But if one takes time looking into the mechanism followed by different types of watches—be it automatic watches or childrens watches—then one will have a greater appreciation of this ever-present time-telling device.
Complex Mechanical Movements
Watchmaking is an extremely delicate process that involves a lot of fine components and gears that require careful handling. The product of course is nothing short of complex. The mechanical watch, the ancestors of modern boys watches and girls watches, follows a very complicated mechanism where a number of small parts work in a well-coordinated process.
In a mechanical watch, the first part to function is the power source, which is responsible for setting up the whole cycle of mechanical movements. The power source can be a mainspring or a suspended weight that is connected to a cord, which is then wrapped around a pulley. As the starter of the process, the power source can be wound up through the special mechanism it possesses. This mechanism includes a ratchet, a part that has a wheel and an external array of teeth.
The next part to respond is the wheel train, a gear train that serves as the transmitter of the power source to the next mechanism, the escapement. Like most parts of a mechanical watch, the wheel train has complicated subparts, including a set of large wheels called wheels mesh and a group of small ones known as pinions. Meanwhile, the escapement is a mechanism that allows the wheel train to advance. The escapement also has some specific gears which makes it possible for the wheel train to move (termed "escape" by watchmakers) at a fixed amount.
The last part is the timekeeping element called the oscillator. The oscillator can either be a pendulum (for pendulum clocks) or a balance wheel. The oscillator is a timekeeping mechanism because it has some means to adjust the rate of the watch movement once a discrepancy occurs.
Other Movement Types
Mechanical movement is just one type of watch movement, although it is arguably one of the most common. In general, watch movements (called caliber) vary in their shapes. This is to fit the varying shapes and styles of watch cases. There are now round, rectangular, tonneau, and oval, among other shapes of movements.
Specific types of mechanisms include full plate movement, an old movement that was used for pocket watches until the 18th century. Then there was three-quarter plate movement, a thinner version of the full plate that replaced this old mechanism. There is also the bridge movement, widely used in modern watches today.
Watches follow different mechanisms (called movement) that are all equally complicated. Each type—from children's watches to luxury watches—observes a very complex cycle that most wearers are not even aware of. The ancestors of modern Flikflak.com watches and girls' watches called mechanical watches, for instance, has an impressive process of making the watch hand tick and the watch to maintain accuracy.
