Automatic Watch Instructions

How to Wind Your Automatic / Mechanical Timepiece

Automatic Self-Wind watches use a semi-circular weighted rotor to generate motion. The normal movements from your arm and wrist cause the rotor to move back and forth which automatically winds the watch. Manual wind watches are similar to automatics watches, however, some may not have an automatic rotor and therefore need to be hand-wound more regularly.

Below are some tips on how to get the best mileage from your Kent Hall watch:

1. For a self-winding watch to function properly, the mainspring must build up a sufficient power reserve. This is called the initiation process.  Without the initiation process, the watch may not operate properly or consistently. 

2. To initiate the power reserve, the watch must be wound manually.  Turn the winding crown at the 3 o’clock position, in a clockwise direction for about 8 to 12 revolutions. Ensure that the crown is not pulled out when you are winding the crown. (Winding the crown of the watch should not move the hands of the watch.) Please do not continue to wind your timepiece if you feel that the spring is already fully loaded, otherwise the mechanical movement may be damaged.

3. After completion of the initiation process, the watch will wind itself automatically (rebuilding the power reserve) by means of an oscillation weight that shifts every time the watch’s position is changed by the action of the arm and wrist. 

A self-winding watch should be worn several hours a day to build up the power reserve.  If you find that the watch has stopped moving, simply restart the initiation process.

We hope you enjoy your new timepiece!