There are multiple types of watches you can choose from in the market. When choosing, you first have to consider the type of energy source you would like your watch to have, otherwise known as the movement that powers the watch. Then, you have to consider things like the size, the band type, the dial type, the buckle, the movement, and other different functions. You can choose between dive watches, aviator watches, chronographs, basic watches, watches with GMT functions, date functions, different systems of numerals, and much more.

Amidst the choosing options and criteria, one thing people pay much attention to is the type of movement. Indeed, you must know that there are different movements out there. The most popular being automatic and quartz. In common speech, quartz watches are powered by a battery that gets the watch to tick. Then there are automatic watches. The watches without batteries. Automatic watches are the most commonly used type of watch, which brings us to the question: What is all the fuss about?

Self-Winding Watches

Automatic watches, known also as self-wound mechanical watches, are the ideal choice for everyday busy wearers who don’t want to worry about hand-winding. The watch is programmed to continue its movement as long as it is on the wearer’s wrist. Automatic watches should, however, be worn for at least eight hours so they can provide an accurate time. To be noted: They can last up to 40 hours on their own without being worn.

Self-winding watches are built into three main parts that regulate their movement. The first part is called the rotor, it is a part that is held in its place by a ball that winds the mainspring following the wearer's wrist motion. The second part is the eccentric pin, whose purpose is to turn on a pivot and cause the rotor to swing. The force caused by the rotor movement is deported to the third part, named the ratchet. The ratchet is a winding mechanism attached to the rest of the timepiece elements.

Do Automatic Watches Need Batteries?

As previously mentioned, automatic watches do not need batteries. They work thanks to kinetic energy generated by the movement of the wrist of the wearer. Automatic or self-winding watches are a not-so-new innovative entry, but they are commonly used thanks to their ability to be powered with almost any motion done throughout a typical day. Nonetheless, they should be worn every day to give an exact time, because if there is no kinetic movement, the watch simply stops.

Advantages of Self-Winding Watches

 Automatic watches offer several advantages at once: A fine mechanical caliber that powers itself. The self-winding rotor- as explained above, practically means that if it is worn regularly, the automatic timepiece will keep on ticking itself and there is no such need for hand-winding. This, of course, means one less thing to keep worrying about. Differently from battery-powered watches, self-winding automatic watches can never run flat, meaning that in the cases the watch hasn’t been worn for a few days, a few turns of the crown will get it ticking again. Another thing to consider is the fact the acid used for battery watches often leaks and as a result, it destroys the movement. Au contraire, mechanical watches don’t have such an issue. Not to mention automatic watches are tenable pieces that are built to last forever.

The following are some of the worth mentioning pros of self-winding watches:

Fairly Accurate

As far as the accuracy is concerned, you should know that these watches prosper quite well. Per real-time, an automatic watch will be plus or minus twenty-five seconds, which we all agree isn’t all that bad. Surely, it all depends on who is wearing it, or better say, what the watch is worn for.

Aesthetics

Despite all the advantages of automatic watches, it should be acknowledged that the craftsmanship integrated into these timepieces is a work of art on its own, not to mention engineering. This naturally makes them one of the most tasteful watches in the market. A look at the Barcelona Pionier Gm-516-2 would confirm this statement.

Suave Movement

The self-winding watches bluster suave hand movement in addition to the stunning aesthetics. The suave movements are more noticeable in automatic matches that use high beats per second, known as BPH. The use of BPH can also affect the accuracy of the watch. This comes in handy when you are interested in a functional timepiece, alongside the aesthetic look.

Power Store

When fully wound up, automatic watches use a high power reserve. The power can stay stored for up to 42 hours before needing to be winded up again. Depending on your brand of choice, some of the self-winding watches can even last up to ten days.

How to Take Care of my Self-Winding Watch?

Taking care of an automatic or self-winding watch doesn’t have many complications. The rule of thumb for the care of it is to keep it away from magnetic fields or to charge electronics. Another general care advice is to check your watch’s water resistance level. If the resistance is 5 ATM or lower, it would be better to keep it away from water.

The following are five tips on how to keep your automatic watch “healthy”:

  • Try to protect it from knocks, cracks, or trauma.
  • When in water, do not use the crown.
  • Keep the manual winding at a minimum.
  • When not using it, store it in a safe place.
  • Have it serviced at least once in four years.

In Conclusion

Though the technological evolution during the past decades has delivered some of the most outstanding watches, automatic watches do remain the most impressive creation. That and the list of advantages make them the number one choice for many watch lovers or even someone who wants to buy a watch for the first time. Automatic timepieces offer different prices and they are all high-end timepieces. So, that is what a fuss is all about, they are the perfect choice for those who do not want to think constantly about the time changing or keeping the time accurate by hand-winding.

If you are looking for something to add to your collection or a timepiece that won’t bother you, but instead attract attention and compliments, while being comfortable at the same time, watches without batteries are the solution.

battery watches - they leak. the acid leak destroys the movement. u have no such issue with mechanical watches.