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brenda52411
181
May 27, 2018
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This is an "automatic watch". What does "automatic" mean? Is it battery operated, or...??
May 27, 2018
boozed
297
May 28, 2018
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May 28, 2018
brenda52411
181
May 28, 2018
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boozedThank you so VERY much. I should have thought of that. I have yet another question. I purchased a ladies' watch from a women's clothing chain store about 3 years ago. It was sold as a "solar" watch (hope I'm quoting that correctly.) I took it to mean that it did NOT run from a battery, but was somehow solar powered. I made sure that I always either wore the watch, or left it out in sun light (not put away in a dark box). It was a fairly expensive watch (in the $500 range - retail). Of course, it had plenty of bling, which is probably what most of the cost was, but it has been a VERY accurate watch and reliable since I purchased it, but it now seems to have gone dead. I've been trying to find a watch repairman that I would trust (trust being the operative word).
Do solar watches just die after a few years? I am guessing there must be some tiny solar "thingy" in there that apparently needs replacing, almost like a battery? When I bought it, I was told it would last me, "your lifetime". I didn't think I looked like I had only 3 years left on me when I bought it.
It's a beautiful watch and has been the first and only watch that I haven't had to reset the time on - ever.
Can you please give some thoughts on a solar watch? Perhaps not the thing to get next time? Do automatic watches also have something in them that needs to be replaced every few years?
Thank you, Brenda
May 28, 2018
A community member
May 28, 2018
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brenda52411Solar watches run on a battery like a typical quartz watch does. The difference being that the battery in a solar watch is charged by exposure to light. So while a quartz watch usually needs a battery replacement every couple of years, a solar watch battery is recharged by light exposure. The "thingy" therefore is a rechargeable battery. However, all rechargeable batteries also have a limited life span just like the rechargeable battery in a cell phone tends to degrade with recharging over time. The "thingy" in an automatic watch that powers it is a large spring coupled with an oscillator and gear system that measures time. However, an automatic watch's "thingy" or spring is wound by a rotor that spins as you move your wrist while wearing it. If the watch isn't worn, after about 40 hours from a full wind, the spring will unwind and the watch will stop. To activate the movement again, simply give the watch a few gentle shakes, reset the time and wear it. But again, when unworn, an automatic will eventually stop running, but it is not a catastrophic failure of the movement. Generally, automatic watches can go at least several years, some as long as ten before, the movement will require service with cleaning and lubrication. It depends on how the watch is worn and how gentle you are while wearing it. There are upwords of several hundred parts in some automatic movements depending on the complexity and functions of the watch. Therefore, a quartz watch is generally considered more durable than a mechanical or automatic watch. In addition, a quartz watch is usually accurate to within a few seconds per month whereas even the best mechanical/automatic watches are only accurate to within seconds per day. The tolerance on some can be as great as +/- 30 seconds per day or more. So an automatic watch, even when worn daily, will still need to be reset from time to time. But personally, I consider them soulless. I love wearing a little machine on my wrist and watching the sweep of a second hand as opposed to the incessant slow tick-tick-tick of an electronic quartz movement. However, my preferences are merely personal. I do own several quartz watches that I love too. Your mileage may vary.
May 28, 2018
brenda52411
181
May 28, 2018
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I think we all probably need MULTIPLE watches, just to make triple sure we know which type we prefer... and then switch back and forth, just to double / triple check again, to make sure... and again...
Thank you for all the info.
Brenda
May 28, 2018
A community member
May 28, 2018
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brenda52411In my case, multiples of multiples. 😉 My pleasure.
May 28, 2018
Supercoop03
25
May 30, 2018
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brenda52411It means it is a mechanical movement that is charged by the movement of your wrist, It will never need a battery. If you are not wearing it it will run for about 38 to 42 hrs and then stop. To start again just wind the crown or shake it back and worth and it will wind it self. the movement of your wrist winds it while you wear it.
May 30, 2018
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