Timeless Precision: Explore the Movements That Power Your Watch

There are several varieties of watches, from dress and luxury to sports and chronographs. Buying one can be overwhelming with all the options. That's why we created the comprehensive watch terminology and type guide.

TYPES OF WATCHES BY MOVEMENT

Movement is a major consideration when buying a watch. Movement is like a watch's engine. Everything in a watch revolves around movement.



AUTOMATIC WATCHES

Automatic watches use rotor oscillation to power their movement. Daily wrist movements swing the rotor like a little pendulum. Resulting in watch mainspring winding. The spring gradually releases energy to power the watch. Though envisioned 150 years earlier, the automatic movement was commercialized in the early 20th century. A watch winder can wind automatic timepieces.

HAND-WOUND WATCHES

Hand-wound movements store energy in a mainspring like automatic watches. Instead of a rotor, the operator cranks the winding crown, which charges the mainspring using gears. This releases energy to power the movement.

QUARTZ WATCHES

A tiny tuning fork-shaped quartz crystal powers quartz watches. Quartz vibrates over 32 thousand times per second when a battery current passes through it. A pulse from these vibrations powers a tiny electric motor. This motor operates the watch hands or LED/LCD screen.

SOLAR WATCHES

Solar watches absorb light through outside-case cells or semi-transparent dials. Energy from light is stored in a rechargeable battery. It powers the quartz movement.

MECHANICAL WATCHES

Periodic hand-winding powers mechanical movements, which never need batteries. They are reliable, accurate to 20 seconds a day, and cool to look at. Because they use intricate, microscopic components to power the clock, they cost more than ordinary movements.

AUTOWATCHES

Auto-winding watches with a spring require less maintenance and no batteries. Automatic watches employ wrist movement to power the mechanism, eliminating the need for winding or batteries. The accuracy is roughly 20 seconds a day and they fit all budgets.

QUARTZ WATCHES

Battery-powered quartz watches use electric current. Their batteries must be replaced every 2-3 years. Quartz watches are popular and preferred over mechanical timepieces. They are one of the cheapest watch movements and accurate to 15 seconds a month.

SOLAR WATCHES

Solar watches generate energy from light. A battery stores this energy and runs the watch. Primary and secondary solar watches exist. A primary solar watch stops if there's no light. A secondary solar movement contains a rechargeable battery and solar cell, so you can wear your watch for a long time without light. They offer something unique and are accurate to 15 seconds a month.

TYPES OF WATCHES BY FUNCTION

If utility is most important, buy a watch with several features.

ANALOG WATCHES

Every budget has analog timepieces with three-hand movement and a conventional clock display. Digital watches count down the seconds, but analog watches show the time in five-minute intervals on a dial. This hand may also indicate the day of the week. Analogue watches are noted for their timeless and traditional design. They are also great for formal situations.

DIGITAL WATCHES

GPS, pedometer, and other features are common in digital watches. They have no mechanical parts and use an electronic circuit to drive the time LEDs or LCDs. Digital watches stand out for their electronic displays. Digital watches come in numerous pricing ranges, which is fantastic. They are also great for business and sports.

CHRONOGRAPH WATCHES

The face of chronograph watches has sub dials. Tachymeters, scales on watch rims, are commonly on these sub dials. It measures speed over a certain distance. More complexities and functions with sub dials include stopwatches and tachymeters. Chronographs come in many styles and prices, so everybody can own one.

HYBRID WATCHES

Digital and analog hybrid watches exist. They integrate digital elements with watch mechanisms to behave as smart watches. They have sports and fitness watches for any budget.

SMART WATCHES

Smart watches can connect to devices like phones, tablets, and laptops, displaying app functions on the watch screen and keeping users connected to their modern lifestyle. Smart watch features seem infinite.

STYLES OF WATCHES

Your watch reflects you. Classic, sports, and dress watches are available for everyone.

Pilot watches are a type of wristwatch initially designed for pilots. Aviator watches are one of the most practical and include several vital features. These are legibility, versatility, and durability. Aviators work in hard, damp areas, thus many are water-resistant.

MILITARY WATCHES

Military watches are tactical watches built for law enforcement and the military. A compass, waterproofing, a sturdy strap, and more make them helpful in the outdoors and on trips.

RACING WATCHES

Racing watches are appropriate for vehicle and horse races. Its speed and distance tracking accuracy is legendary. This sort of watch usually has a larger dial with Arabic or Roman numerals. It has chronograph subdials for speed and distance. A fashionable tachymeter is usually on the dial's edge. Stainless steel or titanium are used for casings. Leather straps are durable and preferred.

DIVING WATCHES

A dive watch is for diving and underwater activities. Professional and recreational divers use these timepieces, which are water-resistant to 100 meters. Divers use diving watches to keep time underwater. Explore water resistance with our Watch Water Resistance Explained guide.

FIELD WATCHES

Field watches were introduced in 1942 as robust, reliable, and easy-to-read wristwatches for soldiers on battlefields. They were popular with conductors, athletes, and others after the war. The style is still popular and has gone beyond military use. Field watches prioritize durability and usefulness. They are lightweight, water-resistant, and have a clear dial for convenient timekeeping in most environments.

CHRONOGRAPH

Some timepieces have chronographs. It is usually called a'stop watch,' but it typically has more functionality. Laps, subseconds, subminutes, units per hour, and many others are examples. Early field watches were designed for troops. Originally mechanically powered, rugged and transparent dials now include quartz movements for increased accuracy and reliability under harsh environments. Commercial watchmakers have embraced field watch popularity and now offer several styles.

FASHION WATCHES

Fashion timepieces are designed for style, not accuracy. Some consider trendy watches jewelry. This collection of timepieces is frequently cheaper than luxury ones, yet they can still be pricey. Fashion watches often have quartz movements and few complexities. Designers typically build a series of leather handbags, belts, scarves, and wallets in one style.

LUXURY WATCHES

Like cheaper watches, luxury watches tell time. Their high-quality materials, craftsmanship, and unique designs set them apart. Luxury timepieces are generally hand-finished and based on centuries-old designs. Luxury timepieces are art, not mass-produced.

WATCHES WITH SENSORS

Wearable smart watches connect to smartphones via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Most smart watches can track steps and make calls without your phone. Fitness functions on certain smart watches count steps and calories. Wearable fitness trackers track sleep, heart rate, and GPS.

FIT WATCHES

Fitness watches are simple to use and help people stay healthy. Fitness watches can track steps, heart rate, and heartbeat rhythms. Most fitness tracks are 30–50 meters water-resistant, so you may wear them in the shower or pool. Fitness bands often include replaceable wristbands so you may wear them with your favorite bracelet.

POCKET WATCHES

Pocket watches are worn in pockets, while wristwatches are worn on the wrist. They were the most popular watch from the 16th century until wristwatches became widespread after WWI. Wristwatches replaced pocket watches at the end of the 20th century, but they are still made and sold.

NURSES OBSERVE

Nurses watches are designed for clinical workers. They let nurses track time without checking their phones. That's crucial during critical treatment moments when seconds matter. To wear while handwashing and cleaning all day, nurses wear waterproof or water-resistant timepieces.

SPORT WATCHES

Sport watches are designed for sports only. They can be waterproof for swimmers, among other qualities. They track heart rate, activity, sleep, GPS pace and distance, voice cues during workouts and races, and more. Sports watches improve workout performance by offering real-time metrics and advice.

WOOD WATCHES

Any watch with a wood band or casing is a wood watch. Their 100% real wood construction makes them comfy, sturdy, and eco-friendly. Wood watches have wood-related features. Wood can be used alone or with bamboo and copper.

DRESS WATCHES

Dress timepieces are designed for formal wear, such as business and "dress-up" occasions. Despite its simplicity, this sort of clock can be made of several materials and styles, leading to many interpretations. Some think a gold or silver watch is dressy, but others want diamonds, complexities, and platinum. In any case, dress watches are meant to be stylish and match formal clothes.

PILOT

Pilot watches, often called ‘aviators’ or ‘aviation’ watches, were large-cased with contrasting dials and numbers for easy viewing. Pilot watches usually have a big winding crown for gloved setting. Light is important since cockpits were not always brightly illuminated. GMT, which displays two time zones on one dial, was created for flight. Pilot watches may include the IWC Big Pilot and Rolex GMT Master.

LUXURY

When used with wrist watches, ‘luxury’ means high-quality, craftsmanship, and premium materials. Baume and Mercier, Tag Heuer, Breitling, Omega, Rolex, and IWC are well-known luxury brands.

POCKET

Pocket timepieces originated around 500 years ago and were popular until the advent of the wristwatch. A fashion ornament rather than a need for the higher classes. Traditional round pocket watches were hand wound and merely displayed hours and minutes, although some high-end manufacturers still make them with many complications to show off their capabilities.

PROFESSIONAL

The term ‘professional’ is now more commonly associated with high-end luxury watches used for sports or activity, not the type above. Professional watches often have well-engineered Swiss (but not exclusively) stainless steel cases and bracelets with basic, clear displays. Many brands hire ‘ambassadors’ like mountaineers, free divers, and adventurers to showcase their watches' extremes. Professional watches are also popular daily wristwatches due to their traditional, straightforward elegance and air of success and quality. Omega Seamaster and Rolex Explorer are professional watches.

DIVER

The case needs at least a 100m depth rating to be considered a dive watch, but ideally much more to ensure reliable function under extreme conditions and pressure. Modern dive watches have stainless steel cases and straps. As with the pilot's watch, dial clarity and marker illumination are crucial. Many dive timepieces have a single-direction spinning bezel that shows how much air is left for the dive. A popular ‘professional sport’ watch, but not as popular in the water now with the digital dive watch, which can track dive depth, duration, ascent rate, decompression times, and more.