Are automatic watches good? Yes, they are. Automatic watches are definitely good watches to own and have.

Automatic watches are made and assembled by highly skilled hands. Moreover, quality parts, a lot of man-hours and attention go into this detailed assembly process. An automatic watch isn’t just any ordinary watch, it is the ultimate example of watch evolution.

There are a variety of reasons that make them contenders in their own right when compared with other watch movements.

Are Automatic Watches worth it?

Is having an automatic watch worth it? Do automatic watches justify all worth, price tags and accolades that they have received.

Automatic watches are worth it for the following reasons

1. Environmental friendly – No batteries needed, powered by movement.
2. Sweeping second hand – The second hand on an automatic watch has a smooth sweeping movement as opposed to the ticking movement of a quartz watch.
3. Inexpensive – Despite its ingenuity design, the automatic watches are affordable and definitely a worthy purchase.

I stand as a bit of a biased party on this one. Automatic watches are definitely worth every cog, spring, and jewel in them. Because of how much time, effort and engineering that goes into making automatic watches.

The intricate detailing and symphony of numerous moving parts are appreciated by ardent and discerning folk. 

Automatic watches came in as the much appreciated and quite loved upgrade to the mechanical watch movement. Its creators came up with an automatic winding mechanism.  This removed the need for constant manual winding of the watch.

The automatic winding system is driven by ball bearings and a weighted gear working together. They harness the energy generated by the wearer’s movements and in turn wind the spring.

Skilled craftsmanship, time, detail and fine components that go into putting together these automatic timepieces make them worth owning.

Automatic watches hold their own in terms of aesthetic value. True watch enthusiast knows this and would go to all ends to have one among their watch collections.

Owning an automatic watch is quite a statement in itself.

So, what some of the few things you need to know about automatic watches?

• Watches with automatic movements are powered by a spring which, when under tension powers the gears which turn the arms and other units.
• Period maintenance and repairs are required to address  wear and tear resulting from mechanical movements
• Environmental changes affect the movements of the watch affecting its accuracy within ranges of between -2 or +2 seconds each day
• Meticulous craftsmanship coupled with detailed engineering translate to pricy automatic movement timepieces

Why are Automatic Watches better?

Automatic watch lovers and admirers proclaim and profess to the automatic watch religion. Why?

Automatic watches are not the most accurate type of watch available. However, automatic watches are adored because of its high level of craftsmanship and engineering involved in its watch movement. Automatic watches are often known to hold a better monetary value as compared to a quartz watch.

The naysayers will claim that automatic watches are too pricy, unreliable, suffer from inaccuracy and are maintenance hungry. So why are automatic watch collectors and die-hard aficionados still trooping in in droves to catch the latest and not so latest automatic watch?

Plenty of bias and emotion is linked to the aficionado’s steadfast proclamation of automatic watches supremacy. The list below looks to justify this;

• The artistry and dexterity that goes into making automatic watches are unrivaled. It has continually been manufactured with details and components being improved and enhanced over the years.
• Automatic watches are synonymous with deep history and tradition. Think of a history that dates back to the 17th century. It’s almost legendary!
• Take one look at the internal workings of an automatic watch. All that is happening in there is just impressive. Pure engineering class and elegant mechanic symphony.
• Timeless is a watch with a sapphire case back that allows you to see the smooth and gentle oscillations going on.
• The sweeping second hand on automatic watches is captivating, to say the least. Its sweeping motion is almost hypnotic. It comes as a result of the multiple times the hand moves per second. As a watch lover, you can help but appreciate this unique trait in these watches. 

How Accurate are Automatic Watches?

How accurate can automatic watch be? Are automatic watches accurate?

Accuracy isn’t the best when it comes to automatic watches because environmental changes can affect an automatic watch’s movement. However, with the latest timekeeping technology, a standard-quality resonator in an automatic watch is known to gain or lose 10 seconds per month – This result is very close to a high-quality quartz watch.

A watch that is ‘perfectly accurate’ is an illusion. It doesn’t exist. All timepieces will lose or gain some seconds each day. What you can expect to hear about are the extremely accurate timepieces. 

Yes, mechanical and automatic watches may not be that accurate. Their accuracy, however, does vary depending on the model or brand in question.

Let’s understand the factors at work here.

1.     Parts in Motion

Moving parts in all types of machinery affect optimum performance. There are the ever-present drag, fiction and other laws of physics.

Automatic watches have plenty if intricate components turning and twisting. A slight issue with any of these components will definitely compromise accurate timekeeping.

2.     Factors That Compromise Watch Accuracy

A quick look at the elements tested in COSC certification will reveal several factors do impact the accuracy of your timepiece.

• Temperature

The temperature has an effect of either expanding or contracting metal depending on whether it is hot or cold. The precisely machined and assembled parts of automatic are ordinarily very small. This consequently means any change in size will translate into affected watch movements. Tests done by the COSC indicate that temperatures in the extremes of 8oC and 38oC will cause noticeable effects on watch movements and accuracy. 

• Shock

Impacts on your automatic watch are an ever-present risk every day. These impacts and their resultant shocks are bound to have some effect. You run the risk of misaligned or damaged internal mechanisms consequently affecting your watch’s accuracy.

• Magnetism

A magnetic field will affect the ferrous metal parts of your watch. Coming into contact with or been in one for a long time will compromise your watch’s accuracy over time. Chances are that these tiny parts may become magnetized if the magnetic field is powerful.

Your precious automatic beauty will become inaccurate to some seconds each day. If you are not careful this may turn into minutes or hours. Keep this in check through resetting of your timepiece periodically. Minimize the reset sessions by doing some research on watch accuracies. Then go ahead, get one that suits you best.

Do automatic watches need batteries?

Automatic watches do not need batteries to operate. Automatic watches are self-sustaining. Automatic watches is able to achieve this by generating power via the kinetic movements made by watch wearer. This energy is transferred into the spring which in turn powers the watch.

Your automatic watch can run continuously on its reserve power for a day or two or even more depending on the type and model.

The reserve power you generate will vary with each movement period. An example of an ETA 2824-2 movement will give you a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. You can comfortably use this type of automatic timepiece for 38 hours without any winding.

So remember that whenever you are up and about there is energy generation taking place. Your automatic watch doesn’t let this precious energy go to waste. Can your watch get any cooler than this?

The intricate process and plenty of minute parts that are painstakingly put together contribute to the price of the automatic timepieces. A lot of work goes into putting them together, hence making them pricier than their quartz counterparts.

How long do Automatic Watches last?

The modern day automatic watch has been built to withstand the rigors of everyday handling. With proper maintenance and, handling, you can expect an automatic watch to last for at least 25 years and above.

Questions about the durability of automatic timepieces crisscross the airwaves each day. Each one seeks some form of comforting answer that confirms how kryptonite proof their watch is.

The latest automatic watches come fitted with some form of shock proofing. Spring mounted components are now common to counter the effects of everyday bumps and shocks to the watch. Today’s automatic watches can easily reach 25 to 100 years with proper maintenance.

How can this be, things wear out, don’t they?

The automatic watches of today have jeweled parts. Synthetic rubies are used in the pivots and places where stress occurs. These rubies are quite hard and don’t wear down quickly.

A trip to the local watchmaker for routine watch servicing will keep your watch in good shape. Do this at least every two years and your automatic watch will definitely last for generations. Be ready to even give it that special and heirloom status.

Is it OK to let an automatic watch stop?

Is it perfectly ok to let your automatic watch stop. Contrary to popular beliefs, letting your automatic watch stop will not affect its performance in the long-run. When an automatic watch stops, it just mean that the mainsprings of the watch is completely unwound and is unable to power the watch until it is wound again.

You take pride and get plenty of joy while wearing your favorite automatic timepiece. So you can’t imagine it ever being at a standstill. The thought of having a nonmoving watch is quite discomforting.

However, this need not be the case at all.

A fully unwound spring won’t power the movements necessary for continuous running of your watch. The reserve power is all drained resulting in no power moving to the escape wheel. The escape wheel gives you watch that characteristic ticking sound several times each second.

It is all a systematic sequence of events.

When no power gets to the escape wheel, no interaction takes place between it and the pallet fork. Consequently, the pallet fork doesn’t move the balance wheel to and fro. A halt in the balance wheel means the watch movements also stop.

Have no fear, this is completely okay.

No damage will occur if your automatic watch stops. This is an expected situation when you don’t wear your watch a usual for a number of concurrent days. This may happen also if you forget to wind the timepiece.

Similar to an engine running out of fuel, the movement will just come to a halt.

So now your automatic watch is unwound, is there any risk involved?

It is not in any way damaging to leave your automatic watch unwound. And doing this for long periods of time is okay. The automatic movement will not be affected in any way.

Those automatic watches you usually see on shop displays stand there going every day without winding. No harm to their movements occurs. So you can comfortably leave your watch unwound for long periods of time. When you get back to tour watch and wind it up it will start running in no time without a hint of any deterioration.

It doesn’t matter how long your watch stops without any winding. It could be four hours of four months, either way; your automatic watch will be okay and ready for use when required.

Finally, you need not worry.

Automatic watches are worth all the time, efforts and the price tag associated with them. You will in no way think twice about owning one.