Automatic watches and Shabbat: the mechanical facts
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An automatic watch is fully mechanical: no battery, circuit or screen, wound by a rotor as the wrist moves. Whether to wear, set or wind it on Shabbat is a halachic question to ask a rabbi; this page sets out how the mechanism works.
How it works
- No electricity: spring, gears and balance wheel.
- Winds from motion via a rotor.
- About 41 hours of power reserve; the NH35A can also be hand-wound.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a battery?
No. ATÉRET automatics use the NH35A, ₪790 to ₪940.
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