Power reserve on automatics

I like the idea of the power reserve better on a manual wind watch. Its function is far more practical. As long as an automatic is on your wrist, you know it’s fine.

Contrary to what you said though, I think you bond with an automatic watch through movement the same way you bond with a manual through winding.

Power reserve affects amplitude which in turn affects accuracy. I have some watches which if I run them on little power reserve are noticeably less accurate though are rock solid if they run topped off. Of course you can manually wind regularly and not worry about, though this may not be necessary with an automatic if one is active. A PR indicator let’s you know where you sit.

Power reserve indicator is definitely nice and useful from a functional perspective. The main challenge is to make it look good and blend seamlessly into the design, and in my opinion in many cases it doesn't. Orient Star watches are very good quality and I was tempted to get one in several occasions, but I just can't get over the atrocious looking power reserve indicators. I also dislike how it looks on Grand Seiko or LX line, but on this Presage it is fine, it is somewhat disguised as a GMT hand.

I wish I had the gamification of a power reserve meter, or the mechanical fitness tracker. For one, I could tell when I was done contributing for the day and take it off. Mainly it would make me walk more. On the downside, it would be an additional excuse to look at the watch throughout the day.

It's more practical on manual wind movements and is a piece of anachronism on modern automatic movements. Also, 9 out of 10 cases I hate their implementation. To me it totally disrupts the dial symmetry. I prefer it on the back if it is a must to have it. On manual watches I think it is an unavoidable necessity.

You are 100% right. PR indicator on GS looks really annoying.Why didnt they place PR indicator on the back case,like Panerai?

They must have received so much criticism that they did move the PR indicator on recent models.

This is exactly what's happening to me now. It motivates me to be more active to "charge" the power reserve, but I end up spending a lot of time just looking at my watch and actually admiring the dial instead.

That’s the one complication that I really would love to have in every watch to be honest Ray. That would challenge the designs to all automatic watches but I would be all for it personally.

I don't understand people that claim a power reserve meter is useful on a hand wind watch and not on an automatic. On a handwinder, you turn the crown a few times and know you know the tank is full. An automatic is a black box of mystery unless, so I hear, you are able to sense some subtle tension change (assuming hand winding is even available), which is honestly something with which I'm scared to experiment. Hand wind is pretty stupidprof unless one is really ham-fisted.

Accuracy > Power reserve

A PR might not be useful on an auto worn all day every day, but on a unit that is part of a rotation I can see some benefit.

Power Reserve is one of my favorite complcations. Too bad more watches don't have them.

Its easier than looking at the main spring, and less fugly than a cyclops date bump.... So sure. Unless austere elegance is the goal of the design, what's one more sub dial? Its better than a 30 minute chrono dial that you can't tell if its reading 22 or 23 (or 53) minutes elapsed.

I bought a Seiko a little while back that happened to have a PR with an automatic. It didn’t matter to me in the purchase decision, and I’d never had / considered a PR complication. But when I started wearing the watch I have to admit I loved the PR complication. Now, I wish more watches I own had this, though I would prefer it on the movement viewed through an exhibition case back.

What a beautiful watch but unfortunately wears too big on my wrist!

I wind 5 manual watches every day. I think it’s a good way to know your watches. For example I think my Moonwatch needs a service because winding it is increasingly difficult. The others are all winding beautifully. As for power reserve indicators, you know how much the max reserve is, but how do you know how much is left?

Each to his own

Same here. "Is my manual wind watch running low on power? Oh no, what do I do?!" vs. "This automatic with a screw down crown has been in a rotation with a couple other watches this week while I work all day at a computer and take naps in front of the TV. I wonder if it's running out of power."