Mechanical Watch
A mechanical watch runs on a wound mainspring and a gear train, with no battery. There are two kinds: automatic, which winds itself through a rotor, and manual, which you wind by hand. It is prized for craftsmanship and a smooth sweeping seconds hand, runs slightly less accurately than quartz, and needs periodic service.
At a glance
- Power source
- Wound mainspring, no battery
- Types
- Automatic (rotor) and manual (hand-wound)
- Accuracy
- A few seconds per day, below quartz
A mechanical watch runs on stored mechanical energy. You wind the mainspring, and as it unwinds it feeds that energy through the gear train, moving the hands forward at a steady pace. There is no battery, crystal, or circuit, only the regulated motion of metal parts.
Two ways to wind
Mechanical watches split into two groups by how the mainspring gets tension:
- Automatic: a rotor that spins with your wrist motion winds the spring on its own, keeping the watch running as long as you wear it
- Manual: you wind the spring yourself at intervals, turning the crown by hand
Both work on the same principle; the only difference is how the spring is tensioned. To see self-winding up close, read the automatic watch entry and the power reserve term that explains how long the spring lasts.
Why people choose them
Much of the appeal is the craftsmanship: tiny parts assembled by hand and a seconds hand that sweeps rather than ticks. In return you accept a few seconds of drift per day and periodic service. For affordable starting points, the Orient and Seiko 5 examples in our best Japanese watches guide are a good place to begin.
Examples
Orient and the Seiko 5 are good examples of affordable mechanical watches.
View this watch
Comparison
Mechanical and quartz watches work differently.
| Option A | Option B | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical watch | Quartz watch | A mechanical relies on a wound mainspring and drifts a few seconds a day; quartz runs on a battery and keeps time more accurately. |
Related terms
Watches that show this
Frequently asked questions
Does a mechanical watch have a battery?
No, a mechanical watch has no battery. It draws power from a wound mainspring; as the spring unwinds, it feeds energy through the gear train and drives the hands. Automatic models wind themselves, while manual models are wound by hand.
What is the difference between an automatic and a manual mechanical watch?
Both are mechanical; the difference is how the mainspring is wound. In an automatic, a rotor that spins with your wrist motion winds the spring on its own. In a manual, you wind the spring yourself at intervals by turning the crown.
Is a mechanical watch less accurate than quartz?
Yes, a mechanical watch is slightly less accurate than quartz and can drift a few seconds per day. It also needs periodic service to keep the metal parts running well. In return it is valued for its craftsmanship and sweeping seconds hand.