watch: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 6, 2026

Facts

Also Known As	timepiece

Photos

Typical components of a mechanical watch.

Diagram of a quartz watch showing labeled internal components, including gears, battery, quartz oscillator, microprocessor, circuit board, coil, magnet, and motor, overlaid with a partial clock face.

Typical components of an electrically powered watch.

Watch with fob.

Labeled diagram of a watch mainspring mechanism showing interconnected gears, the mainspring, balance wheel, winding pinion, escape wheel, and hands for hours, minutes, and seconds.

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Topics

pin-pallet watch self-winding watch wristwatch electronic watch induction drive resonance drive galvanometer drive smartwatch clock 12-hour clock 24-hour clock atomic clock escapement

Key People

Bracket clock with oak case, ebony veneer, and gilt bronze mounts by Thomas Tompion, c. 1690; in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Thomas Tompion

English clockmaker

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Richard W. Sears

American merchant

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Aaron Lufkin Dennison

American manufacturer

Mudge, Thomas

Thomas Mudge

British watchmaker

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Edward Howard

American manufacturer

Graham, George

George Graham

English watchmaker

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Abraham-Louis Breguet

French watchmaker

Quare, Daniel: Queen Ann clock

Daniel Quare

English clockmaker and inventor

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Thomas Earnshaw

English watchmaker