What is the difference between manual watches and automatic watches?
Mechanical watches are marvels comprised of springs, components, gears and screws which all work together to tell time.
At one point in history, all watches were mechanical and required manual winding in order to be powered. These watches were typically wound via the crown, which in turn tightens the mainspring inside the watch. The mainspring is the power source of all mechanical watches. Once wound, through a series of components and gears known as an escapement, the mainspring's tension is incrementally released which powers the watch.
What makes an automatic watch (also known as a self-wind watch) different is that it has a weighted rotor mounted to the back of the watch's movement. The rotor is usually shaped in a semi-circle and is connected to the mainspring via a series of gears. With the motion of your wrist, the rotor spins on an axle and in doing so, winds the mainspring which in turn powers your watch.
What is a Power Reserve?
The power reserve is the amount of time it takes for a fully wound watch to unwind when not worn. Most mechanical watches have a power reserve of between 36 and 42 hours. This means that the watch can run for that duration on a full wind. Please refer to the manufacturer's product specifications to familiarize yourself with what duration you can expect from your watch's power reserve.
Do automatic watches need to be manually wound?
Yes, they do. Picture the mainspring inside a watch. When you first get an automatic watch, the spring is completely unwound. Moving the watch around will cause the rotor to spin, which in turn will begin winding the mainspring. While this will get the watch running it will not be enough to fully tighten the mainspring which would let you take advantage of the power reserve to its fullest capacity.
It is therefore important to first wind the crown about 30-40 times which is enough to completely wind the mainspring on most watches. Once the mainspring has been fully wound, and the watch is worn on an active wrist, the rotor will do its job by continuously winding the mainspring thereby topping off the watch's power reserve.
There is a common misconception that an automatic watch never needs to be wound. It's a mistake to think that a watch that has wound down or that is close to the end of its power reserve just needs to be worn for a while to wind itself up. While this may give you just enough power to keep the watch running in the here and now, and it may even run for a little while afterwards when it's not worn, it may not have had the chance to fully wind the mainspring and you'll experience a shorter power reserve, once the watch is removed from your wrist.
Once you have manually wound and set a watch it is now ready for use and if you wear the watch daily, an active wrist should be enough to keep the watch fully wound…even if you remove the watch overnight. However, we do advise to fully wind the watch manually if it hasn’t been worn for most of its power reserve duration
People who are not very active like those who sit at a computer for many hours a day don't always move their wrists enough to fully wind a watch in which case they may need to give it a boost every so often by winding the crown about 30 -40 times.
Can an automatic watch be overwound?
No. Automatic watches have a mechanism in the movement that disengages the winding gears from the mainspring once it is fully wound.
How do you wind an automatic Watch?
A watch is wound via its crown, usually clockwise. Keep the crown in its pushed-in position and wind the crown clockwise. If your watch has a screw-down crown, you first need to unscrew the crown before winding.
Another way to keep your automatic watch fully wound is by using a winder. A watch winder is a device that you mount your watch on for times when you are not wearing it. A winder moves the watch around mimicking the movements of a wrist. This is especially convenient if you own more than one automatic watch or have a watch with a high complication such as a perpetual calendar which is more complicated and takes extra time to set.
FAQs
Understanding Automatic Watches
Automatic watches are built with a small metal weight known as a rotor, which spins and automatically winds as you move your wrist throughout the day. As the rotor spins, it winds the mainspring, which serves as a power reserve and powers your watch.
What not to do with an automatic watch? ›
To take care of your automatic watch:
- Keep the watch away from moisture.
- Keep it clean.
- Have it serviced by a professional.
- Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures.
- Wear it regularly or store in a watch winder.
- Don't drop it.
- Don't place near strong magnets or electronics.
Automatic watches are designed to be worn daily and only taken off when the wearer wishes to sleep. If the wearer is particularly active, the watch can be worn for a minimum of 8 hours without having to manually wind it. Lower activity wearers may need to wind the watch regardless of how much daily use the watch gets.
How long can you leave an automatic watch unwound? ›
What is a Power Reserve? The power reserve is the amount of time it takes for a fully wound watch to unwind when not worn. Most mechanical watches have a power reserve of between 36 and 42 hours.
What are disadvantages of automatic watches? ›
Accuracy: Automatic watches are not as accurate as quartz watches, as they can be affected by factors such as the position of the watch and the wearer's activity level. Maintenance: Automatic watches require more maintenance than quartz watches, as they need to be serviced periodically to keep them running smoothly.
What is the life expectancy of an automatic watch? ›
As for the full service, a range of 7 to 10 years still can do for a full disassemble of the watch. Thus, the answer to how long do automatic watches last really depends on the proper maintenance. Along with the right care and regular service, an automatic watch could be a great choice that stays a lifetime.
What is the best position to leave an automatic watch? ›
If your watch tends to run slow, try leaving it on its side with the crown pointing up at night. Conversely, if the watch tends to run fast, leave it sitting with the crown pointing down at night.
Is it OK to shake an automatic watch? ›
If the watch is worn on the wrist, the mainspring will be wound automatically through normal wrist movement. To start the watch after it stops completely, or after being repaired, wind it up by shaking from side to side until it becomes almost fully-wound (See the below picture).
Should I stop my automatic watch when not in use? ›
While it should not be a problem to not wear a watch for a couple of days, and letting it fall still, we do however advice you to make sure every automatic watch is getting wound at least once each 2 weeks. You can do this by manually 'rolling', not shaking, your watch for between 20 and 30 rotations.
Is it OK to sleep with automatic watch? ›
Wearing your automatic watch while you sleep is fine, as is leaving it on the bedside cabinet overnight. After an automatic watch has been worn for a few hours or days, it will have built up a power reserve so that it will keep on ticking even if you remove it from your wrist for a day or two.
To keep your watch running smoothly, it needs to be serviced and cleaned regularly. This includes oiling and potentially replacing various parts. Servicing your watch every 3 to 5 years is recommended.
Can you overwind an automatic watch? ›
Automatic watches cannot be overwound; they have an infinitely-slipping mainspring. The barrel walls are lined with a special “braking grease” and the mainspring uses a sliding bridle to push against the walls, yet still be able to slip.
Do automatic watches get damaged if not used? ›
Generally, with the rapid development in watch crafting, no harm will happen if an automatic watch is left on stop. If you leave it on the stop, the only thing that will happen is the power will get depleted.
Is it bad to not wind an automatic watch? ›
On the other hand, an automatic watch is designed to wind itself as you wear it. The rotor within the watch case spins as you move your wrist, winding the mainspring and keeping the watch powered. As long as you wear the watch regularly, you won't need to worry about winding it manually.
Why does my automatic watch stop when not worn? ›
It is likely because you're not wearing or winding the watch enough. Automatic watches gain power from manually winding it, or from the automatic winding that occurs from your motion while you are active while wearing it. So simply put, if you're not wearing it, your power reserve will run out.
What is so special about automatic watches? ›
The Magic of Automatic Watch: Self-Winding
The rotor, a weighted disc, swings back and forth with the motion of the wrist, transferring energy to the mainspring. This elegant and self-sufficient system eliminates the need for manual winding, allowing the watch to maintain its accuracy and power reserve effortlessly.
How often do automatic watches need to be serviced? ›
If you wear your watch every day, it's recommended to have it serviced every 3-5 years. This regular servicing interval ensures that the watch's movement remains in optimal condition, as daily wear puts more stress on the movement, which can lead to wear and tear over time.
Is an automatic watch worth it? ›
Quartz vs automatic: Reliability, accuracy and performance
Both quartz and automatic watches are widely considered to be accurate. However, some watch experts argue that quartz watches are more reliable because they are accurate to within half a second while automatic watches can be off by a few seconds.
What happens if an automatic watch stops? ›
' The simple answer to this question is that nothing will happen. Generally, with the rapid development in watch crafting, no harm will happen if an automatic watch is left on stop. If you leave it on the stop, the only thing that will happen is the power will get depleted.
