Picture an intricate system of gears and pendulums, aimed to function by means of a truly inversed proportional power source. The intricate measurements involved therein, the precise positioning of the gears, all these take skill and science to compile. Especially when the item is about an inch wide.
Automatic watches work on the art that is this.
Automatic quartz watches are a type of such automatic watches. The term basically refers to the collective system of watch movements which combine with a self-winding rotor mechanism. The said self-winding rotor system generates power with the help of a piezoelectric quartz crystal playing the role of timing element. A pendulum attached to a large gear, meshed with a small pinion, can be found within the setup.
As movement occurs (meaning as the automatic watch's wearer moves), the pendulum induces the pinion to turn and spin at a very high speed (sometimes up to 100,000 revolutions per minute). Capacitors (usually four of them) store power from a miniature electrical generator, and charges them. The generator gets power from the revolving pinion.
If the automatic watch isn't used, the charged power from the capacitors power up the device (some brands for up to six months). The charge taken from the capacitors keeps a regular quartz watch accurate to 1-2 seconds in a week.
Seiko is known for its automatic watches. The Japanese watch company pioneered the whole automatic quartz movement, releasing the first breed of automatic quartz watches in 1988. Seventy five hours of continuous operation (fully powered) made the Seiko AGS (Automatic Generating System) a superstar in the realm of watches. By 1991 Seiko came out with the Kinetic line of Seiko products.
Of course, Seiko isn't the only automatic watch out there utilizing quartz technology. ETA SA, a Swiss company (a member of the Swatch group) also produce automatic quartz watches. Though not a seller as Seiko's automatic watches are, ETA Autoquartz did boast the same benefits one could gain from Seiko's Kinetic product line.
Citizen, another Japanese watch company (second largest, coming after Seiko), took a different approach with their automatic watches. In 1998 Citizen's Eco-Drive was released to the public. Citizen's Eco-Drive watches utilize solar power to run their watches. Both mechanical and solar power driven, the integration of these two technologies made the Eco-Drive a unique roster member in the list of automatic watches.
Another automatic watch worth noting would be Ventura's Ven_99, which is basically an automatic digital watch. Ventura, a small Swiss-based watch manufacturer came up with the Ven_99 which combines autoquartz technology and a digital readout of time (using a liquid crystal display).
Indeed, there are options out there when it comes to automatic watches. Be you into Seiko's quartz watches, or Citizen's sun driven Eco-Drive watches, the remaining constant that makes these watches superstars is the fact that one doesn't have to worry about running out of batteries.
An art in itself.
How does the mechanical watch work? Mechanical watches utilize energy from a wound spring. They keep time through a regulated release of energy through the wheel train, which is a set of gears, and an escapement. The components of the watch are all mechanical. One winding can make the watch run for forty hours. There are some designs that will last for eight to ten days on one winding. In order to keep a mechanical watch working for a long time, it needs to be serviced periodically.
What is the history of mechanical watches? Mechanical watches go back to Peter Henlein (1480-1542). The number of parts varies, but usually it has about one hundred and thirty parts or more. Some mechanical watches record phases of the moon, keep a record of the date and record time on a daily basis.
What do they do when they service a mechanical watch and how often should you have one serviced? They make sure that the components are well lubricated. They also make sure that it is free of any dust, dirt or moisture. The rule of thumb to go by for servicing a mechanical watch is to have the water resistance checked every year and have the watch serviced about every three to five years.
Why do people get mechanical watches? Mechanical watches are made with fine craftsmanship, aesthetics, and tradition. This type of watch is made with wonderful precision by the craftsman who assembles the watch.
How does the automatic watch work? In automatic watches, the movement of the wrist and body makes the rotor pivot freely. The action of the wrist, even slight action, causes the rotor to rotate back and forth in a circular motion. The mainspring is wound via the movement of the rotor. The mainspring is the coiled spring that powers the watch. This type of watch also needs to be serviced.
What is the history of the automatic watch? The original rotor goes back to Abraham Louis-Perrelet (1729-1826). The modern rotor used in the automatic watches was developed by Rolex. Emily Borer, the chief of Rolex at the time of its invention, is the one who is given credit for it.
What do they do when they service an automatic watch and how often should you have one serviced? They will re-lubricate the watch and check the seals on it. The seals should be checked every year. The automatic watch should be serviced every three to five years.
Why do people get automatic watches? Just as people get mechanical watches for the tradition and craftsmanship people also get automatic watches for the same reasons.
Mechanical watches and automatic watches faded out when quartz watches came about. However, about ten years ago, both types of watches began to gain popularity especially among collectors.
Both Rene Graeber & Zai Zhu are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Rene Graeber has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing, Camping and Recreation and Sports. If you want to get more information please visit my blog at . Rene Graeber's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Zai Zhu has sinced written about articles on various topics from Watches Reviews, Sales and Negotiation and Public Relations. Zai Zhu is a watch collector and a watch dealer. Visit to learn more about wristwatches. You can also shop over 1000 fine. Zai Zhu's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.