Watch Works
Automatic Mechanicals
As the millennium turns, one of the hottest
technologies sought by watch aficionados and collectors is one that was invented in 1770.
That's when Abraham-Louis Perrelet created the automatic or self-winding mechanical
movement.
After centuries of innovations and
painstaking hard work, the modern version of the automatic mechanical has evolved into a
highly efficient and reliable movement that also happens to be very beautiful, as the
latest generation of skeleton-back watches amply demonstrates.
Although the battery powered quartz
movement launched in the 1970s overshadowed the advances in the mechanical watch, the
automatic mechanical has had a resurgence in the last decade due primarily to the
increased interest in the exceptional craftsmanship of fine watches from Switzerland,
where nearly all automatic mechanical movements are manufactured.
Basically, an automatic mechanical watch
operates similarly to a mechanical watch except that winding occurs every time the wearer
moves his or her arm. This is achieved by means of a rotor that turns in response to
motion, thereby winding the watch's mainspring.
When removed from the wrist, a watch with
an automatic mechanical movement will still run by itself and usually has a power reserve
of anywhere from 36 to 48 hours. After that, the watch must be replaced on the wrist and
worn to resume timekeeping. There's never a need to replace a battery, although automatic
mechanicals may need to have a "tune up" every two to three years to keep them
well lubricated and in top working order. Today's fine automatic mechanicals are designed
to be shock and water resistant for years of trouble-free wear.
The most recent advance in the technology
offered by leading watchmakers is new, more compact automatic mechanical movements for
women's watches. These beautiful watches are the perfect combination of form and function.
