What are the differences that distinguish a mechanical watch? This is what we will explore in this article.
There are two types of watches: quartz (battery-powered) and mechanical. Among mechanical watches, there are two sub-families: automatic mechanical and hand-wound mechanical.
Quartz watches:
Quartz watches, which appeared in 1969, are the most widespread and mass-produced. Their operation is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. These watches use a quartz movement powered by a battery, which differentiates them from mechanical watches.
Quartz movementMechanical watches (like those offered by Maison MORFIN): Mechanical watches are real pieces prized by watch collectors. They are available in automatic and hand-wound versions.
Automatic mechanical watches:
An automatic mechanical watch is wound by the movements produced by its owner's wrist, thanks to the oscillating weight (also called rotor) which turns on its axis (visible on the back of the watch if the back is transparent).
With every movement of the wrist, kinetic energy is created and stored in the mainspring (see photo below). The energy stored in this mainspring is then distributed to the gears that keep the watch on time. So you don't need to worry about the watch while you're wearing it. However, if you don't wear it for a while, it will need to be reset and moved again.
Another way to restart the watch mechanism without moving it is to turn the crown about thirty times, which will allow the mainspring to tighten and store energy as if you had worn it for hours. On some skeleton watches, you can observe the effect of winding on the mainspring through the glass.
A third solution is to invest in a watch winder, available in our store, which will move your watch at regular intervals to keep it on time.
MM23-02 - Maison MORFIN - Automatic winding
⚠ Don't worry if you take your watch off for just a few hours. Every watch has a "power reserve" that allows it to keep time for a variable amount of time.
If you plan on not wearing it for a few hours, wind it by turning the crown about thirty times, as explained above. This will tighten the spring and store energy, ensuring your watch keeps time during the period you are not wearing it.
In short, you have three options for keeping your watch on time, although we encourage you to place it in a winder to preserve its mechanism and prevent it from stopping completely. What's more, letting a watch stop means having to set the time, date, and day of the week every day, which can be tedious in the long run.
Hand-wound mechanical watches:
Just like old clocks, hand-wound mechanical watches need to be wound regularly by turning the crown to keep them running. 
MM24-07 - Maison MORFIN - Manual winding
Conclusion :
At Maison MORFIN, we have opted for a mechanical watch that offers both options. You can operate your watch by wearing it or placing it in a winder, or by winding it using the crown. Unlike quartz watches that are defined by their printed circuit with a battery, a mechanical watch is an assembly of hundreds of parts meticulously placed end to end, thus creating a true work of art.
