An ordinary mechanical watch has around 140 components. The more complex watches meanwhile have over hundreds of components. An example is the Patek Philippe by Calibre 89 which is considered the most complex timepiece produced. The following are the common watch parts. Read on:
The watch is one of the many old examples of modified technology that is still used by many people. Unlike mobile phones which are usually outdated regardless of design and features, wristwatches maintain a number of the same components popularized by Louis Cartier in the early 19th century.
- Dial: It contains a digital output (a.k.a “hands”) that is used in displaying time. The Dial has these features: moon date, phase and additional time zones.
- Crown: For analog wristwatches, rotating the crown sets the time and winds its mainspring area (when necessary). Digital wristwatches use push buttons in setting the time and activating other functions.
- Crystal: This part covers the dial and the entire watch. Crystal is made from synthetic sapphire, mineral glass and acrylic glass for extra protection.
- Movement: In most mechanical watches, the movement makes use of gears, wheels and springs to maintain the time. Quartz and digital watches uses electrical circuits to display power and/or digits.
- Case: This part basically provides a clean and steady place for inner workings. On the other hand, the case makes up the timepiece’s stylish appearance. The “back plate” case gives access to battery and movement.
- Watchband: This part is made from metal and has a striking resemblance to a bracelet – except that it has two straps of fabric or leather and is fastened by clasp.
Throughout the centuries, watchmakers struggled to expand their range of making timepieces. “Marie Antoinette” was one of the most popular clocks created. It was specially made by Abraham Louis – Breguet for the Queen of France in 1783. The clock paved way for advances in watch-making which took place in the 18th century.
“Marie Antoinette” was the first timepiece to use minimal watch parts and passed through numerous hands prior to finding its permanent home in Sir David Salomon. The latter donated the timepiece to L.A Meyer Memorial Institute of Islamic Art in Israel. A hundred years later, Nicolas Hayek commissioned a team of voluntary watchmakers to create a replica of “Marie Antoinette”. In 2008, Hayek unveiled the stunning replica during the Baselworld event. Since then, the replica has already become an iconic masterpiece.
