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Hand wound vs automatic mechanical watches.

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GNNS

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Lately, I'm thinking to quit automatic watches.

I have two automatics, and I find it a bit annoying to re adjust them every now and then. I would prefer them to be only hand wound, so I could control their power reserve.
One of my automatics has a hand winding feature, but it has a bad feel when you turn the crown, so I suspect it's not good to do it very often.

I also don't like the fact that they require movement to keep their power reserve, when worn. Sometimes I just don't move that much. I even walk with my hands in my pockets, many times.

So my next purchase will be a good, hand wound watch, because I do like mechanical watches more than quartz, but I like to have full control of their power reserve.
 
#3 ·
I have kept away from hand wind - I just think that the novelty would wear off.

I'm also old enough to remember having a hand wound Timex when I was a kid and looking down at the watch and getting that sinking feeling when realising that it had stopped because I had not wound it.

I have never had an automatic that I was actually wearing stop on me so its automatics all the way for me.

One exception might be a hand wound with a power reserve - now that I could get into but there do not seem to be many of them around.
 
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#4 ·
A year ago I bought my first handwinder.
During the first 6 months I routinely ran out the power reserve, forgetting to wind it. I’m still not completely in the habit of winding it, but it’s rare that I find it on my wrist stopped.
I’m glad to have a handwinder in my collection, but I prefer the autos.


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#5 ·
I have both automatics and hand winds--the things you find annoying you about automatics will actually be more annoying for hand winds--you can control automatic power reserves just as easily as hand winds, by giving it a several winds at a regular time, on a consistent basis--the fact that one of your hand winds feels strange when you wind it is an issue with that particular watch, not with automatics in general. And really, why sell and buy other watches before at least trying out a winder to make up for what you lack, in terms of movement? And for the folks who can't adjust to the daily winding of hand winds, it to me isn't a problem at all--I wind mine, when I am wearing it, each day, and occasionally touch it up as necessary. To me, both are great, and wouldn't like to do without either.
 
#7 ·
I have both and I enjoy wearing both.

I also have manual and automatic transmission vehicles. Different things have different characteristics, and oftentimes you grow to appreciate the differences that make those things unique. But for me, much of this hobby (and life in general) involves experiencing the widest range of things the world has to offer, rather than actively seeking to narrow the field.

If autos bug you, chances are you'll find things that annoy you about hand winders. Might be time to consider a G Shock.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
I also have quartz watches.

I have a raketa vintage pocket watch too, and although I don't usually carry it with me, I like to wind it every day. So I assume that a manual handwound watch that I'm gonna wear on a daily basis, will be the best for me, because I like mechanical watches, when I manually wind them.

Maybe I'll try the orient monarch. It has the antique pocket watch style that I like, manual wound, 5 atm water resistant, and it's affordable.

I'm not gonna sell my automatic watches, but I will not buy a watch winder for them.
 
#9 ·
Back when I had a larger collection I would often wear watches for only a day or two before switching to something else. With that wear pattern, automatics were a bit less useful than manuals because they would often be dead and have to be wound when I wanted to wear them anyway. I've since paired down my collection and usually wear a watch for a week or two before putting it back in the safe and wearing something else. That makes the automatics a lot more useful, though I still really enjoy winding my manual winders every morning too. My current collection is half automatic, half manual wind, half quartz.
 
#11 ·
I have an Omega Speedmaster (a manual winding moonwatch), and I wear it a two or three days each week. I take about 30 seconds each morning and evening to wind it so it is always ready for me when I decide to put it on. There's really no inconvenience involved, and I enjoy winding it. I feel more connected to the watch because I interact with it every day. I'd be happy to buy more manual wind watches. Much of it boils down to how much power reserve your daily wear watches have. My primary daily wear watch is a Tudor Black Bay Steel, which has an advertised reserve of 70 hours. I can put it down, wear my Speedmaster for a day or two, and put the Tudor right back on.
 
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#12 ·
For me hand wound >> automatic. I currently own two and I love the fact that I need to interact with them on a daily basis. Also, as both have a clear caseback, I can admire the movement without having the rotor obscure all gears and wheels. Finally even the feeling of winding feels better than on any of my autos (Miyotas or ETAs) as you can clearly feel the clicking of the ratchet wheel.

I agree with what some other members said, that a larger rotation of watches makes the advantage of autos compared to manual almost meaningless.
 
#13 ·
GNNS said:
Lately, I'm thinking to quit automatic watches.

I have two automatics, and I find it a bit annoying to re adjust them every now and then. I would prefer them to be only hand wound, so I could control their power reserve.
One of my automatics has a hand winding feature, but it has a bad feel when you turn the crown, so I suspect it's not good to do it very often.

I also don't like the fact that they require movement to keep their power reserve, when worn. Sometimes I just don't move that much. I even walk with my hands in my pockets, many times.

So my next purchase will be a good, hand wound watch, because I do like mechanical watches more than quartz, but I like to have full control of their power reserve.
Click to expand...
Buying a hand cranker and winding it every morning will certainly ensure that the watch always has enough power, but you'll still have to re-adjust it from time to time. At least in the sub $1k category, 10s/d off is fairly normal, so the watch can easily be off by a minute every week. And most very precise mechanical watches (e.g. COSC chonometers) are automatics.

So just be considerate about what you're actually look for: a precise watch you don't have to re-adjust very often, or one where you don't have to worry about running low on power? Besides, you don't have to actively move your arm to keep them powered. Even with a desk job and commuting to work by car, it takes my automatics 4-8h to wind them fully (30-50h power reserve). So any decent automatic should work totally fine if you just wear it for >8h every day.
 
#15 ·
I have a hand-wind (Luch 1-hand), an automatic which does not have hand-winding (Seiko SKX173), and an automatic which does have hand-winding (San Martin Pilot w/ Seiko NH35 movement). I like all of them. I tend to hand-wind the San Martin when putting it on, same thing with the Luch. There is definitely something enjoyable and meditative about it. But when wearing the SKX on a regular basis, not something that really affects the decision to wear it -- meaning I guess I really don't miss not hand-winding with that particular watch, since it is that way by nature.

Maybe it's about physical manipulation and connection with the watch. Same way adjusting the time or day/date doesn't bother me -- I welcome the chance to play with the mechanics of a mechanical watch.
 
#16 ·
GNNS said:
Lately, I'm thinking to quit automatic watches.

I have two automatics, and I find it a bit annoying to re adjust them every now and then. I would prefer them to be only hand wound, so I could control their power reserve.
One of my automatics has a hand winding feature, but it has a bad feel when you turn the crown, so I suspect it's not good to do it very often.

I also don't like the fact that they require movement to keep their power reserve, when worn. Sometimes I just don't move that much. I even walk with my hands in my pockets, many times.

So my next purchase will be a good, hand wound watch, because I do like mechanical watches more than quartz, but I like to have full control of their power reserve.
Click to expand...
Unless you have a power reserve display on the watch, you will never know how much power you have. Worst feeling in the world? Having a handwider run out of power while on your wrist. I am predicting that you will end up winding your watch everyday, which you can do now with your automatics.

Go for a handwind for the experience of engaging with your watch, rather than some idea of efficiency and control.
 
#18 ·
In days of yore (when I was young) all watches were hand wound and an auto was a thing of wonder and something to aspire to. The result is that I prefer an auto if given the choice because I spent far too many years HAVING to wind my watch for hand crankers to hold much magic for me.
 
#19 ·
I am little OCD, and to my own admittance a little bot of a control freak. Given the choice I will always take a hand wind, as that way I know where I am.
 
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#20 ·
I've worn a hand wind watch (marathon Benrus) every day for the last 3 years. I pretty much never take it off, and wind it every day while on the wrist in about 10 seconds each morning. I would prefer an auto but my options for smaller size (under 38mm diameter and under 11mm thick) with tritium are very small. Non existent actually.
 
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