What is an Automatic Movement?
A watch whose mechanism is fitted with a device, (rotor) that automatically winds the spring by using the force of gravity. An automatic is a mechanical watch whose mainspring is wound as a result of the wearer’s arm motion. The movement of the wrist and body causes the rotor, a metal weight attached to a winding mechanism, to pivot freely on its staff in the center of the movement. The rotor rotates back and forth in a circular motion at the slightest action of the wrist. The rotor’s movement winds the mainspring, a flat coiled spring that powers mechanical watches.Rolex refers to its automatic watches as “perpetual.” Automatic, self-winding and perpetual all mean the same thing: the watch winds itself. Many people appreciate the craft involved in making a mechanical automatic movement. They like the fact that this technology is hundreds of years old, involves many moving parts, and yet keeps very accurate time.
