Automatic watch
What is an automatic watch?
Automatic watches are a popular choice when it comes to mechanical timepieces—and with good reason, because the watch winds itself when you wear it. The movement on the wrist causes the winding rotor to swing, which supplies the watch with energy. Wristwatches with an automatic or self-winding mechanism are easy to use. We have summarized the most important information about watches with automatic caliber for you here.
What is a NOMOS neomatik watch?
The term "neomatik" stands for "new automatic." Since 2015, NOMOS Glashütte has been producing automatic movements equipped with the in-house NOMOS swing system and, thanks to their special construction, are among the thinnest automatic movements in the world. DUW 3001 and DUW 3202 (with a world time function) as well as DUW 6101 (with a date function) are highly precise, highly efficient, and extremely elegant. These calibers allow NOMOS Glashütte to make automatic dress watches and also fulfill all of the requirements for the functionality of a sports watch.
Functionality
How do automatic watches work?
An automatic watch is powered by a mechanical caliber equipped with a winding rotor. The rotor is a weighted part of the caliber, usually placed on top, which generates the energy needed to power the watch. The motions of the watch wearer cause the winding rotor to swing back and forth. This energy is first transferred to the mainspring, which winds tight and saves the energy to create a power reserve. It is then slowly released to move the mechanism of the watch.
Automatic calibers from NOMOS Glashütte have bidirectional winding rotors. Whether it swings to the left or the right, a bidirectional winding rotor will generate energy for the watch it powers. By contrast, unidirectional winding rotors only generate energy when moving in a certain direction. While this type of rotor will swing back and forth too, only one direction will add to the watch’s power reserve.
Is there a difference between automatic watches and mechanical watches?
Yes. The term “automatic” refers to how the caliber is wound, while “mechanical” refers to how the caliber is constructed. If the caliber is mechanical, it will consist entirely of components assembled by a trained watchmaker.
A mechanical watch won’t have a battery or feature any kind of electronics. There are two different sub-types of mechanical calibers—automatic and manual, also known as self-winding and hand-wound. These terms refer to how the mechanical caliber is powered, either by a winding rotor generating energy from the motion of the watch wearer or by the wearer winding the watch manually via the crown.
What is the difference between automatic watches and quartz watches?
Automatic watches and quartz watches differ in the way their movements work. Quartz watches are powered by a battery-operated quartz movement. The battery sends electricity through the quartz crystal, which generates the frequency required for accurate timekeeping.
By contrast, automatic watches function without batteries—since they are powered by the stored energy generated by the motions of the wearer’s wrist. Unlike most quartz watches, every single part of a mechanical watch can be repaired. This means that they are one of the most sustainable products out there, since a well-cared for automatic watch will keep working for a lifetime or more.
Is it possible to wind an automatic watch by hand?
Yes, it is! If your automatic watch hasn’t been worn for a few days, it may need a few turns of the crown to get it ticking again. Then wearing the watch on the wrist will do the rest, as the winding rotor can take over this function. With a hand-wound watch, you will feel resistance when the mainspring is fully wound. This is not the case with watches that have an automatic movement; they are equipped with a slipping clutch.
Why do automatic watches stop when you're not wearing them?
Automatic watches draw their energy from the movement of the winding rotor. An automatic watch stops running when its power reserve runs out and the tension of the mainspring in the mainspring barrel is exhausted. Should you wish to have your automatic watch fully wound at all times, even when you’re not wearing it, we would recommend investing in a watch winder. These can be programmed to simulate wearing while your watch is waiting for its next moment on your wrist.
How long can you leave an automatic watch without wearing it?
An automatic watch can wait a long time between wearing with no ill effects. As long as it is stored in a safe place—away from moisture and direct sunlight—it will be as good as new the next time you decide to wear it. The power reserve can be refilled once the watch is back on the wrist. If you wait longer than a year between wearing, it may be worth checking the water resistance of your timepiece with a watchmaker; otherwise, you’re good to go!
Watchfinder: find the perfect automatic watch for you
Find the perfect automatic watch online with our watchfinder. Here you can quickly and easily filter our models according to your taste. Size, shape, color—and much more.
Click through to your favorite watch
Advantages
Why choose an automatic watch?
An automatic watch offers two advantages at once: An elegant mechanical caliber that also conveniently powers itself. The self-winding rotor means that if it is worn regularly, an automatic timepiece will keep itself ticking and doesn’t need to be rewound by hand. Which is one less thing to worry about! Unlike battery-powered watches, it can also never run “flat”—if the power reserve is empty after a few days of not being worn, a few turns of the crown are all it takes to get an automatic watch ticking again. As such, it is also a highly sustainable product, built to last a lifetime (at least).
How do I find the best automatic watch for me?
When it comes to selecting the right timepiece for your wrist, considering the dimensions and functionality you are looking for is crucial. Typically, automatic watches are larger and thicker than watches with hand-wound calibers. That is because the rotor is often placed on top of the movement, adding to its bulk. If you are looking for a large and robust sports watch, there are many automatic timepieces to choose from. If you are looking for something a slender and elegant watch, however, the choice becomes more limited.
At NOMOS Glashütte, we have developed the neomatik caliber. Thanks to its special design, it is ultra-thin, highly efficient, and very precise: an automatic movement of the new generation. The watches it powers come in several different sizes to suit a wide range of wrists.
Top 3 selected: Best automatic watches
Admittedly, it's hard for us to choose—but we’ve managed to curate a small selection of our automatic tool watches, elegant automatic watches and automatic watches for men or women below. Even though we have many more beautiful watches, of course. Like all our timepieces, these automatic watches from NOMOS are developed and produced in Glashütte, Germany.
Automatic tool watches
Elegant automatic watches
Automatic watches for women or smaller wrists
Accuracy
How accurate are automatic watches?
Mechanical watches always exhibit an element of tolerance as far as accuracy is concerned. This depends on the way a timepiece is worn, for example. Variations in temperature and air pressure, minor jolts and irregular winding can also have an influence.
Learn more about the accuracy of mechanical watches
Discover nowWhat makes an automatic watch accurate?
The following applies to all mechanical watches, including automatic watches: Their accuracy depends on the precision of the caliber, and in particular on the escapement. The neomatik movements DUW 3001, DUW 3202 (with world time function), and DUW 6101 (with date function) from NOMOS Glashütte have the NOMOS swing system, an in-house escapement that guarantees outstanding accuracy. These calibers are elegantly thin thanks to a special integrated gear construction and have a bidirectional winding rotor that is also highly efficient; to 94 percent, to be exact.
Longevity
Can automatic watches be repaired?
Yes, mechanical self-winding watches can be repaired. Every single part of the movement can also be replaced if necessary—a well-maintained and cared-for watch can in principle function indefinitely.
How do I take care of my automatic watch?
The care instructions for an automatic watch are relatively simple—and certainly no more complex than for any other mechanical timepiece. General care advice would be to keep it away from strong magnetic fields and charging electronics. Bear the water resistance of your watch in mind; if its resistance is 5 atm or less, it will not fare well in water.
Automatic watches are designed to be worn daily; if you plan to wear your automatic watch less often, you may want to invest in a watch winder to keep it ticking while not on the wrist. Otherwise, a few turns of the crown before putting it back on will suffice. Like all mechanical watches, you should have your automatic timepiece serviced once every five years.
Here are five tips for keeping your automatic watch working at its best:
- Make sure your watch doesn’t suffer any knocks or hard impacts
- Don’t use the crown or pushers while in water
- Be minimal with manual winding; a few turns of the crown should be enough
- Store your watch safely when not in use
- Have your watch serviced once every five years
Automatic Watches from NOMOS Glashütte
What is special about NOMOS automatic watches and calibers?
We are proud to manufacture all of our watches and watch movements ourselves. This is a rarity in the world of luxury watches. NOMOS Glashütte has had the status of a caliber producer since 2005. All NOMOS movements bear the hallmarks of over 175 years of Glashütte watchmaking tradition. These include the Glashütte ribbing and the Glashütte sunburst, tempered blue screws, and the Glashütte three-quarter plate. With the introduction of the NOMOS swing system in 2014, NOMOS has become technologically independent. The in-house range also ticks in the neomatik calibers DUW 3001, DUW 3202, and DUW 6101, which are characterized by a special precision, efficiency, and elegance. NOMOS watches are high-quality timepieces, equipped with mechanical movements and made for life.
What is special about the neomatik calibers from NOMOS Glashütte?
In brief: elegance, precision, autonomy, and efficiency. The term "neomatik" stands for "new automatic." What is new about these automatic calibers is their particularly thin design: DUW 3001, the movement without complications, is only 3.2 mm in height; DUW 6101, the movement with a date function, is 3.6 mm in height; and the caliber with a world time function, DUW 3202, is 4.8 mm height. An integrated gear train construction with minimized distances allows for an elegant slenderness that is otherwise not found in this price category—the result? Automatic dress watches, made by NOMOS in Glashütte, Germany, with a legally protected designation of origin.
In addition, neomatik movements feature the NOMOS swing system, the in-house escapement with a blue balance spring, which guarantees exceptional accuracy, as well as a bidirectional winding rotor with an outstanding efficiency of 94 percent.
The date caliber DUW 6101 is distinguished by its patented date mechanism, which also includes a convenient quick adjustment feature in both directions. The movement's switching and blocking times are particularly short at 30 and 90 minutes respectively. The date ring is placed around the outside of the movement, which keeps it thin and allows for a large date window that is right at the edge of the dial.
The world time caliber DUW 3202 has a 24-hour display, a home time display, and a day and night display. DUW 3202 can be identified in watches with a sapphire crystal glass back by the specially designed winding rotor with an embossed golden globe.
What is special about the winding rotors in the automatic watches from NOMOS Glashütte?
The rotors in our automatic watches are crafted from a single piece of metal. They have a relatively large radius and an angle of reversal of just 10 degrees, making them highly efficient. This part of the movement can be seen oscillating back and forth through the sapphire crystal glass back of the automatic watches from NOMOS Glashütte.
Another important feature: the winding rotors and their weight are very precisely matched to the tension of the mainspring. This helps to prevent wear and tear on the mainspring, which is a common problem with automatic watches.
