Automatic watch: what you need to know before you buy such an accessory

Self-winding watch: what you need to know before you buy such an accessory

The modern watch market amazes with a variety of models, but the majority of them are equipped with a quartz movement that does not require regular winding. Despite the fact that it is comfortable, true connoisseurs of watchmaking are all the same stop a choice on the mechanics, while remaining true to tradition. But the technical process has affected this timeless classic, relieving the owners of mechanical watches from the need for daily winding. In such models, the spring restores its tension automatically. And today, mechanical wristwatches with automatic winding have become as popular as quartz counterparts.

A little from the history of self-winding watches

The need to constantly restore the tension of the spring by twisting the crown forced manufacturers of wristwatches in the 18th century to think about the automation of this process. Expensive accessories could be afforded only by the aristocrats and they had personal assistants who were not given the watch to stop. In view of the uselessness, at the time this idea has not been developed.

Modern models with the option of automatic winding began to produce the company Rolex. The first collection of such watches was published in 1931. Quite quickly, this technology was adopted by other companies manufacturers of wristwatches. And today the market amazes with a variety of both male and female mechanical models with automatic winding function.

So why can the clock go by itself?

Automatic winding became possible thanks to the laws of inertia and gravity. In the case of mechanical watches built sector self-winding, which is a small metal weight with a displaced center of gravity, fixed to the axis. Structurally, it is a thin top plate and a ring of tungsten alloy, which has a sufficiently large weight. Carrying out the movement of the hand, the owner brings it into action. Rotating around its axis, it twists the spring that ensures the movement of the clock, restoring its tension.

The self-winding sector is very sensitive. It is set in motion already at the slightest shift of a hand. But to overcome the resistance of the spring, it must have a high inertia. And this can be achieved only when its size is large enough. That is why most models of self-winding watches have a large body.

Advantages and disadvantages of self-winding watches

Advantages of mechanical watches with automatic winding quite a lot. Here are just the most basic of them:

·         the owner eliminates the need to regularly tighten the crown: just be yourself and wear the watch on your hand, and the rest will be done for you by the self-winding sector;

·         high accuracy: it is achieved by the fact that the spring will always be in a twisted state, close to full winding, that is, the mechanism will not be in a hurry or lag behind;

·         increased water resistance: no need for frequent rotation of the crown, minimizes the ingress of moisture inside the case, in such watches you can safely wash your hands, but you can not swim.

But, despite the rather impressive advantages there are other points to be aware of. And the main drawback – the complexity of the mechanism. It increases the sensitivity of the watch to mechanical damage, to overvoltage of the spring. To minimize this disadvantage and protect the fragile mechanism from damage, manufacturers began to make the watch case thicker, which also led to the weighting of the accessory. But many do not attribute this feature to the shortcomings, on the contrary considering large and massive watches a sign of status and presentability.

How to choose a self-winding watch?

If you lead an active lifestyle, you can safely choose for yourself a self-winding wristwatch. Go to the catalog of the online store "best-Time" to get acquainted with a very wide range of products from reliable and time-tested brands. We also invite you to visit our off-line representation to "try on" your favorite model. You can easily find a wristwatch that will be the highlight of your image.