Driven by springs and gears, not batteries. These are the traditional heartbeats of horology.
Manual-Wind Movements
- How They Work: You wind the crown to tighten a coiled mainspring. As the spring unwinds, it releases energy through a gear train and escapement to move the hands.
- Popular Models: Omega Speedmaster Professional, Longines vintage dress watches, Patek Philippe Calatrava (manual variants)
- Era: 1700s to present—one of the oldest movement types, still made today
- Category: Vintage, enthusiast, high-end mechanical
- Serviced: Yes
- How They Work: Similar to manual movements, but with a rotor that spins as you move your wrist—automatically winding the mainspring.
- Popular Models: Rolex Submariner, Seiko 5, Hamilton Khaki Field, countless Swiss models using ETA or Sellita calibers
- Era: Introduced in the 1920s, widely adopted from the 1950s onward
- Category: Entry-level to luxury mechanical
- Serviced: Yes
Battery-powered accuracy, introduced during the “Quartz Revolution” of the 1970s.
Standard Quartz
- How They Work: A battery sends current through a quartz crystal, causing it to vibrate consistently. These vibrations are translated into movement via stepper motors. Highly accurate and low-maintenance.
- Popular Models: Casio F-91W, Swatch Originals, Citizen Quartz, many fashion brands
- Era: From the late 1960s onward
- Category: Entry-level to mid-range
- Serviced: Yes