Watch Movements Explained (Quartz vs. Mechanical)

[@ChronometerCheck]

Join my Discord, I love you: discord.gg/R2wQgRkBrR Which do you prefer, quartz or mechanical watches? I'm a big fan of mechanical, they're the reason I really fell in love with watches, but I can appreciate a great quartz as well.

[@StickFailedHisLife]

Mechanical all the way! Sometimes i like to listen to the gears shifting!

[@osamu_90]

No preference as long as it's a good watch. Though in terms of quartz, I must admit I'm heavily biased towards solar-powered ones.

[@UNLISTEDWEB]

for Diver always mechanical(don't want to open it every 2 years to change battery), for everything else there is quartz (better at everything time related).

[@whywecollectwatches]

If you want great accuracy buy a quartz watch. If enjoy craftsmanship buy a mechanical watch. If you want accuray and craftsmanship buy a Grand Seiko. ;-)

[@senolylmaz5097]

Grand Seiko is so classy...

[@rbmwiv]

So true get a 9F series quartz if you really want accuracy and beauty, but I would choose a spring drive, best of both worlds! They are better made than a Rolex. I have 1 Rolex I inherited and 2 Grand Seiko’s that I bought. No way will I pay what they ask for rolex. The GS are in a higher orbit than rolex when I compare the two side by side. And comparing it with new Rolex models.

[@prateekluthra911]

@@rbmwiv doesn't Bulova lunar pilot watches have the same accuracy as grand seiko, and they also cost way less than a GS?

[@sidewinded1]

@@prateekluthra911they are 2 different movements. I believe the lunar uses a tuning fork system whereas GS uses spring drive. Both are incredible from an engineering standpoint and not what you see in your everyday quartz watches, but they work on different principles

[@cannibalronny7314]

If you are an useless millenial buy a smart watch

[@ryoho1]

Then you got Seiko with their Spring Drive, a Mechanical and Quartz hybrid wizardry.

[@l_poci_]

Then you have my watch, the AP Rolex “No money in my wallet” which has neither

[@sidewinded1]

also the bulova accutron, which uses a tuning fork to regulate the watch

[@Rayuzan_M]

Japanese engineering in a nutshell

[@mohammadsyazwigeoffrey7325]

how about the "That's Not a Watch, That's A Glorified Bracelet"

[@nokatomo9939]

I have the seiko kinetic. It sounds like it has a rotor but also has a battery... which one is it?

[@vicjae]

I’ve watched countless videos of people explaining the difference between the two and I just couldn’t could not understand. You e explained it in 1min and I couldn’t thank you enough for the simple, easy to follow explanation. Thank you.

[@deepakmthem2853]

One of my high school teacher had a mechanical watch. We always see him spinning the crown of his watch when he wasn't teaching and we wondered what he was doing! Only in my later years when I learned of mechanical watch, I understood his quirk. RIP Sir.

[@ChronometerCheck]

It's addicting!

[@rockabrilia]

If you're new to mechanical watches, buy one with tranparent back. You'll enjoy the movement and some of these are not expensive at all.

[@joenobody571]

Skeleton automatics are sweet you can see the movement from both sides 😮

[@ChronometerCheck]

So true. A simple Seiko 5 is a great starting point

[@thatkoeniseggagerars]

Amazing video i wanted to know how my mechanical watch gets its power other videos just say that the it gets its power from that but you actually explained how it does that. Didn't expect this level of quality from a short.

[@Pkstp1]

I'm a watchmaker student and i'm still always amazed how mechanical watches are such an instruments of fine mechanics and very very delicate parts. You don't realize how sensitive and precise those movements are until you start disassembling them and have difficulties in even seeing some of the screws and parts.

[@coughfee1416]

Watches are fascinating as such precise engineering is required to make it work with the parts being so small

[@ChronometerCheck]

And they also power themselves! Incredible that no battery is required

[@Grass_rock-kb7gi]

Then checkout micro processors under microscope It will blow your mind how billions of extremely small transistors are accurately aligned

[@noelaruldas1152]

Thank you very much for your demonstration and explanation!

[@raihanahmed4514]

My dad has one Seiko mechanical watch, I never knew this was something unique now it made that watch even cooler!

[@ChronometerCheck]

Yes, indeed!

[@arhumtariq9455]

My grandfather gave my father a seiko watch of gold colour and after almost 30 years it still works

[@ChronometerCheck]

Literally same here

[@navdeepsharma6664]

Is it automatic or battery?

[@AfongNexx]

I got a gift from my boss She gave me seiko automatic watch i was wondering how it works now i know

[@InfernoBlast-th1ot]

My grandmother had once gifted a mechanical watch to my father back in 1992 when he got a job. My father still has that watch and it works just fine till date. I think I'll keep it as a family heirloom when I grow up.

[@Qikx]

There's also an interesting watch type that's just a quartz watch that's solar powered. Pretty affordable at only a couple hundred. Highly recommend.

[@marcelerny7228]

Very well explained. Thank you 👍🏻

[@shakira.rahman8786]

This a great explanation..... thank you👍

[@insta_robinhood9121]

Totally new information about all these.. thanks ☺️

[@ChronometerCheck]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tekashigaming978]

Thank you very much

[@ChronometerCheck]

No problem

[@TECHiHOBBYIST]

My Grandfather had 3 automatic and 2 cog . And he use to flex it really hard because at that time it was statement of success as they were expensive . And as per he people does use to notice that success statement on his hand.

[@Oozy9Millimeetah]

I have my grandpa's Eterna-matic from the late 60's that's crazy accurate my dad had it serviced. Rip to both of em. But for daily carry i like sub 200$ battery watches. Its funny that even no-name quartz keeps crazy accurate time.

[@Banzybanz]

My wife has a Fossil mechanical watch. She only wears it for special occassions so we have to wind it every time. It's so cool though.

[@davidperry4013]

Digital watches are quartz crystal but use a d flip flop chip and a multiplexer chip for the lcd display

[@ChronometerCheck]

Didn't know those specific terms. Cool

[@barsaumoartan8897]

a very technical topic very simple explained 👍🏻

[@ChronometerCheck]

Thank you very much

[@artwerksDallas]

Good to know......Finally

[@drakkoLOC]

Hi there, i couldn't help but notice the Hamilton watch, i forgot the exact model. Can you enlighten me?

[@arihantsrivastava5496]

Grand seikos are no doubt exceptionally good but Bulova precisionist movement is also a very great movement if we ignore the dinner plate design of the watches and only talk about the movement

[@elgracko]

You'd need some kind of wrachet mechanism in automatic mechanical watches so that the movement of the hand doesn't also unwind the spring?

[@raderator]

I'm wearing a Seiko 5 I got a few years ago for $50. Loses a couple of minutes per month so I set it a minute ahead once a month. Came with a thick, heavy band. Has day of week, which I need because I forget.

[@Delboy001647363]

My favourite way to describe a mechanical watch is that it is basically just very elaborate and intricate brake.

[@zhuravlevivan4622]

My father had an old watch with that rotor-gyroscope thing on the back, when I was young I thought it was some kind of compass lol

[@stormergames7193]

I'm glad I learned this in physics homework!

[@Antony-v9i]

If on a low budget like 50, is a Sekonda the best watch i can afford?

[@raresboghean2974]

I use a soviet mechanical wach is way better than battery one and is frendly enviroment

[@Shock_Treatment]

No mechanical watch is more accurate than a quartz watch. Those also require more maintenance than quartz watches. Also, a small 10-year battery isn't going to harm the earth very much, and they even make solar powered quartz watches.

[@raresboghean2974]

@@Shock_Treatment The old school wach seems better i do like it it does the joob

[@blue7lvn245]

Subbed coz I've always wanted to know this

[@eriksvensson2098]

Me with a Casio that has 10 years battery life forgetting the watch for 2 years and it still works without a hitch.

[@ChronometerCheck]

If it's good enough for Casey Niestat :)

[@__8120]

Same, I've got a cardinal from Walmart and it's still kicking after like 10 years with the same battery, and it's more waterproof than I am

[@K.J.H_]

Wow how'd you get a short of a prx hitting its markers?!

[@mirusenpai5372]

One of the human’s masterpieces

[@ChronometerCheck]

Absolutely

[@Shock_Treatment]

Then you have atomic clocks.

[@Abu_Tuesday]

I had mechanical watch but it kind of lost it powers? Idk how to put it, now i have to roatate it all the time to keep it awake. That's why i just switched to quartz watch

[@ChronometerCheck]

That's exactly how a mechanical watch is powered

[@Abu_Tuesday]

@@ChronometerCheck haha...... No. I meant previously the clock worked for a day if i rotated it for few minutes but now i have to do it for a very long time.

[@ChronometerCheck]

@@Abu_Tuesday Ohh, I see. Ahh, perhaps it might need a service

[@Jorj57]

that's the consequences of having one, you need to take care of it, kinda like having a pet if you get what i mean. i suggest to get a Solar Quartz watch if you want a long lasting reliable yet accurate watch

[@Teddingtin]

What’s the Hamilton at the end?

[@angshulsana]

I had this question from my childhood. Today i understood that

[@ChronometerCheck]

Really glad

[@pratikskamble]

I didn't even know such things existed 😮

[@ChronometerCheck]

It's crazy!

[@kleur3356]

Interesting

[@meltingpoint97]

So dumb question here but how do I ‘fix’ my automatic watch that’s been sitting around for a while - if I move it it continues to work so will I have to wear it on my wrist for a while

[@ChronometerCheck]

Yes - automatic watches stay wound for only ~40-80 hours when fully wound. But it will keep winding itself whenever you wear it. Don't worry, nothing is wrong with it, this is just part of how automatic watches work.

[@MarcsXV]

Honey, I was 37ms late at work, boss fired me.

[@Uno_Floydd]

Im confusion my watch is quartz because its using batteries but its also mechanical because I have to set the time with a dial and its solar powered so the battery never runs out. Super confused its the Seiko v158 0A0B rail road approved watch I had to buy working for Metro in LA

[@AiOinc1]

I always wondered how the automatic ones wound themselves. I used to have a totally translucent pocket watch, it came from eBay for no money, I think. But it was fully mechanical. Sadly, I overwound it and it died, I think.

[@ismailikapadia]

does anybody know where to buy watch movements

[@محمدداودشاہ]

what is the name of watch in the end with the orange brown strap.

[@ChronometerCheck]

Hamilton Khaki Automatic

[@محمدداودشاہ]

@@ChronometerCheck thanks! iam going to buy it.

[@Alovatololo]

Now I'm gonna have to look up the lifespan on mechanical watches.

[@ChronometerCheck]

A mechanical watch can last basically forever if taken care of

[@achmantiwari8664]

Kinetic watch is cool

[@Jorj57]

but unfortunately inefficient, since the movement of the rotor can't really provide much electrical kinetic power to the watch's capacitor. and that makes Solar a far more superior type of Quartz movement

[@noily8974]

Now i know. Wondered what half circle for

[@joshuamathews]

I have a question, my watch has two buttons but pushing it doesn't do any thing, what is it's use

[@trabant3060]

It takes a screenshot

[@ChronometerCheck]

Chronograph?

[@dchhagan]

My aunt has one that my grandfather gifted her on going to university for higher studies

[@ChronometerCheck]

That's awesome

[@adamrocks9556]

What about solar powered

[@VentiVonOsterreich]

Fun fact: put your mechanical watch close to a magnet and the balance wheel speeds up the spin making it move faster

[@ChronometerCheck]

Yeaaaah, don't do this 😅

[@VentiVonOsterreich]

@@ChronometerCheck I learned it the hard way from experience

[@Maneesh1301]

I'm happy with my Casioak

[@ChronometerCheck]

Me too

[@pyrexmaniac]

Quartz is FAAAAAAR more accurate over time

[@cynthiablackthorn]

This also explains doctor stange’s watch drawer with the rotating watch rests, it’s to keep the automatic winding mechanical watches from stopping

[@samwelmeja7683]

Genius

[@kurniadikho]

Using spring as power reserve... How long the spring will last until it no longer can be used as power reserve?

[@ChronometerCheck]

The power reserve of mechanical watches can vary, usually between 40 - 80 hours before needing to be wound

[@the_defaultguy]

great... another thing i now know and now suddenly want but physically cant buy lmao

[@wabalaka1565]

And there is Seiko spring drive moment

[@ChronometerCheck]

Best of both worlds

[@pipoypipoy7796]

Now i want a mechanical watch

[@mu5mu595]

The Seiko "Arnie" as shown in the video has a Solar quartz movement, meaning the watch is powered by sunlight and you never have the change the battery.

[@billyyank5807]

Citizen eco drive also.

[@datafoxy]

Yes probably should have said quartz requires electricity to run as they have capacitors.

[@ChronometerCheck]

True

[@richardmillhousenixon]

My Timex Field Post has the same, its real nice and hella accurate too. Over the course of a month it loses less than 2 seconds. Thats not even 30 seconds a year

[@osamu_90]

You'll still have to change the battery eventually as it'll hold a lower charge as the battery chemically ages, just like any other rechargeable battery like your phone's. Your instruction manual should tell you when you should send the watch in for service, typically 10 years, though if you can find the battery for sale you could do it yourself to save money since it's no different from replacing a normal battery (just remember to replace the gasket as well to ensure watch is still water resistant).

[@kevinlewis945]

My Seiko 5 has outlasted all my quartz watches....Get a Seiko 5, you will not regret such a purchase

[@ticket_puncher]

I thought all watches were electric thats crazy

[@ChronometerCheck]

Yeah, the rabbit hole goes deep

[@madl99]

Same man😂

[@ThePapaja1996]

About 90% is eletric

[@manupratap7064]

Is there any very affordable mechanical watch ?

[@ChronometerCheck]

Plenty! That is primarily what my channel is focused on

[@manupratap7064]

Yes exactly you make really good content, And you also suggested an affordable watch which was Addiesdive but if it is possible to get a mechanical watch with chronograph in the budget of $100 or $120, Can please suggest me ?

[@ChronometerCheck]

@@manupratap7064 For a little bit more (closer to $200) you can get really good chronographs using the Seagull ST19 movement such as the Seagull 1963 or Sugess Chronographs

[@kirilllysenko8616]

Bruh, was that an orbment mechanism from the Kiseki series? That was random

[@howdoihuman]

Good tourbillon watches are extremely accurate. But they do cost a lot more.

[@Jorj57]

in theory they should, but in reality? they're not as accurate as we hope. watchmakers are currently in the works on creating an escapement that can outrun Tourbillion's by a huge miles! like the new escapement the brands Zenith and Frederique Constant are currently working on. but such accuracy can already be achieved by a detent escapement found in a marine chronometer

[@monabuu]

It always seemed weird to me that mechanical watches are so much more expensive than quartz and yet are so much less accurate

[@Shock_Treatment]

Yup. It's mostly about the artsy appeal now, but quartz watches have always interested me more. I can pretty much guarantee that if quartz watches came out at the same time as mechanical ones, the people of the old days would've chosen quartz simply because they're more accurate, and the purpose of a watch, especially to them, is to keep accurate time. Quartz is also so underappreciated too. People constantly gawk at mechanical movements, but that's probably only because they can actually see the gears working. However, if you look at the amount of technological engineering it takes to make a quartz watch, they seem much more impressive. You first have to know how to grow the crystal and shape it into an unbelievably tiny tuning fork, you have to know how to make a battery and a tiny motor (or LCD/LED panel), you have to know how to create the complex circuitry that can accurately count the resonance of the crystal and convert it into time, and you have to know how to put it all together. I'm sure that's majorly simplifying it since even I don't know how they work entirely, but I know it's a complex process that's built on the advancements of many people, and I'm sure no single person could make a quartz watch like one could with a mechanical.

[@TheCvlt]

Quartz:I'm superior in every single way Mechanical: I cost more.

[@Jorj57]

Quartz watch movement with the same level of craftsmanship that Mechanical movement usually has is unfortunately rare

[@ogheneworojohn4308]

What???. I had an Hublot and thought it was weird it stops ticking when i pick it in the morning😂😂😂. Just realized

[@ChronometerCheck]

Hahahah

[@imnugget8085]

I love automatic if it doesnt have that i dont buy it cause i already have a battery watch on my phone

[@MrJtin69]

I have a couple RM tourbillion

[@ChronometerCheck]

$$$

[@MrJtin69]

@@ChronometerCheck generational wealth

[@ChronometerCheck]

@@MrJtin69 That's awesome. I hope you get to try a ton of really cool timepieces

[@XxInuyashadowxX]

My mechanicak watch gets wind up a lot at 1 a.m and has enough energy to last for years

[@ChronometerCheck]

Woah, what watch?

[@XxInuyashadowxX]

@@ChronometerCheck Unfortunately I can't remeber the name. It also doesn't have very high specs. It just get wind up a lot when I am alone in my bed

[@vipinkumar5955]

😂😂 I got what you mean

[@goldstink]

Be careful not to overwind it😂😂

[@andrew6889-p5c]

I have a solar watch. More accurate than any mechanical watch available. Mechanical watches are amazing but totally outdated - like a hand made horse carriage.

[@anowerhossain6578]

Is that right? Mechanical watch come with a disadvantage of being paused.

[@Windowsfan100]

What do you mean with paused?

[@ChronometerCheck]

Yes, it will stop running if you don't continue to wind it

[@officermofiz4600]

Mechanical watches are probably the most fascinating, delicate but completely useless engineering in the world. And that's coming from a mechanical engineer who do appreciate mechanical watches so save your hate comments.

[@ChronometerCheck]

Would hardly consider them useless, but I understand what you mean. And yes, they are marvels

[@shadmansaifullah9609]

Explain why it’s useless

[@GameOver-nm2us]

​@@shadmansaifullah9609 it is less accurate and it does the same job as a quartz watch but harder (Btw I am an absolute sucker for anything mechanical do don't try and say I am hating)

[@DrSabot-A]

​​@@shadmansaifullah9609 Compared to a cheaper digital or quartz watches, it is inaccurate and a nightmare if you break it. It's "useless" because it serves no better utility purpose than quartz/digital watches. The appeal comes down to taste and preference, not from use.

[@notChocoMilk]

@@shadmansaifullah9609 because you could get a smart watch for way cheaper, lmao

[@sangeethkumar4373]

Here she comes with another wacky stuff

[@Successwalt]

Automatic mechanical watchs is classic

[@ztl6711]

vacuum can't guarantee mechanical perpetual ?

[@Shock_Treatment]

They're not stored in vacuum-tight cases, but even if they were, there'd still be friction from the parts interacting with each other. Perpetual motion machines are impossible.

[@jacobmphambe3711]

the other usually sweep's will the other tick's

[@ChronometerCheck]

Very true

[@IMQInfinity]

❤❤❤❤

[@guillermo7168]

"Have a rotor that rotates..." Bruh...

[@ChronometerCheck]

Might be obvious to you or me, but not everyone

[@kubipro5880]

I was a mechanical watch fan now I want only quartz don't care about watch only good quality watches are mechanical hope the make same quality watch like mechanical tho quartz watch Tissot prx is a good example.

[@georgwagner4438]

I have the tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 and its insanly accurate (about -0.2 seconds behind/day, insanly accurate compared to other mechanical watches) And that for „only“ 730€.

[@kubipro5880]

@@georgwagner4438 I don't want the pay for the inside anymore thats the reason I want premium watch with quartz inside atleast the price is decent I have Seiko MM200 with arrow hands and the Sarb033 mechanic watches and I don't care anymore about automatic watches.

[@georgwagner4438]

@@kubipro5880 I absolutely understand that, personally, it just makes me happy when I think about whats happening inside the mechanical watch i am wearing. I plan on buying a open-heart model so that I can actually see it while its on my wrist. Maybe I will buy a nice quartz-watch to someday, lets see..

[@kubipro5880]

@@georgwagner4438 yeah for me if the looks of the watch is nice and is automatic I buy example the Citizen Tsuyosa only the size is big if it is smaller I buy it I was also waiting for the pagani design datejust 36mm only I find a datejust hommage with quartz.

[@kubipro5880]

@@damyr yeah for me the looks and the quality is important inside quartz is better cheaper and simple mostly for a watch you are paying for the mechanical inside.

[@aquaisuseful682]

So ones piezoelectric and ones kinetic

[@miurasvlamborghini]

Hundreds to thousands of doll hairs. That's the difference.

[@cannibalronny7314]

If you are travelling, hiking or sailing get a Citizen eco drive/Seiko Solar//Garmin Solar. If you are in a dangerous part of town, using public transport wear a cheap G shock or a casio,Metal watches no matter how cheap attract attention.Never wear a fake bcause robbers can never know the difference and they might just harm you. If you are going to a classy function wear a good mechanical/Automatic. If you are rich get a Grand seiko or a Swiss one-Rolex,JWC etc etc. If you are an useless millenial get a smart watch.

[@sidewinded1]

the last sentence had me laughing. In all seriousness, i like to daily a smart watch because it is useful for keeping track of my workouts. I have a diver GMT for business formal, a dress watch for formal dress, it all depends on the application and part of town you are living in

[@snapop200]

Why? Latestsmart watches has many features that actually eaves time and helps in tracking our fitness goals

[@evolution8662]

Yess... I have a Seiko Sport 5 automatic.... Its great....

[@billyyank5807]

The first "nice" watch that wasn't a cheap timex I purchased was a citizen eco drive. It's great. It was under 250. Maybe under 200. It was 16 years ago....I can't Remember. I had it in a box just sitting for 6 years at least. I just brought it out and charged it in a windowsill for 6 hours, and it works just fine! Never had a problem with it!

[@Suckmabalzz]

​@@snapop200 0 style points my guy, no one looks classy wearing a smart watch on a suit.

[@zdspider6778]

This might be a guy thing, but that auto-winding is kind of genius... 😳

[@dimitribaganis9307]

The next place you should buy your games is at poorget like target

[@aloneigo8214]

💀just checked out "grand seiko" since most of the comments were talking about it and fk in rupees its around 1lakh - 7 lakh 💀like bro wtf

[@ChronometerCheck]

Hahah, it's great but definitely not a cheap watch!

[@nicerknifes9465]

DO NOT GET INTO WATCHES! As Nick famously said...

[@ChronometerCheck]

It's a curse!

[@everythingcarpro1]

What about the watch that last forever ♾️

[@ChronometerCheck]

A mechanical watch can last forever if well taken care of (serviced)

[@Jorj57]

if you ask about longevity then a well built and maintained mechanical watch can last for many decades. but if you ask about the constant run time then a solar quartz watches are the way to go, since from what i understand their capacitors can last for around a decade

[@elegantme1361]

The difference? The Price.... of course 😅

[@Bronanarival]

And then you have digital watch ⌚😮

[@ChronometerCheck]

Usually digital watches are quartz :)

[@hiddenkings]

*also see piezoelectricity

[@ernestochang1744]

You forgot mechanical watches have their own expensive battery every 5 years a mechanical watch must be cleaned and oiled otherwise the performance will suffer, and to get some1 to look at it you might as well throw it away and buy yourself another one because its about $150 to clean it and oil it if you take it to a horologist

[@blaze26700]

Damn.

[@Jim__05]

💙👍

[@phantomphotography7392]

Then there is Spring Drive ...

[@ChronometerCheck]

A masterpiece

[@anamakaveekshaka]

Automatic mechanical? I thought those were two opposite words!

[@ChronometerCheck]

Automatic is a type of mechanical watch

[@GameOver-nm2us]

Automatic and Mechanical are not antonyms, Manual in the other hand is an antonym to Automatic, a car could have a Mechanical gearbox (spoiler: they all do) and still be automatic

[@Shock_Treatment]

Manual mechanical watches require you to wind them. Automatic mechanical watches can be wound by hand or the rotor.