Movement (clockwork)

In <a href="/facts/Horology/u8CzMt1a">horology</a>, a movement, also known as a caliber or calibre , is the mechanism of a <a href="/facts/Watch/PuFUMNTl">watch</a> or <a href="/facts/Clock/MYolzNkw">timepiece</a>, as opposed to the case, which encloses and protects the movement, and the <a href="/facts/Clock_face/3n6cnGxW">face</a>, which displays the time. The term originated with mechanical timepieces, whose <a href="/facts/Clockwork/ofYRa6kD">clockwork</a> movements are made of many moving parts. The movement of a <a href="/facts/Digital_watch/PuFUMNTl">digital watch</a> is more commonly known as a module.
In modern mass-produced clocks and watches, the same movement is often inserted into many different styles of case. When buying a quality <a href="/facts/Pocketwatch/w208k2jL">pocketwatch</a> from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century, for example, the customer would select a movement and case individually. Mechanical movements get dirty and the lubricants dry up, so they must periodically be disassembled, cleaned, and lubricated. One source recommends servicing intervals of: 3–5 years for watches, 15–20 years for <a href="/facts/Grandfather_clock/umXD9vEz">grandfather clocks</a>, 10–15 years for wall or <a href="/facts/Mantel_clock/6SaIJNoI">mantel clocks</a>, 15–20 years for <a href="/facts/Anniversary_clock/0Ffkb5wn">anniversary clocks</a>, and 7 years for <a href="/facts/Cuckoo_clock/pa1WUm0k">cuckoo clocks</a>, with the longer intervals applying to antique timepieces.

Movement (clockwork) open-in-new

Movement (clockwork)