Automatic Watch/Automatic Movement/Automatic Winding

Also called “self-winding,” a watch with automatic movement needs no battery. The mechanism winds itself by the motion of the watch wearer’s arm. Most automatic watches have up to 36 hours of power reserve. If an automatic watch is not worn for a day or two, it will wind down and need to be wound by hand to get it started again. Typically, an automatic watch is more expensive than a quartz watch.

Manual Winding

The watch must be wound by turning the crown back and forth until resistance is met—usually every 24 hours.

Mechanical Movement

A watch's mechanism that is powered by a manual activity such as being wound up by hand or by the movement of the watch.

Quartz Movement

A watch with a mechanism powered by a "quartz crystal." The crystal vibrates when placed in an electronic field, thus powering the watch. Most affordable watches today have Quartz movements. Quartz watches are mostly battery operated.