For much of the history of the wristwatch, mechanical movements were perfectly content to tick along at 2.5 or 3 Hz, measuring time at a leisurely 18,000 or 21,600 vibrations per hour, respectively. Increasing this frequency would mean adding resolution in the form of ticks (or "beats") per second, making for a more accurate timepiece. The tradeoff, however, would mean more wear and tear on componentry