The Motion Works is mechanical translator in mechanical watches. Its sole job is to make sense of the energy passing from the mainspring through the turning gear train and escapement by giving us a visual interpretation of the passing of time. It is the mechanism that carries the hour and minute hands around the dial. The minute hand must travel around the dial 12 times for each revolution of the hour hand, indicating the passing of 12 hours. This 12 to 1 ratio is accomplished through the gearing of the motion works. It’s actually a very simple mechanism.

So essentially a watch is a mechanical instrument consisting of a gear train which rotates at an even, unaltering rate minute after minute, 24 hours a day. The motion works then divides these rotations into something we can see, understand and use in our everyday lives.