Let’s define an automatic watch. We call mechanical watches automatic when their clockwork includes gears for self-winding. What is an automatic watch compared to a quartz one? Unlike quartz watches, automatic timepieces require no batteries.
What Is Automatic Movement in a Watch
Automatic watches’ definition explains that they self-wind, that is, wind themselves automatically. Let’s unscramble what automatic watch movement is, and how it works.
In two words, the mechanism of automatic watches comprises a rotating element that delivers constant ‘power’ for the entire clockwork. Even if watches aren’t worn, they remain wound for 30-70 hours. Your ticker will work continually if you wear it and shake your hand naturally.
How Does an Automatic Watch Work
The movement of automatic watches is ensured by a complex self-winding mechanism. If used properly, timepieces with this precision type work for decades without manual winding or batteries.
The Rotor and Energy Generation
What makes a watch automatic is a rotor or self-winding weight. It has a semi-circular form and rotates when a wearer shakes their wrist. This is the key element that delivers energy to the mainspring, thus keeping the watch moving.
Power Reserve Mechanics
Regardless of the rotor’s spinning direction, it winds the mainspring anyway. Wear your time-keeper regularly, and it’ll always have power storage thanks to this self-winding mechanism in your watch.
Inside an Automatic Watch
The gear reciprocal action is clearly seen when watching inside the automatic watch. You move your wrist, and the rotor starts swinging. No matter where it rotates, it makes the mainspring wind. As soon as the mainspring is wound, it can gradually release the energy to all the other automatic watch components and make the watch work. It’ll continue until the mainspring completely unwinds.
Another core attribute is a balance wheel. It moves to and fro, which ensures the automatic movement’s precision. The escape wheel is also essential since it measures the ‘steps’ of the inner gears that dispatch the energy to the watch hands. The equable ticking sound of your watch is actually the work of the escapement mechanism.
Automatic Watch Components
How does an automatic watch work? To get into this intricate mechanism, explore the automatic watch components individually:
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Rotor: An oscillating weight that winds the mainspring by its own spinning. The spinning is ensured by the wearer’s hand movement.
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Mainspring: A gyrate (like a spiral) spring. It winds under the impact of the rotor and stores the energy released by the rotor.
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Barrel: A shell that holds the mainspring so that it unwinds slowly.
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Gear Train: A set of gears, also called a wheel train, which ‘passes’ the power from the barrel to the escapement. These gears’ collaboration makes the watch hands move.
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Escapement: A system consisting of an escape wheel and pallet fork. Their interaction results in the gear train’s tiny releases. These are regular steps that produce the well-known ticking sound.
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Balance Assembly: It includes a balance wheel and a hairspring. The latter forces the balance wheel to move back and forth regularly. This mechanism is responsible for accurate timing.
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Jewels: Bearings at pivot points made of synthetic rubies. They protect the gears against friction and premature wear, thus enhancing the watch’s precision and longevity.
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Keyless Work: Elements that wind the mechanism and allow you to set the hands manually. You activate the feature by using the outward crown.
What Makes a Watch Automatic
Now, we know how an automatic watch works. Its mechanism slightly differs from that of mechanical tickers. Actually, automatic timepieces are types of mechanical ones. Their elements even include crowns for manual winding and fixing the correct time, just like in manual mechanical watches. Powered by the rotor, automatic watches receive self-winding mechanisms. Thanks to this gear, they become automatic.
Self-Winding Mechanism Explained
How do self-winding watches work? Let’s go over the mechanism and explain the steps needed to compel your time-keeper to work.
What Does Self-Winding Watch Mean
Automated watches’ self-winding mechanism means that the timepieces based on it require no manual winding. The inner clockwork functions so that the watch keeps on ticking by itself.
How a Self-Winding Watch Works
In self-winding watches, the idea is to make the rotor vibrate or spin. The rotor is the key tool that powers the entire mechanism. While the rotor keeps rotating, the watch’s mechanical fitting continues to operate in this way:
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The rotor spins. Shake your hand slightly, and the rotor will start spinning.
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The mainspring winds. Forced by the rotor, the mainspring winds and stores the energy from the rotor.
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The gears start moving. The barrel ensures that the mainspring unwinds very slowly. It starts the motion of all the other components.
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The hands move. The escapement and balance assembly guarantees that the gear train releases in small, regular steps. That’s how the watch’s hands are forced to move constantly and correctly.
To make the cycle unstoppable, you don’t need to do anything difficult. The only action needed is wearing the device! If necessary, you can use the crown for manual winding, too.
Automatic Movement vs. Manual Wind-Up Watch
How does a wind-up watch work? Mechanical timepieces use the same mechanism with the mainspring, barrel, escapement, and gear train. The only difference is that mechanical wristwatches have no rotors. Their mainsprings generate energy while wearers wind them manually. In automated watches, this job is done by semi-circular weights called rotors.
How to Use an Automatic Watch
Mechanical automatic watches attract time-keeping enthusiasts with their high level of usability. The starting and resetting processes are effortless.
How to Work an Automatic Watch
With a new automatic watch in hand, you have to launch its self-winding mechanism for the first time and ensure its proper functioning in the future. Take these steps:
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Check the Crown. The crown should be pushed in entirely (Position 1.)
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Shake the Watch. Rotate the ticker from left to right or vice versa about 30-40 times. Stop when you feel the resistance.
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Set the Date & Time. Pull the crown out halfway and scroll it to adjust the date. Then, move the crown out entirely to set the time. Push the crown back.
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Wear the Watch. Wear your accessory and enjoy its automatic power! Remember that wearing it constantly guarantees its adequate work.
How to make an Automatic Watch Work if It Stops
What if your mechanical automatic watch has stopped? Don’t worry, you’ll reset it easily. First, simply shake the device to activate the rotor. If you don’t hear the ticking, try the manual winding. Ensure that the crown is pushed in. Scroll it clockwise until you feel the resistance or see the second hand moving.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Modern automatic watches have strong self-protection. However, avoid these actions to keep its self-winding mechanism safe:
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Overwinding. It’s hard to overwind today’s automatic watches. Still, be careful when winding them. If you feel resistance, stop!
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Exposing them to magnetism or extreme temperatures. Don’t leave your watch near laptops, phones, speakers, etc. Otherwise, it’ll start moving too quickly and stop. High or cold temperatures widen or narrow the gears, thus affecting their accuracy.
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Setting the time at night. Avoid fixing the date and time from 9 PM to 3 AM. This may spoil the date mechanism.
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Inappropriate storage. Keep automatic watches in stable conditions in a dust- and moisture-free place.
Bear in mind that automatic watches remain mechanical anyway. Its mechanism requires professional servicing every 3-5 years.
Automatic Watch Movement Explained
Now, you know what automatic movement in watches is and might want to get an accessory based on it. It’ll combine the craftsmanship tradition with the modern-era self-winding mechanism. Without batteries or manual winds, you’ll enjoy the elegance and practicality at the same time.
