How It Works
How watches work, explained: Ever wondered what is really ticking inside your watch? These interactive guides let you look inside see-through models, click the parts and watch them move.
How watches work: pick a guide
- How does a quartz watch work? A vibrating crystal, a tiny chip and a stepper motor.
- How does an automatic watch work? Mainspring, gears, escapement and a self-winding rotor.
- How does a digital watch work? A crystal, a chip and an LCD.
- How does a solar watch work? Light, a solar cell and a rechargeable battery.
- How does a smart watch work? Sensors, a processor and Bluetooth.
- How does a sundial work? A shadow, a gnomon and the sun.
What you will learn
Each guide uses a see-through, animated model so you can see how watches work from the inside. You will learn how a quartz crystal keeps time, how a mainspring and rotor power an automatic movement, how an LCD shows digits, how light charges a solar watch and how sensors track your health. Click the parts, press the buttons and compare the types before you buy.
Not sure which type suits you? Take our 1-minute quiz.
New guides are added regularly. Ready to pick one? See our best watches under $100 or best cheap automatic watches.
Now that you know how watches work, you can shop with confidence. For more background, see the Wikipedia article.