What are the pros and cons of mechanical wristwatches?
Mechanical timepieces represent some of the finest examples of engineering prowess and craftsmanship in the world. But nothing is perfect. We asked several watch aficionados to give us their thoughts on what they love about mechanical watches, and what they don’t. Read on to learn what they had to say.
Self-Winding, Fascinating Structure; Less Accurate Time, Wear and Tear
First, let me explain how a mechanical watch works. Inside a barrel, there is a spring, and squeezing that spring manually stores the energy required to function the watch.
Pros:
As previously said, springs hold the energy required to operate the watch. However, the most significant benefit is that a mechanical watch does not need a battery.
Do you like the mechanical structure? There are many gears and springs, and it’s a fascinating thing to wear on your wrist.
Self-winding can also power your mechanical watch.
The sound of a mechanical watch gives a raw feeling.
Cons:
The main disadvantage is that it needs regular winding, and missing the winding can disturb the time setting.
Time can’t be perfectly accurate because it is incredibly reliant on crafting skills.
Wear and tear can occur in the gears and springs, impacting timing precision.
It’s a little more weighty than digital and other wristwatches.
Besides the cons, if you are passionate about wristwatches, it may be a classic option.
AJ Silberman-Moffitt
AJ Silberman-Moffitt, Senior Editor at Tandem Buzz.
No Batteries, Lasts Longer; Constant Wind and Reset, More Maintenance
PROS:
They never require batteries – It’s convenient not having to replace batteries in a watch and only needing to wind it to get it to work.
They can last longer than quartz watches – Because there is no batter, and with proper care, mechanical watches can last generations.
Their mechanisms can be intriguing to view – Some mechanical watches have their mechanisms visible through the watch face or back, and seeing the cogs in action is beautiful.
CONS:
They must be wound and often reset – Winding a watch may seem like a minor nuisance, but if you don’t keep your watch wound, you can’t just put it on and go.
They require more maintenance – Due to the intricacies of the watches, mechanical watches require more professional care than quartz watches.
Watch winders can take up a lot of real estate – If you want to use a watch winder to keep time on your watch(es), this can take up a lot of space.
Visually Appealing, More Collectible; Less Accurate and Durable
Pros
Mechanical watches are usually more visually appealing and interesting due to the effort put into building them.
Some mechanical watches have special exhibition case backs where you can look at the back of the watch to see how the watch looks internally.
High-end brands have a long tradition of high-quality precision engineering, manufacturing, and assembly that have been around for decades; quartz watches, on the other hand, are usually made in high-volume production factories with machines.
There are friendly communities and groups of individuals who collect mechanical watches as a pastime.
Depending on how you maintain your watches, some may maintain or gain in value as a scarce commodity.
Cons
Not as accurate or durable as quartz watches due to the spring mechanisms being accurate to about +/- 5 seconds a day compared to a quartz watch being accurate to about +/- 2 seconds a month.
Mechanical watches rely on energy from the movement of your body to automatically wind the watch. If you do not use the watch for an extended period, it will stop. automatically winding your watch. Their energy reserves last typically between 30-75 hours depending on the brand/model.
You need to service mechanical watches approximately every 5 years which is an added expense. With COVID and high inflation, servicing prices have risen over the past few years.
Ellie Walters
Ellie Walters is the person behind FindPeopleFaster.
Heavy Design; High Cost
ProsNo battery: Mechanical watches do not work on electricity. Once it stops ticking, all you have to do is to wind it up again for use.
Heavy design: Manufacturers take a lot of time to create masterpieces. It takes time to assemble the entire watch.
ConsHigh cost: Mechanical watches are created after a lot of hard work and determination. With all the effort that goes into making a watch, the cost is equally high.
Inaccurate time: Sometimes due to excessive wear and tear, mechanical watches show inaccurate time and details. To avoid this, these watches must be sent to the repair centers for recovery.
Aesthetically Pleasing; Regular Servicing and Lubricating
Mechanical wristwatches have been around for centuries, and they continue to be popular with watch collectors and aficionados. There are several advantages to owning a mechanical watch. First, mechanical watches are often considered to be more aesthetically pleasing, due to the intricate workings of the movement. Second, mechanical watches can last a lifetime if they are properly maintained.
However, there are also some disadvantages to mechanical watches. They require regular servicing and lubrication in order to keep them running smoothly, and they are also more susceptible to damage from shock and vibration. Overall, mechanical watches offer both advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before making a purchase.
This is a crowdsourced article. Contributors are not necessarily affiliated with this website and their statements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this website, other people, businesses, or other contributors.
