How to Buy an Automatic Watch on a Budget

An automatic watch has a quiet appeal that a battery watch cannot match. There is no battery to run flat, and the whole thing is powered by the movement of your wrist. Owning one used to mean spending a lot. It does not any more, as long as you know what you are looking at.

Here is how to choose a good automatic watch without overspending.

What "automatic" actually means

An automatic, or self-winding, watch has a mechanical movement wound by a small weight that turns as you move. Wear it regularly and it keeps itself going. Leave it in a drawer for a day or two and it will stop, ready to be wound again with a few turns of the crown or a bit of wear. That is normal, not a fault.

Why a skeleton dial is worth having

Many affordable automatics have a skeleton dial, an opening in the face that shows the movement working underneath. It is the best of both worlds: you get a genuine mechanical watch and you can actually see the mechanism that makes it special. It also turns a simple watch into a talking point.

What to check before you buy

• A stated automatic movement, not a quartz one dressed up to look mechanical.
• A sensible case size for the wrist, usually 40 to 42mm for a men's style.
• Water resistance suitable for everyday wear, though most affordable automatics are not for swimming.
• A comfortable, adjustable bracelet or strap.

A note on accuracy

A mechanical watch is not as precise as a quartz one. Gaining or losing a few seconds a day is normal and part of its character. If perfect timekeeping matters most to you, a quartz watch is the honest choice.

The LessBranding approach

We stock a gold-tone skeleton automatic chosen for exactly these reasons: a real self-winding movement, an open dial that shows it off, and a price that reflects the watch rather than a luxury name.

Browse the watches collection to see what is in stock.