A movement is the working mechanism inside a watch or other timepiece. It is separate from the case, which houses and shields it, and from the dial, which shows the time. Knowing the movement tells you how a watch keeps time and what powers it, whether a mainspring or a battery.
How does a mechanical movement work?
A mechanical movement includes every moving part of a watch or clock apart from the hands. The word itself comes from these clockwork mechanisms, which are built from many moving parts. Inside, the wheel train carries energy from the power source to the escapement. The escapement then lets the wheel train move forward in fixed steps. In an automatic movement, the mainspring is wound by the ordinary movements of the wearer’s wrist.
What other kinds of movement are there?
In a quartz movement, a battery supplies the power. A vibrating quartz crystal regulates the timekeeping. In a digital watch, the movement is usually called a module. In mass-produced watches and clocks, one movement is often fitted into many different case styles. So watches in quite different cases can share the same mechanism inside.
Is a calibre the same as a movement?
People often use calibre to mean the same thing as movement. Strictly, calibre refers to the specific design and layout of a movement. The word first meant only the size of a movement. Today it names a particular movement model. An in-house calibre is designed and made by the watch brand itself. Other calibres come from independent movement makers.
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