When it comes to mechanical watches, most people think of classic precision gears and fully automatic mechanisms. Yes, although mechanical watches are small, there are more than 100 small and large and complex parts needed inside the watch to ensure accurate timekeeping.
The slightest negligence during assembly may result in the watch not functioning properly. Furthermore, each part is so small that it is difficult to see with the naked eye. This watch manufacturing process is comparable to the car and airplane manufacturing process.
Components of a mechanical watch
A watch consists of basic parts such as case, glass, dial, bezel, bracelet, hands, strap, back and movement. Movement is the core technology of a watch. The manufacturing process of a watch movement includes cutting, drilling, adjusting, deburring and chamfering. Therefore, the processing of the watch movement cannot be carried out with a simple machine tool. For example, the gears and screws in a clock mechanism are so small that their manufacture and assembly require special tools and glass, as well as small precision combination machines for processing connections.
Mechanical watches also involve other processing processes, including diamond setting processes, polishing processes, heat treatment processes, electroplating processes, etc. The setting of the watch after assembly is also extremely important because it determines the accuracy of timekeeping. In short, completing a beautiful watch is an extremely complex task, both in terms of labor and machine tools combined.
Mechanical watch polishing process
Although a mechanical watch is a mechanical product, it is not only a mechanical product, but also an artifact. The important prerequisite for it to become an artifact is the polishing process. By polishing the internal parts of the movement, such as the barrel, balance wheel, escape wheel and other parts of the polishing process, the friction of the stomach movement is greatly reduced and the coordination between the parts is improved.
The most important function of watch movement polishing is aesthetic decoration. The usual polishing process inside the watch consists of chamfering, chamfering the cut edges at a precise 45° angle and then mirror polishing on the cutting plane. The bevel of the bezel is very small, less than 1 mm. You can imagine that these pieces reflect light after polishing. In addition, there is the polishing of patterns such as radial patterns, fish scale patterns, pearl patterns, Geneva patterns, etc.
Other surface polishing processes include buffing, brushing, etc. The watch has a classic beauty and adds a different style to your appearance.
Unique vibration support system for mechanical watches
The watch was also made thanks to the invention of a unique component, the spring, capable of continuously vibrating in a constant cycle, coordinating the operation between the spring and the flywheel. The elastic deformation of the spring causes the flywheel movement to change from rotation to reciprocating. However, as the balance spring system oscillates due to friction, air resistance, etc., it gradually weakens and eventually stops moving.
To keep the balance spring vibrating continuously, we can wind the watch to regularly replenish the energy of the balance spring system. The clock pendulum swings in a fixed direction in a dynamic situation, which drives the winding of the clock mechanism and thus takes on the role of winding.
A fully automatic watch is similar to a semi-automatic watch, except that the pendulum winds the watch as we move, regardless of direction, reducing the effort of winding the watch manually.
Make your mechanical watch unique
The mechanical watch represents good taste and the sophisticated concept of life that many people seek. At the same time, the mechanical watch involves the production and assembly of hundreds of small precision parts and professional manual troubleshooting. Therefore, it is better to talk about a watch than an artifact.
Thus, the most basic function of a watch is gradually weakened. However, people need a watch that expresses their taste. Not only the brand and shape, but also the type and color play a role. Each of these models has to do with personal image and leads to different considerations that burden people.
