An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

General watch information including stories of movement and brand development, service information and watch/movement evolution.
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timor54
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An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by timor54 »

I picked this up from another forum and thought it well worth sharing here. There are innumerable resources that explain how a mechanical works, some good, some bad and some totally unintelligible.

This Interactive Guide to Mechanical Watches is something else altogether. The interactive graphics alone are mind boggling beautiful!

But just be warned, if you're even vaguely mechanically curious you can loose yourself in it for hours.
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by TheBeatles »

Just had a quick look.

In a word - fascinating

Thanks for sharing, I’ll enjoy a more in-depth run through later.
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Thanks, Tim. That does look an excellent explanation! To be taken in instalments, I think.
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by suicidal_orange »

Just read to the end of the time section, it's scary how easy to understand this makes it and I'm in awe of the 3D modelled graphics. Too many terms to remember everything in one read through but definitely worth a second :thumbup:
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by RichM »

That's amazing! Thanks for the link.
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by nbg »

I haven’t read it yet. My son-in-law sent me the link yesterday.

He isn’t particularly interested in watches (Occasionally wears a Nomos Tangente, wears an F91-W for climbing training and no watch the rest of the time), so no idea how he came across it.

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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by missF »

Ah, that’s a beautiful thing. I’ve scrolled through this for now, but it’s such a skill and art to be able to explain something as well as this.
Thanks for posting!
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by jkbarnes »

Absolutely fascinating! The author broke it down so easily and clearly, it’s impossible not to follow it. I’m even more impressed with the beauty and mechanics of a mechanical watch now.
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by Lavaine »

I skimmed through the page, and it looks like and excellent resource. I'm going to have to set aside a couple of hours to go through it carefully.

My favourite "how watches work" resource has always been this 1949 video from Hamilton. Somehow, despite being more than 70 years old, it's still one of the best simple explanations of how the mechanics work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL0_vOw6eCc
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by watchaholic »

Educational and entertaining at the same time! Very well done, thanks for sharing. :thumbup:
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by wookiechew23 »

Thank you for sharing! A very interesting and understandable explanation of a topic near and dear to all of us.
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by Kip »

In my opinion, this presentation is brilliant. I do not think the movement can be shown in a more simplified manner. The author is clear and concise. The visuals and the interactive ability are perfect. If anyone wants to get an understanding of how a watch works, this is a go to place.
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by JAFO »

It's clear, but as you go through it, it gets more and more complicated. I think you would need a lot of time assembling and disassembling watches to really understand.

Then I recall instructional videos by Mark Lovick (I think) demonstrating how to repair a bent spring, or showing how to trim a crown stem to size, or resize certain parts, and you realise how very difficult it all is. The nekkid watchmaker had a video where he nonchalantly created a few slotted screws from a small rod of steel, as it it was the simplest thing in the world.

I think it would be good to have a mechanical wall clock with larger parts that you could use to practice. Either that or a 5 year apprenticeship. :D

I actually have enough trouble changing watch straps, and opening cases to replace batteries.
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Re: An interactive guide to how a mechanical watch works

Post by jkbarnes »

JAFO wrote: Fri May 06, 2022 11:15 am and you realise how very difficult it all is.
If I watch an explanation and think to myself, “I could do that,” I take it as a sign of how excellent the explanation is and how much of an expert the presenter is. I once almost bought plans for building an armoire from a show called “New Yankee Workshop” on PBS because the host, Norm Abrams, made it look so easy, I legitimately thought I could build it!

This break down of a watch had me thinking I could disassemble one myself! 😂😂😂

By the way, did anyone look at this guy’s other posts? It’s amazing stuff. He’s got a post explaining a tesseract and how to visualize four dimensions in our three dimensional space - amazing!
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