Watch Parts Info

Even if you only have a rudimentary understanding of watch movements, you can’t help but to be amazed with the precision and meticulous nature of the various mechanisms. There are several components that work in harmony to create the movements, including the power source, wheel train, escapement and oscillator. The wheels and other moving elements of the watch are mounted between two plates, designated as front and back.

The front plate is always circular, but there are three different types of back plates that are used. A full plate movement was utilized in the earliest watches and features a circular design. As the watch evolved, part of the back plate was eliminated from the design to make room for balances; this was referred to as the three-quarter plate movement. In modern watches, the back plate is actually a series of bars or smaller plates that allow for more movement, known as a bridge movement.