"I'm thinking of buying a new mechanical watch that I can use for a long time, but which brand should I choose?"
Perhaps that is what you are thinking?
This article explains the differences between mechanical and quartz watches, and among mechanical watches, the differences between automatic and hand-wound watches.
We will also discuss which types of people are suitable for automatic and manual watches, and introduce some recommended mechanical watch brands .
I hope this article helps you in your search for a new watch.
What is a mechanical watch? Explaining the difference between a mechanical watch and a quartz watch!
Wristwatches are broadly divided into two categories: mechanical watches and quartz watches .
It might be easier to understand if you think of them as "spring-powered watches" and "battery-powered watches."
Now, let's take a closer look at the characteristics of each.
There are two types of mechanical watches! What is the difference between automatic and hand-wound?
Mechanical watches do not require batteries and can last almost indefinitely if taken care of properly.
However, mechanical watches are made up of very delicate parts and need to be handled with care.
Be careful, as a mechanical watch can break simply by swinging a golf club while wearing it.
Furthermore, there are two types of mechanical watches: automatic and manual.
■ Automatic watches
When you think of mechanical watches, this is what most people imagine.
The mainspring is automatically wound by simply shaking the watch , so it will continue to work just by wearing it on your wrist every day. It is the perfect piece to wear every day and use for a long time.
In addition, most mechanical watches have the word "Automatic" written on the dial or case back. On the other hand, if you do not wear the watch every day, the mainspring will not be wound and the hands will stop, so if you buy an automatic watch as a secondary watch that you only wear occasionally, it can be a little difficult to use.
■ Manual winding watch
Of course, this watch also does not require battery replacement, but unlike an automatic watch, you will need to wind the mainspring yourself every day.
It gives the feeling that "it's a watch that doesn't work unless you take care of it yourself," and the more you use it, the more you'll grow to love it. It's the perfect watch for people who love watches and can devote that much love to them.
However, on the other hand, it may not be suitable for people who don't like to bother. Not only do you have to wear it every day, but you also have to remember to wind it yourself, so if you think "I'm the type of person who finds that kind of thing troublesome," choose an automatic watch!
What is a quartz wristwatch? The roots of "Seiko of the World."
This is what is known as a battery-powered watch .
Quartz watches are a technology invented by the Japanese watch manufacturer Seiko, and use the vibration of a quartz crystal. With the invention of this technology, Seiko has come to be known as "Seiko of the World."
In addition, they are generally cheaper than mechanical watches. Compared to mechanical watches, one advantage is that they continue to work even if you don't wear them every day and leave them alone for a while.
However, of course, after years of use, the battery will run out and need to be replaced.
Although it's a minor point, the feature of quartz watches is that they are less likely to lose time. Mechanical watches can tell the time accurately enough, but they often lose about one second per day.
In comparison, quartz watches keep more accurate time, but unless you are in a special profession where even a one second discrepancy per day is important, you probably don't need to worry too much about this.
7 recommended mechanical watch brands!
Recommended Brand 1: Rolex
Rolex is the king of the watch world, having been making watches for over 100 years since its founding in 1905 .
Even people who aren't particularly interested in watches are sure to know about Rolex.
Rolex manufactures all of its parts in-house, and there is a wide variety of designs, so you can find the perfect watch for your needs. Many of their designs have been produced for a long time, even though they have undergone minor changes, and their unchanging quality has earned them support from people.
Another big attraction of Rolex is its extremely high asset value. Rolex not only continues to produce quality watches worthy of being called the king of watches, but it also boasts overwhelming recognition among watches.
Therefore, Rolex is one of the luxury watch brands that is least likely to depreciate in value. Discontinued models in particular have high asset value and are often sold for more than the list price.
Recommended Brand 2: Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe is one of the top three luxury watch brands, renowned for its quality .
The overall design is simple and sophisticated.
Patek Philippe has achieved the great feat of earning the Geneva Seal, the highest standard that guarantees the quality of watches, for all of the watches it sells. Now, more than ever, Patek Philippe manufactures its watches according to its own standards, which exceed the strictness of the Geneva Seal.
Due to their technical capabilities, many of their watches have extremely complex functions, and all of their watches come with a lifetime repair guarantee.
For these reasons, Pathé Philippe has an extremely high status and is loved by many people, including the Pope, Walt Disney, and President Putin.
Recommended Brand 3: Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet is also considered one of the three greatest watches in the world .
The company was founded in Switzerland by Jules Louis Audemars and Edouard Auguste Piguet, who used their respective names to form the brand name Audemars Piguet.
Although it is a luxury watch company that has been in business for over 100 years, it is a rare brand that is still run by the descendants of the two founders.
Audemars and Piguet were founded with the philosophy of " harmony between tradition and revolution ," a philosophy that continues to this day.
Recommended Brand 4: Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin is one of the three leading watchmakers in the world, alongside Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet.
It has been in business for over 260 years, dating back to 1755, and is considered the world's oldest watch manufacturer .
Using their unique technical capabilities, they produce a wide variety of models, from models equipped with complex mechanisms to simple and modest watches, and even luxury models studded with lots of jewels. Most of their models are basically traditional and classical in design, but in recent years luxury sports watches, commonly known as "luxpo" models, have become very popular.
By the way, Vacheron Constantin is famous for being a favorite of Ichiro .
Recommended Brand ⑤: Omega
Omega has produced many talked-about products, such as the "Omega x Swatch" collaboration.
I think most people have heard of it, even those who don't have any particular preference for watches.
In Switzerland, in order to improve the quality of luxury watches made in Switzerland, they hold an "observatory competition" to compete for the precision of watches. Omega has repeatedly achieved excellent results in this competition, and is highly trusted for the high precision of its watches.
In addition, the watch used when Apollo 11 landed on the moon was actually an OMEGA, and the story behind this is also fascinating.
Among luxury watches, there are also relatively inexpensive models, so people who want to try their hand at luxury watches often choose Omega as their first watch.
Recommended Brand ⑥: Panerai
Panerai was founded in Florence, Italy in 1860.
The company started selling to the general public in 1993, but previously made watches for the Italian Navy.
The design is distinctive, and it is a large, thick watch. It is also called the " big, thick watch " and has sparked a boom in big, thick watches.
Recommended brand 7: Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre has many models with classic and understated designs that are popular among connoisseurs.
Many models feature leather straps .
One of Jaeger-LeCoultre's most representative models is the Reverso. It has the surprising feature of being able to flip the dial over. This feature was originally created to prevent the glass from breaking during polo matches, but now it has become one of the Reverso's defining features.
(* Polo: A sport in which players on horseback hit a ball with a stick and compete to score points by putting it into a goal.)
Another strength of Jaeger-LeCoultre is its overwhelming movement development capabilities. It is one of the few manufacture brands that does everything in-house, from parts manufacturing to assembly and processing, and it even provides movements for the world's three most famous watches.
Summary of recommended mechanical watch brands
What did you think.
In this article, we explain mechanical watches and introduce some recommended mechanical watch brands.
Mechanical watches are expensive, but they are also of very high quality and are literally a purchase that will last a lifetime, so we recommend that you look at them carefully at a trustworthy store before purchasing.