Automatic watches

Automatic watches or self-winding watches collects the energy to wind the mainspring from the movements by the wearer's arm.  The movements are transmitted to the mainspring through an oscillating weight called the rotor and a gear mechanism. 

In addition to the self-winding system automatic watches can normally be wound manually too by turning the crown attached to the winding and time setting stem.

Vincent & Scales' model OBSERVATORY-1088 is equipped with an automatic winding mechanism. The picture to the left shows the rotor decorated with Geneva stripes and the company name. The crown with the winding stem is pointing down at 6H.

The self-winding is an invention from 1770 attributed to Abraham-Louis Perrelet from Le Locle (Switzerland). The first self-winding wristwatch was made by an English watchmaker, John Harwood around 1920.