balance wheel
The regulating organ of a watch, which vibrates on a spiral hairspring whose lengthening or shortening causes the balance wheel to move faster or slower, advancing or retarding the watch ...
A mechanical watch, typically with a balance wheel escapement, whose mainspring is wound by the motion of the wearer's arm, instead of having to be wound manually every day.
For example, a watch with mechanical movement (first type of wristwatch; introduced in 1910) uses a spinning balance wheel powered by a tightly wound spring.
The first watches were mechanical, with a balance wheel and mainspring. They had to be wound to keep time. Most watches today use a quartz crystal and a battery for power - they don't require winding.
Mechanical: Watches use a balance wheel for time measurement and a mainspring for power. They require manual winding.
Before the invention of the electric clock at the end of the 19th century, all clocks were powered either by descending weights or by uncoiling springs. The escapement, usually regulated by a pendulum or a balance wheel, ...
 See also: Metal, Jewel, Mechanical, Gemstone, Ring
  
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