HOW DO AUTOMATIC WATCHES WORK?
Automatic watches can tell time forever without a battery
Learn how automatic watches work, the key parts of an automatic watch movement and how they are used to tell time.
Learn how automatic watches work, the key parts of an automatic watch movement and how they are used to tell time.
Jess Chow, Founder of VIEREN Watches
January 2022
Jess Chow, Founder of VIEREN Watches
January 2022
HOW DO AUTOMATIC WATCHES WORK?
Automatic watch movements have more than 160+ microscopic components working together perfectly to tell time. They feature a self-winding mechanism with a rotor that harnesses the energy from the movement of the wearer's wrist to power the watch.
The rotor is the weighted semi-circular disc on the back of an automatic watch movement that swings back and worth when worn to wind the watch. Comparable to turning the crown, the rotor acts to transform kinetic energy from the wearer into mechanical energy to power the watch, by winding the mainspring inside the movement. As the mainspring unwinds, it turns a complicated series of gears that move the seconds hand at the precise rate for accurate timekeeping.
Because of this added functionality, automatic watch movements tend to be heavier and thicker, requiring a higher level of expertise to craft an automatic timepiece that looks good on the wrist. With regular servicing, an automatic watch is an investment piece that will make time move for decades.
The rotor is the weighted semi-circular disc on the back of an automatic watch movement that swings back and worth when worn to wind the watch. Comparable to turning the crown, the rotor acts to transform kinetic energy from the wearer into mechanical energy to power the watch, by winding the mainspring inside the movement. As the mainspring unwinds, it turns a complicated series of gears that move the seconds hand at the precise rate for accurate timekeeping.
Because of this added functionality, automatic watch movements tend to be heavier and thicker, requiring a higher level of expertise to craft an automatic timepiece that looks good on the wrist. With regular servicing, an automatic watch is an investment piece that will make time move for decades.
HOW DO AUTOMATIC WATCHES WORK?
Automatic watch movements have more than 160+ microscopic components working together perfectly to tell time. They feature a self-winding mechanism with a rotor that harnesses the energy from the movement of the wearer's wrist to power the watch.
The rotor is the weighted semi-circular disc on the back of an automatic watch movement that swings back and worth when worn to wind the watch. Comparable to turning the crown, the rotor acts to transform kinetic energy from the wearer into mechanical energy to power the watch, by winding the mainspring inside the movement. As the mainspring unwinds, it turns a complicated series of gears that move the seconds hand at the precise rate for accurate timekeeping.
Because of this added functionality, automatic watch movements tend to be heavier and thicker, requiring a higher level of expertise to craft an automatic timepiece that looks good on the wrist. With regular servicing, an automatic watch is an investment piece that will make time move for decades.
The rotor is the weighted semi-circular disc on the back of an automatic watch movement that swings back and worth when worn to wind the watch. Comparable to turning the crown, the rotor acts to transform kinetic energy from the wearer into mechanical energy to power the watch, by winding the mainspring inside the movement. As the mainspring unwinds, it turns a complicated series of gears that move the seconds hand at the precise rate for accurate timekeeping.
Because of this added functionality, automatic watch movements tend to be heavier and thicker, requiring a higher level of expertise to craft an automatic timepiece that looks good on the wrist. With regular servicing, an automatic watch is an investment piece that will make time move for decades.
POWER YOUR TIME
Automatic watches are powered by you - your modern inspiration to keep focus and keep moving. Wear an automatic watch every day to tell time for a lifetime (no batteries required).
Deconstructing an automatic watch movement
There are over 160 microscopic components in an automatic watch movement working together perfectly to tell time. Below are the key components and their functions:
Deconstructing an automatic watch movement
There are over 160 microscopic components in an automatic watch movement working together perfectly to tell time. Below are the key components and their functions:
01.
ROTOR
Semi-circular weighted disc that swings back and forth with everyday wear to wind the mainspring
01.
ROTOR
Semi-circular weighted disc that swings back and forth with everyday wear to wind the mainspring
02.
CROWN
External gear to wind the mainspring manually (when watch is not worn every day) and adjust time/date
02.
CROWN
External gear to wind the mainspring manually (when watch is not worn every day) and adjust time/date
03.
MAINSPRING
Tightly coiled metal spring that is wound and unwound to power the escapement (power reserve signals the time it takes to fully unwind)
03.
MAINSPRING
Tightly coiled metal spring that is wound and unwound to power the escapement (power reserve signals the time it takes to fully unwind)
04.
ESCAPEMENT
Mechanism that turns energy from the mainspring into impulses that turn the balance wheel (the tick-tock sound comes from the escapement teeth)
04.
ESCAPEMENT
Mechanism that turns energy from the mainspring into impulses that turn the balance wheel (the tick-tock sound comes from the escapement teeth)
05.
BALANCE WHEEL
Weighted wheel that acts like a pendulum that rotates back and forth to turn the gear train
05.
BALANCE WHEEL
Weighted wheel that acts like a pendulum that rotates back and forth to turn the gear train
06.
GEAR TRAIN
Set of gears that translates the rotational speed from the balance wheel into metrics of time
06.
GEAR TRAIN
Set of gears that translates the rotational speed from the balance wheel into metrics of time
07.
MAINPLATE
Metal plate that serves as the foundational structure of the watch movement and its parts
07.
MAINPLATE
Metal plate that serves as the foundational structure of the watch movement and its parts
08.
DATE DISC
Numbered disc to display the days of the month in addition to time
08.
DATE DISC
Numbered disc to display the days of the month in addition to time
09.
HANDS
Metal marker that showcase hours, minutes, and seconds metrics on the watch dial
09.
HANDS
Metal marker that showcase hours, minutes, and seconds metrics on the watch dial
10.
JEWELS
Gemstones with lubricating oil that reduce friction between gear bearings for a longer lasting timepiece
10.
JEWELS
Gemstones with lubricating oil that reduce friction between gear bearings for a longer lasting timepiece
DO I HAVE TO WIND AN AUTOMATIC WATCH?
Yes - an automatic watch will need to be manually wound occasionally for accurate timekeeping. If the watch is not worn for more than a day, or the wrist is inactive, then it will need to be manually wound to fully charge the power reserve again. This can be done by turning the crown ~30x clockwise (away from you).
Wear your watch at least 8 hours every day to keep it charged. The rotor in the back of the movement swings to charge the power reserve, just like it does when turning the crown. If you haven’t worn the watch for more than a day (or have an inactive wrist), you must fully charge the power reserve by turning the crown ~30x clockwise again.
Wear your watch at least 8 hours every day to keep it charged. The rotor in the back of the movement swings to charge the power reserve, just like it does when turning the crown. If you haven’t worn the watch for more than a day (or have an inactive wrist), you must fully charge the power reserve by turning the crown ~30x clockwise again.
DO I HAVE TO WIND AN AUTOMATIC WATCH?
Yes - an automatic watch will need to be manually wound occasionally for accurate timekeeping. If the watch is not worn for more than a day, or the wrist is inactive, then it will need to be manually wound to fully charge the power reserve again. This can be done by turning the crown ~30x clockwise (away from you).
Wear your watch at least 8 hours every day to keep it charged. The rotor in the back of the movement swings to charge the power reserve, just like it does when turning the crown. If you haven’t worn the watch for more than a day (or have an inactive wrist), you must fully charge the power reserve by turning the crown ~30x clockwise again.
Wear your watch at least 8 hours every day to keep it charged. The rotor in the back of the movement swings to charge the power reserve, just like it does when turning the crown. If you haven’t worn the watch for more than a day (or have an inactive wrist), you must fully charge the power reserve by turning the crown ~30x clockwise again.
HOW LONG DO AUTOMATIC WATCHES LAST?
Automatic watches typically have a power reserve of about 40-50 hours. This means an automatic watch movement will run accurately for that amount of time when it's fully wound. If worn every day, an automatic watch should not require manual winding.
However, if the automatic watch has not been worn for more than a day or two, it will need to be "charged" again by turning the crown around 30-40x to fully power the watch.
However, if the automatic watch has not been worn for more than a day or two, it will need to be "charged" again by turning the crown around 30-40x to fully power the watch.
HOW LONG DO AUTOMATIC WATCHES LAST?
Automatic watches typically have a power reserve of about 40-50 hours. This means an automatic watch movement will run accurately for that amount of time when it's fully wound. If worn every day, an automatic watch should not require manual winding.
However, if the automatic watch has not been worn for more than a day or two, it will need to be "charged" again by turning the crown around 30-40x to fully power the watch.
However, if the automatic watch has not been worn for more than a day or two, it will need to be "charged" again by turning the crown around 30-40x to fully power the watch.
Automatic watch movements - how to choose
Automatic watch movements from Switzerland are the best. Look for Swiss Made automatic movements from luxury manufacturers ETA, Sellita, or Ronda for quality timepieces that will last lifetimes.
Automatic watch movements - how to choose
Automatic watch movements from Switzerland are the best. Look for Swiss Made automatic movements from luxury manufacturers ETA, Sellita, or Ronda for quality timepieces that will last lifetimes.
