The difference between a mechanical and an automatic watch can be quite confusing. Let's get things straight. A mechanical watch is - without exaggeration - a marvel of precision and craftsmanship. It works without a battery and is powered by an ingenious system of gears, springs and levers. The driving force of a mechanical watch comes from the ‘winding spring’, which stores energy when you wind the watch by hand. So this type of watch requires manual attention: once every few days, you have to remember to wind the watch, otherwise it will stop ticking.
An automatic watch is also essentially mechanical, but with one big difference: it does not need to be wound manually. This type of watch uses a small rotor, a semi-circular weight that moves when you move your wrist. That movement causes the watch to wind itself as long as you wear it. The energy generated by the movement of your wrist keeps the winding spring taut and ensures that the watch keeps running. However, if you leave it on too long, you still have to wind it by hand or shake the watch.
So the choice between a mechanical and automatic watch depends on your lifestyle. If you like the ritual act of winding and wear the watch less often, then a mechanical model is ideal. For those who wear a watch every day and don't want to wind it every time, an automatic watch is the way to go. But whichever you go for: both types of watches embody craftsmanship and tradition, and the choice depends on personal preference and ease of use.
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