The Automatic Watch Beginner's Guide - How To Wind An Automatic Watch

Some of my favorite watches (ads):
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. You don't pay more by using these affiliate links.)

If you've been wondering how to wind an automatic watch (or do you need to), how often you should do it, why it stops overnight or can you overwind an automatic watch, I'll answer those questions in this video.

Beware: this is a video for beginners. It won't tell you precisely how an automatic watch works or how to service it. This video is intended to answer the questions you might have about your first automatic watch.

Follow Me

#automaticwatch #watchcollection #bestwatchesformen

00:00 What is an automatic watch?
00:48 Automatic vs hand-winding
02:08 How to start an automatic watch?
03:55 Can you overwind an automatic watch?
04:50 Is it dangerous to fully wind an automatic watch?
05:03 How often should you wind an automatic watch?
05:47 Should you adjust the time in the morning?
06:12 Your watch stopped overnight
07:17 Is it bad to let an automatic watch stop?
07:43 Should you get a watch winder?
08:17 Is it bad to leave an automatic watch unwound?
09:14 Is an automatic watch more trouble?

[TimedSquare]

Here are more info for beginners:
** Typical power reserve ** Most modern automatic watches will provide at least 38 hours of power reserve when fully wound. You can take off your watch on Saturday night and it should be still running on Monday morning. If you need more than this typical entry-level power reserve without breaking the bank to much, go for a Powermatic 80 movement (80 hours of power reserve) that you can find at Hamilton (with their H line of movement), Tissot or Certina.
** Your watch is slow or fast ** If your automatic watch is slow or fast (up to 30 seconds per day), this is perfectly normal. Mechanical movement are not as precise as quartz ones. If you can't live with the lack of accuracy, you should take it to your local watch maker and ask him to regulate it for you. It might become as precise as -/+ 5 seconds a day if you're lucky. More luxurious pieces have better movement that are regulated to more positions, and can achieve better accuracy out of the box.

Enjoy your first automatic watch!

[stu]

Always good to find an expert who can make simple content for beginners which doesn't patronise and doesn't make a beginner feel like an idiot for having legitimate "beginner" questions. Well done!

[andreaiacolina]

Finally a simple video with a lot of answers and suggestions to the most common questions. Thank you for this!

[hamskyxxx]

Until i was 11 i thought all watches were quartz until i saw a breitling with a see through case back....I was wowed!....19 years later i decided to get one.

[kamransheikh]

My god....this is just super amazing.... I have an automatic seiko of my grandfather lying around for more than a decade now because we had no idea how an automatic works so we thought the watch is dead and will not work Took it to many repair shops and everyone just refused to work on it and my god I'm laughing my ass out right now😂😂😂...gave it a little shake and the baby is running amazing. Thanks man, I have always loved this watch and always wanted it to run and here we are😂😂😂 damnn....thanks again!!!!

[gabrielemarchese]

I'm Italian; my Watch winds as I talk

[ironmic]

I am a watch enthusiast, but I still enjoy watching beginner videos. Still informative, and great content. Everyone needs to refresh themselves of the fundamentals now and then.

[ssnoc]

I agree 100% about the enjoyment of winding, setting time - it’s why I bought automatic. It allows you to interact occasionally, but doesn’t take too much time like a basic mechanical watch. It’s best of both worlds - you can play with it and not be a slave to it 👍

[jjabrony]

Best way to wind your automatic is to let your Italian friend wear it it while he tells you a story

[brandonstoltenkamp]

Great video. Answered so many questions as I just got my first automatic watch. Love your honest, unpretentious manner. Thank you.

[G-Confalonieri]

Automatic watches are just like car engines. Start them once in a while.

[steveperry]

i have always worn a watch since 1968 when i went into the u.s. airforce and got my first watch. it was a zodiac aerospace gmt and i wore it for daily for 20 yrs. and it still works today in my collection. i really enjoy collecting and wearing a watch. today i'm wearing a knock-off rolex submariner that actually works very well. i also have acouple of my dad's watches and one he wore during WW2, a holland supermatic and also a tissot dress watch. i have about 20 watches, some auto mechanical and some quartz. thnx for the video, steve

[eyeheartsushi]

Best watch collecting beginner’s guide on YouTube. Clear and concise. Well done, Alessandro.

[albertbangura]

Much thanks! I've had an Omega Seamaster 300 for 2 years and never knew how to hand wind it. It's not my daily wearer and would always die overnight. After watching this video, my problem was solved. Keep making these videos!

[Jojje]

Thanks for all the info. I've decided to get into watches and collecting as a hobby for my 30s, and I managed to start my late dad's old divers watch with your instructions. Very helpful resource thanks again

[silamarie]

I've bought a Hamilton Valiant, this is my first automatic watch, I absolutely adore it.

[geomancer]

I like your videos. Just to add, in case a viewer buys or inherits an old watch (say, from the 60's) that is a manual wind. When the watch is fully wound, there will be resistance, in which case you should stop winding, or risk damaging the watch.

[regflori]

This videos was so helpful, so many questions were answered and it brings a lot of ease of mind to hear some of these things with my new watch

[teixas]

The best watchmaker of the world...who control the gift of time...richt or poor...all materials...only SEIKO ! ! !

[traeucity]

I'm glad that you mentioned the Seiko not needing manual winding. I attempted to wind my SRPA21 when I first got it, because it stopped overnight. No wonder I never felt the crown getting harder to turn. lol