Mechanical watches use mechanical movement to tick off the seconds of time. The measurement of time on a modern mechanical watch is done through a spring, which activates the rest of the watch movement. The mechanical watch may lose up to an hour per year and the majority of mechanical watches have a winder to restart the watch, which for many watch enthusiasts is a nice mechanical touch.

The mechanical watch is not prone to stopping when it is around objects, which have a strong electrical field. The mechanical watch can be relied on under different conditions and will keep time as long as it is maintained and repaired as necessary. Most mechanical watches are created for durability since these watches will last for a long time.

The earliest recorded mechanical movement was developed in China by the mathematician monk, Yi Xing and a government official named Liang Lingzan. This early mechanical clock used water in its motion and would mark time as a sequence of one day and night passed.

The extraordinary Ottoman Taqu al-Din created the alarm clock in the early 1600s. Taqi al-Din was a Turkish polymath and physician who studied and experimented in various scientific fields such as astronomy, astrology, botany, science, math, physics, zoology, pharmacy, clock and watch making. He also made the first watches that kept minutes and were spring powered. His watches kept time using astronomical information.

As trade routes were established, clocks became used and eventually crafted in the Western world. Early uses for mechanical clocks included regulating monastery prayer schedules during the medieval era. By the 16th century, Westerners had become watchmakers, who contributed to the development of the mechanical watch.

The Swiss mechanical watch industry boomed early and continues to be an important portion of the watch industry since its beginning in 1541 in Geneva. At that early time, Calvinistic reforms forced jewelers to find another way to make an income when the reforms stated that no one could wear jewels. Since that time, Swiss watchmakers contributed to the popularity of watches and clocks among a greater number of people around the world.

Elgin watch movements are a standard mechanical watch movement in the mechanical watch industry. The Elgin movements were standardized for accuracy and durability for the railroad workers beginning with the first railroad watch made in 1910. There are Elgin railroad watches from that historical era which continue to keep time today.

The mechanical watch does not only adorn the wrist. The versatile mechanical watch may appear in jewelry items such as a necklace pendant, cufflinks or a ring. The pocketwatch is a watch attached to a chain. Not all decorative mechanical watches have a winder.

The mechanical watch is valued by its owner because of its accuracy at keeping time and beautiful craftsmanship. Some mechanical watches have a clear casing so that its owner can inspect its movements as the watch is working. Mechanical watches are created in a variety of styles to suit different age groups, gender and budgets.