Learn about the different types of watch movements as well as the kinds of complications, such as chronometers, regulator dials, and more.
Watch movements can be broken down into two main categories that are determined by how the mechanism is powered. Almost all mechanical watches have a main spring that stores kinetic energy and releases it back in measured increments that are translated into time, whereas quartz watches utilize the oscillation of crystal to measure time in perfectly accurate increments. There are several variations on how to achieve the winding of a main spring or the powering of a quartz oscillator. The following is a quick break down of several movement types.
Types of Watch Movements
Manual Wind Watches
All original watches, be they wrist watches, wall clocks, or pocket watches were powered by humans. Many older wall clocks required a key to wind the main spring while manual wind pocket watches and wrist watches are wound by turning the crown.
Automatic Wind Watches
An “automatic” watch is basically a manual watch that has an offset rotor that rotates as you move your wrist. As the rotor spins it winds the main spring. All automatic watches have mechanisms that prohibit the mainspring from being over wound.
Quartz Movement Watches
All quartz movement watches require some form of electricity to oscillate the quartz crystal to power the movement. Where the power comes from is another question. Below are a few of the major sources of electric power currently available on the market.
Batteries – By far the humble watch battery powers more watches than any other type of watch power source on the market.
Inductive – This is basically a battery powered watch that uses an electromagnetic induction charger to recharge its battery. My only experience with this type of power source is my Silencer from MTM. You simply put the watch on its charging stand and in 12-24 hours its fully changed. The charge lasts from a few months with heavy use, and up to 6-10 months with light usage.
Solar Power – As quartz watches became more efficient, they required less and less energy. Several brands introduced solar power watches in the 70’s and 80’s, but today the market is dominated by Citizens Eco-Drive line and Seiko’s Solar watches. Citizens Caliber 0100 is of special note as it is a solar powered watch that is accurate to within +/- 1 second per year. Check out the video here.
Kinetic Watches – The kinetic watch is a Seiko product and is basically a quartz watch that receives its power from a spinning rotor. The rotor is very much like the one in a traditional “automatic” watch except that rather than winding a main spring it powers a simple generator that changes a battery or capacitor that in turn powers the quartz movement.
Spring Drive Watches
This movement is really in its own category as it merges an automatic movement structure with quartz precision. A Spring Drive mechanism is basically an automatic or manual watch up to the escapement. Think of the escapement as the beating mechanism in a watch that creates the tick. Instead of a traditional escapement or an oscillating quartz crystal, Seiko developed something called the Tri-Syncro Regulator which is basically a little electronic brake that “regulates” the glide wheel thus setting the time. This movement is known for its high accuracy and is only available in Seiko’s “Grand-Seiko” Line.
Watch Complications
Watch complications are all the extra features/information beyond telling time that a watch is capable of supplying to the wearer. One of the first complications added to a watch was the day and/or date feature, which is a natural addition for a machine that tells time. Today, you can get watches that will not only tell you time but also your altitude, your depth underwater, the moon phase and not to mention the day, date and even week of the year. Here is a quick list of some complication available on the market along with some examples.
Traditional Mechanical Watch Complications
Second Hand – Not sure this is considered a complication, but as some watches do not include a second hand, I would say it is an additional complication. This would be especially true when the second hand is included in sub-dial.
Day and Date – The simplest complication is a date window, with some watches adding the day of the week to dress it up. Another upgrade to the Day, Date complication is adding the Month into the equation and even an Annual Calendar feature. There is also the Perpetual Calendar which includes leap years where the Annual Calendar does not.
Chronometer – In basic terms the Chronometer is just a stopwatch. They come in several forms from, single pushers to fly-backs, but they all can time an event down to at least the second.
Dual Time – As the name it suggests these complications can track more than one time zone. I also would like to lump GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) watches into this category. Often these watches have an additional hand that track a different time.
Power Reserve – Often a small sub-dial that lets you know how much power is left in the mainspring before your watch stops working.
Regulator Dials – This complication takes the components of the watch and breaks them down into individual dials. Typically with the minute hand being the large dominate dial and the hour and second hands in smaller sub-dials.
Moon Phase – Typically appearing in its own window, the moon phase watch has a graphic of the moon to let you know what phase it is in on a daily basis. One of my favorite moon phase watches is by master watch maker Sarpaneva from Finland, check out the Lunations for an amazing take on moon phase watch making.
Tourbillion – In the world of haute horology the tourbillion is often considered one of the complications at the pinnacle of watch making. Created by Louis Breguet at the end of the 1700’s the tourbillion is when the escapement and balance wheel are housed in a rotating cage. The purpose of this is to counter act the effects of gravity on movement by continually rotating the entire assembly. For more on this unique machine check out the Wikipedia entry.
Digital and Advanced Watch Complications
The sky is the limit “almost” when it comes to digital devices. From barometers to thermometers to depth gauges there is almost no end what information can be supplied by your watch. Below is a short list of some of my favorites that I have had personal experience with.
Depth Gauge – My Citizen Promaster Diver with Depth Meter has proven itself on several occasions during diving trips. In fact, I prefer to use it over a diving computer for my decomp stops.
Altimeter – My Citizen Promaster Altichron is another watch that I have used in the field to great effect. The altimeter on the Altichron is fairly accurate and useful if you are hiking at altitude. I have used it on several hiking trip in the Rocky where it was a useful tool to have with me. The Altichron as well as the Diver above are both powered by light which make them maintenance free and always accurate. Check out my post on the Altichron, here.
Flashlight – Another of my favorite advanced complications is the flashlight feature on my MTM Silencer. I can not tell you how many times I have been overnight camping and needed to find something in the tent or go take a leak. It is amazingly convenient to have a flashlight on your write in those situations.
GPS – The G-Shock GPW-1000 is my only experience with a GPS enabled watch. With the GPS feature tracking its location globally the watch always knows what time it is. It is also very cool to see the hour hand move of its own accord when you cross into a different time zone. Check out my experience with the GPW-1000 in the petrified forest, here.
Alarms – Another handy feature on a watch is an alarm setting. My MTM can set three different alarms. They are great for during the day reminders, but the alarm is not loud enough to wake me.
Other complications I have firsthand experience with include Barometer and Thermometer watches from Casio and others. Typically, I have had mixed results with these type of instrument watches. I have never had a Barometer watch that was accurate and reliable, especially one with supposed “Strom Warning” features. Also, every thermometer watch I have used needs to be taken off and let to acclimate to its surroundings before getting an accurate reading. I believe a watch that needs to be removed to work defeats the point of a watch that lives on your wrist.
When you get into Smart Watch tech the level of complications skyrocket. From heart rate monitoring, to directions for your hike to connecting to your phone to take and receive calls, the future of the watch is evolving well past just keeping time.