watches have a slipping clutch mechanism, so they cannot be overwound. When the watch stops, simply wind it a few turns to get the mainspring moving, and the rest will be achieved by the movement of your hand while wearing it.

    II. Quartz watches:

    Generally refers to watches that use a battery and a quartz oscillator to calculate and display time. The movement relies on the frequency generated by the quartz. Common types today include analogue quartz watches and digital quartz watches. Their greatest feature is precision; within a normal temperature range, the monthly error is within approximately +/- 15-20 seconds.

    A. Analogue quartz watches: These use battery power to cause the quartz to generate a frequency, which is then divided by an IC board to control the coil and magnetic rotor, driving the gear train and moving the hands. The hour and minute hands are essentially powered by electricity..O

    B. Digital quartz watches: The basic principle is the same as that of an analogue quartz watch, but they lack a gear train and instead use a liquid crystal display (LCD) to show the time.

    Precautions: After the IC board has been running for a long time, dirt may accumulate on the contact points or they may become damp. Therefore, just like mechanical watches, they should be serviced and cleaned every 2, 3 years. When not worn for a long period, it is best to remove the battery to prevent battery fluid from leaking and corroding the circuit board. In regions with humid climates, using Japanese-made batteries is often more suitable.

     III. Solar-powered watches:

    Solar cells are made from high-purity silicon wafers. These wafers undergo a special process to form two extremely thin layers. When sunlight or artificial light hits the surface of the silicon, it converts light energy into a photocurrent and photovoltage. The current flows from the higher-voltage solar cell to the lower-voltage watch battery to charge it. To prevent the voltage from the solar cell entering the watch from being too high, internal diodes and resistors act as buffers to protect the watch battery and extend its lifespan.

    Precautions: Regular checks are essential. Additionally, note that when replacing the battery, you must use plastic or bamboo tweezers; using metal tweezers can easily cause a short circuit.

    IV. Auto-quartz watches:&

    This is a hybrid of an automatic watch and a quartz watch. Its power source comes from the wearer's arm movements, which drive the internal rotor. The kinetic energy generated drives a micro-generator to convert it into energy, providing sufficient power for the quartz mechanism inside, while excess electrical energy is stored in a micro-capacitor. This design, which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, has been continuously improved by modern technology, allowing the watch to run for dozens of days when fully charged. Auto-quartz watches combine the convenience of automatic winding with the precision of quartz, and because they do not require a battery, they are more environmentally friendly. Currently, an increasing number of brands are producing this type of watch.

    Precautions: Regular maintenance is required, and avoid placing the watch in magnetic environments.

    V. Spring Drive:

    The Spring Drive technology, introduced by the Japanese SEIKO Group in 1998, is structurally almost identical to a mechanical watch in most respects. However, the core escapement mechanism of a mechanical watch is replaced by a quartz oscillator construction. Therefore, some consider it a quartz watch. Strictly speaking, however, Spring Drive technology is a derivative design of a mechanical watch because the quartz oscillator and magnetic rotor act as a 'brake' in the Spring Drive system. The power source for the timing components remains the mainspring barrel. The quartz oscillator provides a signal to the magnetic rotor to perform continuous, regulated releases to control the second hand. Consequently, watches using Spring Drive technology have a second hand that sweeps smoothly like a mechanical watch. Because it uses a quartz oscillator as the frequency core, it achieves a high precision of +/- 15 seconds per month, which is beyond the reach of traditional mechanical watches.