WatchesAtlas / Watch knowledge
The Watch Encyclopedia
Understand the details that make a watch.
12 terms
Clear filtersMagic Lever
Seiko's name for a winding mechanism using a pawl lever to convert rotor movement into mainspring winding.
Movements & mechanismsMainplate
The principal plate onto which movement components and supporting structures are mounted.
Movements & mechanismsMainspring
The coiled spring that stores energy in a mechanical watch and releases it through the movement.
Movements & mechanismsMainspring bridle
A fitting that allows controlled slipping at full wind in many automatic mainspring barrels.
Movements & mechanismsMaltese-cross stopwork
A stopwork arrangement using a shaped wheel to limit the permitted rotation range.
Movements & mechanismsManual winding
A system in which the wearer winds the mainspring using the crown or another winding device.
Movements & mechanismsMechanical movement
A movement powered by a wound mainspring, with a mechanical regulating system controlling how its energy reaches the hands.
Movements & mechanismsMicro-rotor
A compact winding rotor integrated into the movement rather than spanning much of its rear surface.
Movements & mechanismsMinute wheel
A motion-works wheel contributing to the reduction between minute and hour indications.
Movements & mechanismsModular chronograph
A chronograph made by combining a base movement with an additional timing module.
Movements & mechanismsMotion works
The gearing that relates the hour and minute indications and permits them to be set.
Movements & mechanismsMulti-axis tourbillon
A tourbillon whose regulating assembly rotates around more than one axis.