Pocket Watches: Manual Winding and Quartz Movements

The differences between hand-wound and quartz movements. Advantages and disadvantages.

There are two main types of movements in watches. One is the "hand-wound (mechanical)" type, which runs on the power of a mainspring. The other is the "quartz (battery)" type, which runs on a battery.

*In addition to manual winding, there are also automatic mechanical watches, but the pocket watches we carry are only manual winding.

A "hand-wound" watch is powered by manually winding the mainspring, while a "quartz" watch has a battery inside that keeps it running automatically.

[Hand-wound]

While quartz watches lose a few seconds of time per month, hand-wound (mechanical) watches lose a few seconds of time per day. This is called the daily rate of change. With mechanical watches, the time gradually loses its accuracy as you carry it around or place it on a desk (depending on its position). This is because the mechanism inside is subjected to gravity and friction.

Generally, manual winding watches require daily winding, so it is best to adjust the time every 3-4 days or within a week. For these reasons, manual winding watches are recommended for watch enthusiasts and connoisseurs.

【quartz】

The error rate of quartz watches is said to be between a few seconds and a few tens of seconds per month. Some watches only have an error rate of a year.

Unlike hand-wound watches, it requires almost no effort, making it a great choice for beginners or as a gift.

Generally, when comparing watches from the same brand, hand-wound movements are more expensive than quartz movements. If you're looking for status in your watch, we recommend a mechanical movement. Pocket watches with hand-wound movements also come in skeletonized versions, which tend to be more intricately decorated and therefore even more expensive.

Quartz watches are reasonably priced and, as mentioned in the previous section on accuracy, they keep time very accurately. They will continue to work as long as the battery is not dead, so there is no need to turn the crown every day. However, since they are not very hobby-oriented, they are more suited to those who seek practicality.

Simply put, quartz watches last for about 10 years, while mechanical watches can last longer depending on proper maintenance.

As the name suggests, quartz watches are battery-powered, so once the electronic circuitry reaches the end of its lifespan, there is nothing that can be done. The only way to fix it is to replace the entire mechanism inside, so in some cases it may be better to just buy a new one.

On the other hand, mechanical watches can be used for a long time by disassembling and replacing the internal parts. If used properly, they can be used for 10, 20 years or more, so it is possible to pass on a cherished watch to the next generation. In that sense, even though manual winding watches are expensive, they are well worth owning.

Manual winding watches are highly artistic, and skeletonized watches are especially popular, as they allow you to fully enjoy the mechanism inside. Quartz pocket watches generally do not come in skeletonized versions. As for the thickness of the watch body, manual winding watches tend to be thicker due to the complex structure of the movement. Quartz watches are simpler, and thin models also exist. (In the high-end lines, thin manual winding watches are also available.)

As for the hands, manual winding watches have the power to move thick, large hands. This means that they tend to be highly decorative and have designs that make the hands easy to see and read. On the other hand, quartz watches tend to have thin hands.

Also, only quartz pocket watches have a calendar function. If you are looking for practicality and simplicity, we recommend a quartz watch. If you are looking for something more stylish and classic, a hand-wound design might be perfect.