DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATCHES: A BRIEF SUMMARY
Trying to understand what differentiates one watch from another can feel like diving into the deep end, considering how many styles and types of watches are available nowadays. But generally, here at Timex, watches can be categorized by three things: their movement, their unique functions, and their overall style.
So, whether you're wondering what sets a vintage-style watch apart from a diver-style watch, which features a sports watch typically has, or just want to know the difference between a mechanical watch and a quartz one, we've got you covered. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find all the info you need, as well as recommendations for the different types of wristwatches we offer.
TYPES OF WATCHES BY MOVEMENT
The movement is the mechanism that powers your watch. Timex watches are either powered with a mechanical movement or a quartz battery. Let’s get into exactly what those are, starting with mechanicals.
MECHANICAL WATCH MOVEMENTS
Mechanical movements are battery-free and rely on either manual winding or the natural motion of your wrist as a power source. This breaks them into two sub-set categories: hand-wound and automatic.
HAND-WOUND
Hand-wound movements are the oldest of movements and date back centuries. The crown of the watch is manually wound by hand each day to power the mechanism that moves the hands. The movement is comprised of gears, wheels, and springs housed within the watch case.
After it’s wound, the watch movement gradually releases the energy stored and that’s what powers the watch. However, the power stored will eventually run out, so daily winding is required in order to keep the watch ticking. Though regular winding may seem like a pain to some, this simple act becomes a cherished daily ritual for many watch enthusiasts—a mindful pause that grounds you and allows you to appreciate the beauty of time passing by.
If the ritual of daily winding appeals to you, check out our Marlin Hand-Wound watch. With a domed acrylic crystal, a thin black handset, and a beautifully textured leather strap, it’s sleek, versatile, and casual-cool.
AUTOMATIC
Automatic (or self-winding) movements were introduced at the beginning of the 20th century and rely on mechanical movements that do not require daily winding (though most can still be hand-wound). Rather, they’re powered by the natural movement of your wrist throughout normal everyday activity. The movement of your wrist turns the rotor which winds the mainspring and then stores the watch’s energy. If worn daily, automatic watches will continue to run without the need for manual winding.
If you’re interested in picking up an automatic timepiece, check out our beloved Marlin automatic collection. Marlin is our mid-century icon, boasting a minimalist design that’s as smooth as the ‘60s. Right now, our favorite pick from the collection would have to be our Marlin Automatic with a lustrous sunray dial in a rich shade of salmon.
And if we’ve piqued your interest in mechanical movements, you can learn even more about them in our blog post where we compare hand-wound vs. automatic watches.
QUARTZ WATCH MOVEMENTS
In quartz watches, like our Q Timex collection, the quartz crystal in the movement is powered via an electrical current from a battery. Quartz movements are very reliable at keeping time and may only lose a few seconds a month compared to several minutes of a mechanical movement. Despite being more accurate than their mechanical counterparts, quartz movements are less expensive and only require a battery change every couple of years if properly maintained.
If the convenience of a quartz timepiece sounds nice to you, we suggest checking out our Q Timex 1975 Enigma Reissue, a modern-day reissue which boasts a stainless-steel case in an elongated cushion shape and a unique dial design that’s sure to catch the eye.
SOLAR-POWERED WATCH MOVEMENTS
Also powered by a battery, solar watches use a solar cell that converts light energy into electrical power. These solar cells can be found behind semi-transparent dials or even adorning the dial itself. When light falls on the surface of the cell, it is absorbed, collected, and transformed into a sustainable electric charge. Energy is stored in the “energy cell” of the watch, which acts as a capacitor, holding the energy to run the movement.
Much like quartz watches, solar watches use an integrated circuit and a quartz crystal for accurate timekeeping. The generated electricity is then transferred to a rechargeable battery, eliminating the need for battery replacements.
Interested in owning a watch that’s powered by any light source? Our Expedition North Field Post Solar is an excellent choice.
TYPES OF WATCHES BY FUNCTIONALITY
Watches have evolved over time to include a wide variety of useful features, some of which are known as complications —additional functions that go beyond just telling the time (you can explore these in our guide to watch complications!)
Date displays, alarms, chronographs, and dual time zones are some examples of watch complications that enhance the functionality of your timepiece, making it more dynamic and practical. Depending on your watch, it might have just one complication or several. In this guide, we’re covering three popular types of watches that are loved for their enhanced functionality: digital watches, chronograph watches, and GMT watches.
DIGITAL WATCHES
Instead of using hands to show the time, digital watches display numerical digits on an electronic screen. Their clear display makes it easy to tell the time at a glance. Plus, they often come packed with a range of useful features like date displays, timers, stopwatches, and alarms—all in one device.
Take our stainless-steel T80 for example, which includes all of the above features plus our proprietary INDIGLO® backlight which can be activated with the push of a button so that you can tell time in the dark.
CHRONOGRAPH WATCHES
A chronograph is a particular watch complication that is essentially a stopwatch and can be used to track elapsed time. You start the timer and stop it when you’ve completed a task, lap, or race, for example. Both mechanical and quartz watches can feature a chronograph, which appears as sub-dials on the face of the watch or as a bezel around the crystal.
When it comes to chronographs, we recommend checking out our Q Timex Chronograph, which also features a tachymeter index on its bezel for determining average speed.
GMT WATCHES
The term GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time, but a GMT watch generally refers to a timepiece that can display two different time zones at once. Hence, they are also known as dual-time watches. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or simply appreciate the functionality of tracking multiple time zones, a GMT watch is a handy timekeeper to own.
Most GMT watches have a two-tone colored bezel with a 24-hour index indicating the 24 hours in a day. You can see this on our Waterbury Traditional GMT, which has a bezel that’s both black and red. This colored bezel is one of the most iconic features of a GMT. When used in conjunction with the GMT hand, it helps you distinguish between daytime and nighttime hours in the second time zone you’re tracking.
TYPES OF WATCHES BY STYLE
Last but certainly not least, many watches are distinguished by their overall style, which can include details like their case size and shape or the type of bezel they have. Once you learn the key features that set one apart from the other, identifying a watch’s style becomes simple. We’re going to cover the main watch styles offered by Timex and what makes each one unique: vintage-inspired watches, diver-inspired watches, military-inspired watches, and sports watches.
VINTAGE-STYLE WATCHES
The most timeless designs often come from the past. Vintage-style watches blend the traditional beauty of classic timepieces with modern innovations, capturing the aesthetic charm of earlier eras. Common features of vintage-style watches include oversized onion crowns, hand-wound movements, retro-style markers, and elegantly domed crystals.
A perfect example of a vintage-style watch is our Q Timex Falcon Eye Chronograph, a modern reimagining of one of our most iconic timepieces from the late ‘70s.
DIVER-INSPIRED WATCHES
A diver-inspired watch is a timepiece designed to look like a professional diver watch. While diver-inspired watches aren’t intended for professional diving, they often share a few key elements with true diver watches, such as rotating bezels, high water resistance, robust case construction, and luminous hands and markers. Polished yet rugged, our Harborside Coast is a prime example of this with its substantial 43mm case, rotating bezel, luminant dial details, and 100m water resistance.
MILITARY-INSPIRED WATCHES
Similar to the way diver-inspired watches are designed to look like professional diver watches, military-inspired watches capture the utilitarian style of authentic military watches.
Military-style watches are built tough, combining performance, durability, and style. Their straightforward design often features up to 100m water resistance, a highly legible dial, and tactical functions such as GMT and chronograph features.
With its simple black dial, large Arabic markers, and 100m water resistance, our Field Post Solar has a clean, military-style aesthetic that looks handsome on the wrist.
SPORTS WATCHES
Designed to enhance your sports or fitness routine, sports watches are built to handle the demands of physical activity with their durable construction. They also include practical features like countdown timers, customizable alarms, lap counters, step trackers, and heart rate monitors. The straps of sports watches are typically crafted from sweat-resistant materials, ensuring comfort and flexibility so that you can focus on your workout without any distractions.
Looking for a feature-packed sports watch to integrate into your workout? Our shock-resistant IRONMAN® Original won’t disappoint.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF WATCHES?
Whether you’re just looking for a stylish and reliable watch or you’re a collector who loves the craftsmanship behind a timepiece, your go-to watch will depend on what you value most. For many casual watch wearers, quartz watches are the most common choice—they’re easy to care for, budget-friendly, and super accurate. But for watch enthusiasts who appreciate the artistry and history of watchmaking, mechanical watches are most popular, as they’re all about tradition and craftsmanship.
WHY TRUST TIMEX WHEN BUYING A WATCH?
Since 1854, Timex has embodied the spirit of American ingenuity, transforming the watch industry by making quality timepieces accessible to all. From our origins as the Waterbury Clock Company, we've pioneered innovations like the INDIGLO® backlight and the TIMEX IRONMAN® sports watch, while introducing industry firsts like the $1 pocket watch and the Timex Data Link smart watch.
For over 170 years, our commitment to craftsmanship and thoughtful design has made Timex a trusted name, with watches that have withstood rigorous torture tests, traveled to space, and adorned the wrists of presidents, celebrities, and athletes alike. Plus, we think everyone looks great in a Timex!
LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? SHOP THE STORY:
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Marlin® Hand-Wound 34mm Leather Strap Watch
34 mm
Black/Stainless Steel
$209.00
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Marlin® Automatic 40mm Leather Strap Watch
40 mm
Brown/Stainless Steel
$259.00
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Q Timex 1975 Enigma Reissue 37mm Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch
37 mm
Stainless Steel/Stainless Steel
$199.00
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Expedition Field Post Solar 36mm Recycled Fabric Strap Watch
36 mm
Tan/IP Black
$169.00
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Timex T80 34mm Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch
34 mm
Gold-Tone/Gold-Tone
$69.00
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Q Timex Chronograph 40mm Leather Strap Watch
40 mm
Brown/Stainless Steel
$209.00
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Waterbury Traditional GMT 39mm Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch
39 mm
Stainless Steel/Stainless Steel/Black/Stainless Steel
$219.00
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Q Timex Falcon Eye Chronograph 40mm Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch
40 mm
Stainless Steel/Stainless Steel
$239.00
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Harborside Coast 43mm Synthetic Rubber Strap Watch
43 mm
Black/Silver-Tone
$99.00
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Expedition Field Post Solar 36mm Eco-Friendly Leather Strap Watch
36 mm
Brown/Stainless Steel
$169.00
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IRONMAN Original 30 Shock Full-Size Resin Strap Watch
42 mm
Black/Black
$73.00
