Mechanical wristwatch

One of the greatest inventions of mankind is undoubtedly the mechanical watch - since its inception, they have literally turned the idea of ​​planning upside down. When the foremost craftsmen came up with a way to reduce the mechanism so that it could be worn on the hand, a person literally became the master of time. Today, when a mechanical wristwatch is no longer a luxury, but a familiar, but no less necessary everyday routine, such an accessory is especially important.

Thanks to modern technologies, wristwatches do not have to be mechanical at all - at least quartz and electronic ones come to mind from the alternatives, not to mention the fact that now everyone has a mobile phone, which also copes with the time counting function very successfully.

Nevertheless, mechanical wristwatches belong to the category of timeless classics - they are still worn, among other things, as a fashion accessory. However, such an accessory has very specific practical advantages, and it is they that keep it afloat in the age of modern technology.

Here are the main reasons people choose to opt for the good old mechanics:

• Mechanical watches are quite durable. This advantage is especially pronounced against the background of modern electronics, the life of which is several years, and this is at best. A mechanical watch, on the other hand, in the worst case, will work for several years, while the highest quality models even become antiques over time, significantly outliving their first owner.

• This mechanism works autonomously. If we talk about the same electronic clock, then they are overly dependent on energy carriers.The battery has run out - and that's it, such a clock will not work, and it’s good if the flaw was not discovered when the owner was suddenly significantly late for himself for the most important meeting in his life. A mechanical watch does not require any additional energy sources, that is, it is possible to ensure their uninterrupted operation in any conditions. True, the classic version of the mechanism requires a regular establishment - this is not difficult, however, you can sometimes forget about this, and there are other reasons why this is temporarily impossible. However, now many manufacturers are concentrating on ensuring that even such elementary actions are not required from the owner - as a result, we have an almost perpetual motion machine, which always and in any situation shows the exact time.

• Mechanical watches are timeless classics, and this is fashionable. These days, two opposites are fashionable - keeping up with the latest innovations, and strictly following traditions. But even if even the most anticipated novelty may in fact turn out to be a complete disappointment, then the classics proven over the centuries will never let you down. Mechanical wristwatches are a high accuracy of time counting, coupled with long thought-out bows, they perfectly suit almost any style of clothing, which means they remove any questions regarding the appropriateness of their use.

In the XXI century, hundreds of companies around the world are engaged in the production of mechanical wristwatches, therefore there is a huge variety of models. It is almost impossible to describe each one, so let's briefly go through the main features that may be inherent (or vice versa) of a particular watch model.

Let's start with the fact that mechanical wristwatches are a priori more often either men's or unisex. While the beautiful half of humanity would often like a purely women's watch - one that fits perfectly with an evening dress, creates a single image with jewelry, and so on. Of course, there are such models, and this is a whole industry in watchmaking.

The creators resort to various tricks to make the mechanism more feminine - reduce it in size, decorate it with various jewelry and decor, and carefully work on the design.

Among practical additions to basic functions, models with an alarm clock are in the lead. In the world of electronic watches, this has long been a surprise, but mechanics with such useful skills are not so common, but they are steadily popular. With such an accessory, you can not only always find out what time it is now - the accessory itself will remind you at the right time that you have some responsibilities or plans.

The rapid rhythm of modern life can make a person forget about the need to set a watch, so a self-winding watch can seriously help out. Interestingly, this technology was invented almost a century ago, however, still not everyone knows about its existence. Its meaning lies in the fact that the watch mechanism winds itself up - the energy of movement is transferred to it, in which the accessory constantly resides, being on your hand. In fact, such a mechanism also needs to be started, but only if the owner, for some reason, wears it infrequently.

Finally, another popular feature is water resistance. Of course, before swimming in the river, most people will still take off their watches, however, it is possible to get wet and damage the mechanism even during an ordinary rain. Only a fully waterproof watch can guarantee that it will not break or give the wearer the wrong time, even if completely submerged in water.

However, here it should be borne in mind that there are different degrees of water resistance - with some you can even dive to great depths, while others withstand only occasional splashes, but not complete immersion, even if the depth is very shallow.

The wide variety of suppliers and styles means the widest variety of materials and colors available for mechanical wristwatches - it's safe to say that absolutely everyone will find the perfect model for themselves.

The most common materials are plastic and metal. With plastic, everything is clear - it is lightweight, strong enough and capable of withstanding various loads, and also looks modern.

It is a little more difficult with metals, because this is not one material, but several at once. For example, a titanium case will give an accessory special strength, it will be difficult to damage it even by purposeful efforts, not to mention an annoying accident, while a gold case is already a tribute to respectability and prestige.

There are also less typical solutions, such as wooden cases, but this is rarely seen.

As for the colors, in the case of men's watches, these are usually neutral colors - black or gray, unless the case is made of gold. The palette for ladies' watches is much wider - they can be of absolutely any color, as long as it fits the general image of the hostess.

The choice of a wristwatch, like any other individual product, largely depends on the personal tastes and preferences of the future owner, but it is still possible to single out the main criteria. For example, the very fact of choosing a mechanical watch indicates a commitment to the classics, eternal values, and sometimes, when choosing an expensive model, it also indicates the success of the owner.

As for the material, stainless steel is in the lead in the "cheap and cheerful" category, and its direct competitor is plastic. Ceramic wristwatches can act as fashionable originality - such models are rapidly gaining popularity among women, but they, for example, are afraid of blows. The same can be said about gold watches, which can be safely called an immortal hit.

As for the color and size, this is one hundred percent personal matter - you will not give specific advice here. The same can be said about the style, but here there is an important clarification: at least in the world of women's watches, there is an unspoken division among famous brands, according to which each manufacturer produces accessories of a certain direction.

Here is a short guide for women as an example:

• Want to be the queen of the evening? Should a watch decorate you and make you unique? Choose Christian Dior, Gucci, Valentino.
• Do you want to show your success and be always confident in the reliability and durability of the selected accessory? For you - Hoenes and Bulova.

• Lead a modern, active lifestyle, love sports and all kinds of “smart” accessories? Be sure to pay attention to the range of Casio, Gasmin, Pirelli.
• Prefer antiques, time-tested? Give preference to Soviet brands such as Slava, Polet, Vostok, Nika or Pobeda.

At first glance, there is nothing complicated in this task, however, the right plant is able to extend the service life of the mechanism, and the wrong one, on the contrary, can shorten it.

If your chosen model does not have an automatic winding, you will have to wind the watch manually. It is enough to do this once a day, an additional plant is not required even if you have changed the arrows for any reason. By the way, both winding the watch and translating the time should be strictly clockwise, and not against it.When winding up the watch, watch the resistance of the crown - if the spring is sufficiently tensioned, it will become much more difficult to turn it, and you need to stop at this, otherwise you will simply break the clockwork.

The self-winding watch winds itself up when you move your hands while walking, so you can forget about the establishment in everyday wear. If for some reason the accessory was not used for its intended purpose, wind it up by performing several clockwise turns of the crown. Most often, such a mechanism is equipped with overload protection, so do not be afraid to overdo it. Please note: if the self-winding watch is constantly on the wrist, but the owner leads a sedentary lifestyle, then the mechanism will not be able to start itself!

Detailed instructions and general recommendations can be found in the following video: