What is an Automatic Watch and How Does It Work?

What does automatic mean for a watch? Automatic watches turn your everyday movements into the charging mechanism to power your watch.

An automatic or self-winding watch is one that recharges itself by using the energy produced by the motion of your wrist. Normally, this motion takes place as you are walking about when your arms swing back and forth.

Automatic watches are mechanical watches with no manual operation. As a result, it is not necessary to wind it. Your movements are the key to creating the power reserve. The automatic movements inside the watch use kinetic energy produced by the wearer.

Automatic watches require quality craftsmanship

An automatic watch relies on an intricate system of gears and springs to maintain the time. Springs provide the power source. Gears control the automatic watch movement. The complexity of the coordinated movement of all of these parts for this type of watch movement require precise quality craftsmanship.

Experienced craftsman need to make the delicate designs required in an automatic watch. The intricate design work often results in slightly higher prices. The vast selection of automatic watches offer the buyer a wide price range. There are affordable watches and there are very expensive watches.

Check Out These Watches

Invicta Pro Diver	Good value, Durable
Fossil Men’s Townsman	Giftable, Style
Invicta Pro Diver – Grand Diver GT	Value for Money, Water Resistance
Fossil Grant	Value for Money, Giftable
Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80	Value for Money, Easy to Read
Tissot PRX Swiss Automatic	Comfort, Accuracy
Bulova Skeleton Display	Giftable, Style

Automatic watches are always in style

Imagine buying a watch that maintains its beauty and with proper care can also last a long time. There are many styles of automatic watches to meet any fashion need or basic daily use. Since an automatic watch is self-winding, wearing it regularly will keep it wound up.

A variety of manufacturers have proven these to be very reliable timepieces. An automatic watch is a worthwhile investment if you want something classic with timeless appeal.

Automatic watches differ from manual watches

Watch movement is controlled by the mainspring. This is the same in both automatic and manual watches. It is a critical component in the operation for this type of timepiece. The mainspring is is wound up to store energy. This stored energy is a power reserve that is released. It uses the gears inside the watch cover to run the hands and other features on the face of the watch.

Although manual and automatic watches have the same engine, the mainspring, they differ in how each of these watches gets its power reserve. Manual watches rely on you to remember to wind them up. They rely on hand-winding to keep things running.  

Automatic watches are an advanced manual watch. As opposed to you having to remember to wind up your watch, these watches rely on you to regularly wear them or be wound up by an automatic watch winder.

How are Mechanical Watches wound up?

Automatic and manual watches are mechanical. Normally, both of these have a winding mechanism called a crown. The crown is a little knob that protrudes from the side of the watch.

Manual watches use the crown to wind up the watch. Automatic watches that have a crown can be wound up by using this mechanism. Normally, it is expected that they will be wound up by normal everyday hand movement. In either case, the mainspring is the thing that is being wound up to power the watch movement.

The crown links its exposed outer end to a rod that connects it to the inside of the watch. It is here that there is a collection of gears contained in the case of the watch. The crown allows you to manually wind up the watch.

In automatic wristwatches, the mainspring is automatically connected to the self-winding innards of the watch movement. This means no manual winding is required.

Buying Tips When Trying To Decide

An automatic or self-winding watch is not for everyone. As a result of it being a mechanical watch, there are feature limitations. Gears and springs require physical space in the watch case. These watches will have an analog face and dials to display time. Some designs will be able to give you month, day, or date. Others might have a tachymeter or a chronometer, although these features are more popular in digital quartz watches.

Whenever you buy anything there are many things to consider. Automatic watches are no different. Here are pros and cons for this type of watch.

Automatic Watch Pluses

Fashionable

Automatic watches are some of the most aesthetically pleasing on market. Craftmanship is their hallmark. This makes them stand out from other timepieces and makes you feel special. Some designs expose the natural motion of the watch moves on the inside. Most people marvel at how genius these these automatic designs truly seem with their intricate mechanisms hidden inside each delicate piece.

Smooth Movement

Like any analog watch, automatic watches provide the aesthetics of smooth and suave hand movement. Analog watches come with may different watch face designs.

Accuracy

The accuracy of the timepiece is very important. Any mechanical watch has a lot of moving parts. Despite having a lot of internal parts, automatic watches can keep accurate time. Typically there can be slight variances that occur over time.

Self-winding mechanism

An automatic watch gains its power through the wrist movement of the owner. The power reserve of the watch comes from wearing it regularly which eliminates the need to manually wind it up.

Low Maintenance

As with all watches, a certain amount of care is required. They are designed to withstand normal everyday wear. Automatic watches are easy to maintain. They do not need to have batteries changed.

Environmentally friendly

Automatic watches are self-winding, therefore there is no battery to replace. This eliminates the expense to go get one. An additional benefit is there is no harm to the resulting from having to dispose of the old battery.

Automatic Watch Minuses

Affordability

Generally, people who buy expensive watches do so because they can and they want to look good. If cost is guiding your decision, be aware that automatic watches usually fetch higher prices compared to those that are battery operated. But, be aware that there are affordable automatic watch options.

Requires Winding

Automatic watches require winding up of some sort. Eventually, it will stop running if you do not wear it regularly. Some automatic watches have power reserves that allow them to run longer before they require movement to charge them up, or manually winding them up by the crown.

Automatic Watch Winders

When it comes to keeping your watch running smoothly, there are two options. The most convenient is purchasing an automatic watch winder which will do all the work without any need from humans. The other option is to wear your beautiful watch regularly.

Mechanical Parts

Automatic watches are known for their accuracy and style. So, even though they are durable, they do have a number of internal parts and mechanisms.

Best Selling Great Automatic Watches

Invicta Pro Diver

This handsome affordable watch is built for precision and performance making it perfect for those who love the water. It is made with a mineral crystal dial window enclosed in a stainless steel case and band. This combination will withstand extreme conditions. The black dial with luminous hands and hour markers make it easy to see the time. It is water resistant up to 650 feet (200 meters) making it perfect for any aquatic activity or professional marine work.

Fossil Men’s Townsman

With a cool, transparent dial, this watch is perfect for showing off your style. It fits in both at work and on the weekends. A clear departure from the ordinary. This innovative timepiece features a see-through dial that reveals the inner workings of the timepiece. The stainless steel case with black dial is offset by the genuine brown leather band, making it perfect for any outfit or occasion.

Invicta Pro Diver Grand Diver GT

Looking for a watch that will take you on amazing underwater adventures? No need to look any further. This classically styled watch has a stainless steel case. Plus, its blue plated unidirectional bezel with gold elapsed time markings and gold-tone scalloped detailing is sure to turn heads. The blue dial features luminous dotted markers and dagger hands (with seconds hand) as well as a magnified date. If that is not enough, the handsome stainless steel bracelet band has distinctive accents.

Fossil Grant

This timepiece is an automatic wristwatch you can rely on. It epitomizes a timeless style with its clear cutout inspired vintage skeleton design. Modeled after vintage clocks, the Roman numerals are uniquely designed to provide artistic balance to the dial. The stainless steel case with leather watchband give it an elegant look that can be used for formal or everyday wear.

Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80

This is a high quality timepiece with a Swiss automatic movement. It has a stainless steel case. The Roman dial type and date display are both elegant and practical. Its leather bracelet with butterfly clasp closure ensures a comfortable and secure fit. The silver dial color is perfect for any outfit, whether you’re dressing up or dressing down. With its bezel made of stainless steel, this watch will withstand anything life throws your way.

Tissot PRX Swiss Automatic

If you’re passionate about design and ingenuity, you’ll love this watch. With its sleek, evocative design and Swiss automatic movement, this watch is an uncompromisingly essential for all the design enthusiasts out there. Plus, its stainless steel case and index dial type is always stylish and up-to-date. This watch is perfect for anyone who wants something special and unique.

Bulova Skeleton Display Watch

Looking for a watch that looks sharp and modern? This watch features a full internal display thanks to the skeleton face and exhibition case back that lets you see the self-winding movement in action. It is the perfect timepiece for anyone who loves to admire the inner workings of a watch. The stainless steel case and bracelet are both durable and stylish. The blue dial is eye catching and unique. With its three-hand analog display, automatic movement, and water resistance for everyday use, this watch has everything you need to keep your look sharp.

The origins of automatic watches

Automatic winding has emerged as an important and longstanding innovation in watchmaking history. The automatic movements required for self-winding timepieces is arguably one of the most complex requirements for keeping the winding mechanism functional. Automatic watches are one type of mechanical watches.

When it comes to the rich history of self-winding watches, there are a few stories that have been passed around for years. One such story says Joseph Tlustos invented an early version of a watch with automatic movement in 1773. Another claims Gallmayr made one two years later. But, these seem more like myths than anything else because no evidence supports them.

The first credible self winding watch design was invented by a Swiss man named Abraham-Louis Perrelet. He lived in Le Locle, but his design became popular across Europe after being reported on at the Geneva Society of Arts back in 1777. It took 15 minutes for him to fully wind this new type of pocket watch due to its oscillating weight going up then down as well as sideways.

These early watch designs were pocket watches. Patents for self-winding watches were made as early as 1780. It was not until wrist watch designs were developed after World War I that self winding watch styles had renewed interest.

Brief History Of The Popular Watch Brands

Invicta

Invicta was founded in 1837 by Raphael Picard, who became the first president of Switzerland’s Invicter Company. In 1983 it went bankrupt and then two years later American owners acquired this iconic brand for their own use and brought back all previous production plans which had been shut down. Today, Invicta maintains headquarters in Hollywood Florida, but does continue to produce some items overseas and specify certain models as “Swiss Made” on their website.

Tissot

Tissot was founded in 1853 by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Émile Tissot in the Swiss city of Le Locle. This team worked as a casemaker (father) and watchmaker (son). His son having expressed an interest in watchmaking from a young age. The two turned their house at the time into a small factory. Jump ahead to 1930 where the company merged with watch company Omega SA. Tissot-Omega watches from this era are sought after by collectors. Tissot is an official timekeeper for the world championships in cycling, motorcycling, fencing and ice hockey

Fossil

Brief company history is given in “14 Best Buys In Quartz Watches“.

Bulova

Bulova has been around since 1875, when founder Joseph Bulova opened his store on Maiden Lane in downtown Manhattan. The company’s watches are known for their innovation and craftsmanship while also staying true to the future with every new technological advance they make. Bulova has produced a number of firsts, such as the first advertisement broadcast and also the first television advertisement.

Conclusion

We have shared a lot of information about automatic wristwatches, but it is time for you to decide if investing in one is worth your money. Is an automatic watch one of the timepieces that you want? We have given you the basic knowledge to make a decision. There will always be pros and cons related to any watch you purchase.

A final consideration is collectability and the potential for your automatic watch to be passed down through generations. Purchase a style that is beautifully made. With proper care your automatic watch could become a family heirloom that will never become obsolete. Additionally, an automatic watch is one of the perfect timepieces to give as a gift. A gift that will be long remembered.