No watch collection is complete without at least one automatic watch. Automatic watches are a synonym of sophistication and undeniably a classic. Developed in the early 1900s, to this day they signify dedicated craftsmanship and an appreciation for tradition. If you are still unsure, however, of their benefits and if they are the right fit for you, below we have listed some of the factors you might want to consider when considering, why purchase an automatic watch?
Lifestyle
The benefits you get from an automatic watch, or a self-winding watch, decidedly depend on your lifestyle. An automatic watch technically never needs to be hand-wound, as long as you keep wearing it that is. It mainly depends on the wearer’s wrist movements for its energy, so it will need to be hand-wound and have the time corrected only after periods where it’s been left unused.
For this reason, this type of movement will be best suited to people who like wearing watches often. If you can’t imagine yourself without a timepiece on your wrist and see them as part of your day-to-day style, an automatic watch will surely make a fantastic addition to your collection.
Maintenance
Maintenance is an important factor when choosing the perfect watch. Even though they might not seem it, automatic watches are suited to those who prefer a low maintenance accessory.
Compared to mechanical and quartz watches, if worn often, the only maintenance you will need to do on an automatic is a full service every 3 to 4 years. This also means that if the watch has been properly taken care of, it will last for decades without any serious decrease in the quality of its work.
Functions
In today’s day and age, the functions you get on your watch don’t depend on the type of movement it has. If the thing holding you back from purchasing an automatic watch is its functions, there is a wide range of complications provided in models by a variety of brands such as Oris, Tissot, and Hamilton.
From day-date apertures to chronographs and moon phases there is really no limit to the complications you can get on any other movement type that you couldn’t get on an automatic model.
Style
Last but not least, an important factor to take into consideration is the style of watches you prefer. As mentioned above when we discussed the functions available in automatic watches, today the type of watch you prefer is not limited by the movement type. That said however automatic, and mechanical, watches do sometimes possess a feature missing from their quartz and solar counterparts.
If you are an admirer of the art of watchmaking and like to see how they tick, you will be pleased to know that a lot of automatic watches have an exhibition case back. A good example of this is the Master Collection by Longines. It elegantly showcases the mechanism and allows you to observe and see into the inner workings of the watch. The skeleton dial adds intrigue and serves as a unique decoration, guaranteeing you will stand out.
Overall purchasing a self-winding watch depends solely on your personal preference and style as they have just as many if sometimes more, functions other movements do. If you believe that quality comes from experience and tradition, or you want to purchase a reliable long-lasting timepiece, an automatic watch will be the right choice for you.
What are your thoughts on automatic watches? Would you consider purchasing one? Let us know in the comments down below!
