MECHANICAL WATCH VS QUARTZ.

                                                           BATTERY WATCH. 

                                                           MECHANICAL WATCH.
There is something about the beauty of a mechanical watch as the second hand sweeps smoothly throughout the rotation to feel and acknowledge that what is underneath the dial and within the case is a feat of engineering art.

                                 BRIEF HISTORY OF BATTERY-POWERED AND MECHANICAL WATCH
          
During World War II,
Switzerland’s neutrality allowed them to have a near monopoly in the watchmaking industry. They made just about all the watches and clocks that were utilized in the war, and they controlled a whopping 90 percent of the watchmaking market. With this impressive background and experience, the Swiss became veritable experts on mechanical watches. Their sales, marketing, and repair of mechanical watches were second to no one in the marketplace before the 1970s. In 1970, battery-powered watches were plentiful, and the need for mechanical watches dropped significantly. The United States and Japan were at the top of the battery-powered watch industry because they decided to develop and market the new battery-powered watches. These new watches were more accurate than any of the other watches on the market at the time.

Mechanical Watches

Mechanical watches operate from a wound spring. They keep time by a release of energy through the gears located inside of the watch. These watches use purely mechanical components to keep the correct time. They typically run for about 40 hours on one full winding of the mainspring. Newer designs in today’s market can run as long as eight or 10 days. The basic design of mechanical watches has not been altered for decades; however, the use of new materials and the current advancements in technology have improved them over the years. The watchmaking industry is still an expression of the elegance of design. A watchmaker’s attention to detail in the assembly and finishing of a mechanical watch is exceptional. The art of manually tweaking each movement for optimum performance requires the services of a highly trained, skilled professional. Although these professionals are rare these days, they still exist.

Types of Mechanical Watches

There are two types of mechanical watches: the manual watch and the self-winding watch. Manual watches must be turned by the crown button on the outside of the watch’s case to wind the mechanism so that it keeps the correct time. Self-winding watches are activated by a rotor, which will turn by the force of gravity accompanying the everyday movements of the person wearing the watch.

Battery-Powered Watches

Battery-powered watches are designed to activate a quartz crystal inside the movement of a watch. This activation creates vibrations that are turned into impulses made by a computer chip; this drives an electronic motor inside of the watch. The motor moves the watch’s hands, and this keeps the precise time. Unlike mechanical watches, battery-powered watches never need winding, and their accuracy is superior to all other types of wristwatches. The batteries in these watches last anywhere from a year or more. Of course, the length of time the battery will last is largely dependent on the quality of both the watch and the battery. Alkaline batteries are probably the least expensive batteries on the market today, and they can easily be found on eBay. It is very easy to change the batteries in a battery-powered watch. All that a watch owner will need are the proper tools to open the back of the watch to change the battery.

Which Watch is Best?

There are pros and cons with both mechanical and battery-powered watches. A battery-powered watch is durable, and the shock resistance is better than it is with a mechanical watch. The lower mass of vital components help to protect them from shock. A battery-powered watch has fewer moving pieces inside of it than a mechanical watch, and that makes it more durable. There is very little maintenance needed to keep a battery-powered watch in good condition. With respect to reliability, the mechanical watch has a long history to its construction. Mechanical watches can withstand extreme temperatures; this is not always true for battery-powered watches. When properly serviced, mechanical watches can last longer. If they are in good condition, mechanical watches also have a good resale value, which makes them a good investment. Conversely, a battery-powered watch features electronic circuitry that has a limited lifespan.