
As you start learning more about watches, you might have noticed watches are described by their movement: manual, automatic, or quartz. The movement of the watch is the parts of the watch that make it tick and might include mechanical parts like gears and springs, or an electrical circuit connected to a battery.So why do watch lovers care so much about watch movements? Mechanical movements, such as manual and automatic movements, are more expensive than quartz movements powered by a battery because they require more work to build. Most watch connoisseurs prefer an automatic movement because those watches require more craftsmanship.Here’s a quick comparison of the three movements side by side:
WATCH MOVEMENTS
MANUAL
- Oldest type of movement
- Requires daily winding
- Found in expensive and collectible watches
AUTOMATIC
- Introduced in the beginning of the 20th century
- Self-winding while on the wrist
- Found in many modern, luxury watches
QUARTZ
- First introduced by Seiko in 1969
- Battery-powered with electric circuit
- Found in many modern watches
How Movements Work
So what exactly goes on inside the watch? Here’s a quick overview of each movement:How Manual Movements Work

How Automatic Movements Work

How Quartz Movements Work
