Why Choose a Mechanical Watch?
There are easier ways to tell the time. A phone can do it. A computer can do it. There is probably a clock within reach right now that will tell you the time without needing any attention from you at all. So why choose a mechanical watch? For many people, the answer isn't really about telling the time. It is about having something mechanical on your wrist, something that works without a battery and asks you to take a small part in keeping it going.
At Pinchbeck, we assemble mechanical watches in our Lincoln workshop. Some of our watches use automatic movements, while others are manual wind. They work in different ways, but both rely on the energy stored in a mechanical movement rather than a battery.
How does a mechanical watch work?
Inside a mechanical watch is a movement made up of many small components working together. The movement stores energy in a mainspring. That energy is released in a controlled way, allowing the watch to keep time and move the hands around the dial. There is a lot happening inside a relatively small space. It is one of the things we like about mechanical watches. The movement isn't hidden behind a screen or powered by something you never need to think about. It is a physical mechanism doing a physical job.
Automatic or manual wind?
There are two main ways our mechanical watches are kept running.
Automatic watches
An automatic mechanical watch uses the movement of your wrist to wind the movement while you wear it. If you wear an automatic watch regularly, the movement can continue to store energy as you go about your day. If it has been left unworn and has stopped, it can be wound by hand before you put it back on.
Manual-wind watches
A manual-wind watch needs you to wind it by hand. You turn the crown to add energy to the mainspring, and the watch uses that stored energy to keep running. Eventually it needs winding again. For some people, that small routine is part of the appeal. It gives you a reason to interact with the watch rather than simply putting it on and forgetting about it.
Why do mechanical watches need servicing?
A mechanical movement contains many moving parts working together in a very small space. Like any mechanical object, those parts experience wear, and the lubricants used inside the movement naturally degrade over time. That is why a mechanical watch needs looking after. We recommend that most mechanical watches are serviced approximately every three to five years, depending on how often they are worn and the conditions they experience. A service typically involves inspection, disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, reassembly, testing and final checks. It is part of owning a mechanical watch.
Why do people still choose them?
We think it comes down to the relationship you have with the watch. A mechanical watch isn't designed to be disposable. You can wear it, look after it, have it serviced and keep it for years. We still support many Pinchbeck watches from earlier collections, and older watches continue to come back to our workshop for servicing and repair. The watch changes a little as you wear it. It picks up marks. The strap eventually needs replacing. Perhaps one day it gets passed on. It becomes yours. That's difficult to achieve with something that is simply there to tell you the time.
Mechanical watches at Pinchbeck
Every Pinchbeck watch is assembled in our Lincoln workshop. We work with specialist suppliers and partners for the components and expertise we need, then bring the watch together, test it and prepare it here. We make mechanical watches because we like the idea of something made to be worn, looked after and kept. There are easier ways to tell the time. That's not really the point.
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