What is an automatic watch?

An automatic watch, also known as a self-winding watch, is a type of mechanical watch that does not require a battery or manual winding to keep time. It relies on the natural motion of the wearer's wrist to power the watch's movement.

Here's how an automatic watch works:

1. Automatic Movement: Inside an automatic watch, there is a mechanical movement consisting of a complex system of gears, springs, and a rotor. The movement is typically comprised of hundreds of individual parts working together to keep time.

2. Rotor and Oscillation: The rotor is a weighted mechanism within the watch movement that can rotate freely. As the wearer moves their wrist throughout the day, the rotor swings back and forth due to the motion. This swinging motion of the rotor generates energy.

3. Energy Transfer: The energy generated by the rotor's movement is transferred to the mainspring, which is a coiled spring that stores potential energy. As the rotor rotates, it winds the mainspring, storing energy in the process.

4. Power Reserve: The mainspring gradually releases the stored energy to power the watch's movement. The energy released drives the gears, hands, and other components of the watch, allowing it to keep time accurately.

5. Continuous Winding: As long as the wearer continues to wear and move the automatic watch regularly, the rotor will continue to rotate and wind the mainspring, ensuring a continuous power supply. This eliminates the need for manual winding or a battery.

6. Power Reserve Indicator: Some automatic watches have a power reserve indicator on the dial, which displays the amount of remaining power in the mainspring. It indicates how many hours the watch can run before requiring additional wrist motion or winding to keep it powered.

Automatic watches are valued for their craftsmanship, tradition, and the intricate mechanical movements they embody. They offer the convenience of self-winding, eliminating the need for frequent winding or battery replacement. However, if an automatic watch is not worn for an extended period, it may stop running since the mainspring will eventually lose its stored energy. In such cases, manual winding or a watch winder can be used to restart the watch.