How to wind An Automatic Watch
“How to wind an automatic watch”? is one of the most frequently asked questions by watch enthusiasts as well as newbies.
While some are well-versed in the history and mystery of automatic watches, there are still many people who are new to this invention. Some people are aware of automatic watches while some even own one.
Talking about watches, there are ones for every requirement, style, and budget. With the advancement of technology, there has been immense development in the manufacturing of watches. Even with the dominance of high-tech digital watches in the watch market, automatic watches have stood the test of time.
Even in the world where you’ll see most people wearing digital watches, there are still some people with automatic watches on their wrists.
Automatic Watch And Its Movement
Automatic watches are also known as self-winding or perpetual watches. An automatic watch, as the name suggests, is a watch that functions automatically, or by itself. That sounds cool, right?
Well, not literally. There is a science behind it. These watches make use of a moving internal weight that moves when the wearer moves their arm.
This movement transfers energy to a power reserve. A power reserve is a time for which the watch can continue to function until the machine stops because it hasn’t been activated in a while.
This power reserve helps the watch movement. As we need food to provide energy to ourselves, similarly, these watches need energy to function, and they get it from their wearer.
The movement of the wearer provides the automatic watches with the required energy; there is no need for batteries, just pure human energy.
Fascinating, right?
How to wind an automatic watch?
“How should I wind my automatic watch?” looks like this question seems to trouble you a lot.
This question won’t bother you from now, because we’ve got an answer to your question.
Whichever brand of watch you use, winding an automatic watch is no rocket science. With simple easy-to-follow steps, you’ll be able to wind your watch.
Automatic watches don’t make use of batteries. To store some energy back in your watch you can use any of the following methods:
1. Move your arm
2. Take your watch off.
3. Rotate the crown
4. Locate the crown
Method 1 of winding an automatic watch: Move your arm
The automatic watch is built with a rotor that tracks movement. This rotor is attached to the mainspring. Now when there is a movement, the rotor moves, which moves the gears and results in the winding of the mainspring. The energy is stored in the mainspring, which helps in the ticking of the watch.
Due to the lack of regular movement, the energy in the mainspring goes down. Regular movement is required for the winding of an automatic watch.
Talking about movement, there is no requirement for you to keep your hand in constant motion. Everyday average movements are much more than enough to wind automatic watches. The continuous movement will interfere with the winding of the automatic watch as these watches are built for everyday arm movement.
If you are not well, or in the case of elderly people, they need to move their hands with more frequency.
Method 2 Of winding an automatic watch: Take your watch off.
As regular movement is necessary to wind an automatic watch, so is the lack of movement. Movement helps restore energy in the mainspring through the movement of the wearer’s arm. But sometimes winding the watch manually is also required. This tightens the mainspring.
To wind the watch manually, you have to take it off your wrist, pull it out, and then wind it. This helps you ensure that the mainspring is not strained excessively.
Method 3: Locate the crown
For those who are new to this term, the “crown” is the small dial usually on the right side of the watch. To set the date and time on the watch, the crown is pulled out. It’s not a necessity, but sometimes it is needed. There are three positions that the crown has, each of which has certain functions.
Position 1: When the crown is normally functioning, the crown is pushed inside.
Position 2: The crown is pulled out halfway to set the date and time on the watch [depending on the watch].
Position 3: Pulling the crown all the way out for setting the date and time [depending on the watch]
When you are winding the watch by rotating the crown, this can be done in the following manner:
1) Twist the crown slowly but surely.
Using your forefinger and thumb, turn the crown in a clockwise manner, but slowly. Continue turning till the second-hand starts moving, or turn it approximately 30 to 40 times to fully wind your watch.
This will help to keep the mainspring tight. While you are twisting the crown, make sure you don’t overwind the automatic watch. During the process of winding the automatic watch, be slow and gentle.
2)while winding Always face forward, not backward.
Set the time by moving the crown forward. Sometimes the wearer accidentally ends up pulling the crown out, which results in moving the clock hands. No need to worry; in such cases, you can reset the time again.
3) Push in the crown of your automatic watch
Once you are done setting the date and time on your watch or winding it up, make sure the crown is pushed in properly. Using your forefinger, tighten the crown to ensure that it’s pushed in.
4) Check whether your automatic watch is working.
If you are done winding up your watch or setting the date and time, then to check whether your watch has been properly wound, take another watch or use your phone to compare the time.
If the time is the same as that of the other watch or your mobile phone, then you have properly wound the watch. If the time on your watch is not identical to that of the other, you can ask a watch repairer to check it.
5) If not worn for quite some time, then wind properly.
As automatic watches work based on the wearer’s movement and not on batteries, ensure that the watch is wound properly if it hasn’t been worn for quite some time.
At such times, wind the watch by twisting the crown approximately 30 to 40 times, which will fully wind it. Once done winding, ensure the time and date are set up properly, wear your watch, and you are good to go.
Conclusion
Automatic watches look very aesthetic and also help in keeping track of time. This watch can last for many years if proper care is taken. Yes, digital watches have captured a large share of the market.
From kids to adults to the elderly, everyone has joined the bandwagon of the digital watch, but the automatic watch connects to a different era. Even in the tech-savvy era, many people love wearing automatic watches.
Yes, we do need to adapt to the changes. But when the world around you is constantly changing, an automatic watch you bet will still be ticking 50 years from now. As there are and will be people who will adapt to the changes but never forget their roots.
