Why are mechanical watches vulnerable to shocks? / Mainspring Q&A - Answering your watch questions

Q: Why are mechanical watches vulnerable to shocks?

A: It's a precision machine with hundreds of parts embedded in a small case.

The weaknesses of mechanical watches are water, magnetism, and shock. The first two have been largely overcome, but shock remains a major obstacle for many mechanical watches.

Mechanical watches are extremely precise instruments, with hundreds of parts packed into a case about 4cm in diameter. Some parts are assembled to within a few thousandths of a millimeter, so they can break if subjected to a strong shock. The balance spring, which is the heart of the watch, can also become distorted if subjected to a shock.

You should be especially careful with complicated watches that have many parts and thin cases. Today's watches are stronger than before, but it's best to avoid clapping your hands or swinging your arms around while wearing a watch.

So, what kind of watch is shock-resistant?A watch with a thick case"A watch that uses a mechanism called a free sprung balance", ま た は"A watch with shock-absorbing parts built into the case"The reason why many so-called sports watches have thick cases is to improve their water resistance and make them more resistant to shocks.

Very few can withstand the impact of golf or tennis

That said, even these watches should be avoided for golf or tennis, as not many watches are robust enough to withstand the impacts of golf, like those from Richard Mille or Järmann Stübi.