power reserve

Every watch - whether inexpensive or luxury model - is only as good as the movement that makes it work. In this context, the so-called power reserve is a central topic that every watch lover should have dealt with in depth at some point. We explain what is actually meant by the power reserve, take a look at the history of power reserves and, of course, also introduce some top luxury watches with power reserves.

What exactly is the power reserve?

Power reserves can be found in mechanical watches. The power reserve gives them the energy they need to run. This works with the help of a mainspring in the watch's barrel. This mainspring is tensioned by turning the winding crown - in an automatic watch, not manually, but by means of a rotor. The tension sets the watch in motion and decreases over time, with the time period from full winding to maximum relaxation of the mainspring being known as the running time. When this time has elapsed and the spring is relaxed, the timepiece comes to a standstill.

It is generally recommended that you never fully exhaust the spring tension, but wind hand-wound watches regularly. This is because the more spring tension there is, the more accurate the movement will be. Devices with a power reserve often have a power reserve indicator so that the wearer knows when it is time to wind the watch.

Power reserve - the origin

Power reserves are nothing new: the first watch with an autonomy of movement was probably built in the 15th century. Before that, watches were powered by weights or water, which of course required the timepieces to be a certain size and made them quite unwieldy. The power reserve was intended to change this and meant that watches could be built in such small versions that they could be worn comfortably on the wrist.

The first watches with power reserve

Watches with a power reserve indicator were predestined for use in the field of precision timekeeping. As such, they were introduced in 1933 in the form of a wristwatch prototype by the Breguet brand. In 1948, the first mass-produced watch with a power reserve indicator came from Jaeger-LeCoultre . Known under the name "Powermatic", these wristwatches with power reserve indicators conquered the broad market in no time.

How is the power reserve displayed?

The power reserve can be displayed in various ways. A common way of displaying the power reserve is with a power reserve scale with a pointer that moves as the springs lose tension. When the watch is fully wound, the pointer moves to one end of the scale and then moves towards the other end as the spring tension decreases. It is also possible to display the remaining running time using a cutout in the dial. The cutout, which was made popular by Jaeger-LeCoultre, allows a view of the power reserve disc with the corresponding print. However, some manufacturers are getting really creative these days and there are now countless variations of the power reserve display in almost every conceivable form.

Top watches with power reserve

As announced at the beginning, we would now like to take a closer look at some watches in different price ranges that have the small complications of a power reserve display.

A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Up/Down

As a tribute to its founder, the company A. Lange & Söhne produced the luxury watch 1815, whose name is reminiscent of the year Ferdinand A. Lange was born. The elegant wristwatch impresses with a running time of 72 hours, which is indicated by a characteristic up/down scale. Thanks to its dial in a classic design, the hand-wound men's watch appeals to many tastes and is definitely something for the style-conscious wearer who appreciates functionality and luxury in everyday life.

Zenith Elite 6150

The Zenith Elite 6150 is a watch that connoisseurs only need to take a single look at to recognize its value. It is a rather simple timepiece of unfussy elegance, whose mechanical movement runs like clockwork for up to 100 hours when fully wound. The running time is therefore set remarkably high, which is probably one reason why this model does not have an optical power reserve display. This means that nothing distracts from the brilliant understatedness that the straight-lined dial of the Elite 6150 radiates.

TAG Heuer Grand Carrera

The Grand Carrera watch from TAG Heuer is a men's watch with a steel case that is in the middle price range. The time remaining until the movement stops is displayed in a particularly simple but nevertheless absolutely meaningful way. The power reserve indicator is located at the 9 o'clock point and consists of a vertical scale that does not have any labels at all. Fine lines divide the display of the remaining energy of the spring and a small hand reminds the wearer to wind the watch.

Cartier Tortue

The Cartier Tortue is a good example of a high-quality watch with a power reserve indicator that conforms to the standard shape. The indicator is located at the 6 o'clock position and resembles the tachymeter on vehicles. This type of power reserve indicator is very common today and fits particularly harmoniously into the overall look of this Cartier watch.

IWC Big Pilot's Top Gun

Often described as a masterpiece among luxury hand-wound watches, the Big Pilot's Top Gun from IWC is impressive across the board. The movement with 7-day power reserve is actually designed for a full eight days. Nevertheless, it makes sense that the device stops working after "only" seven days without being wound again. This ensures that the accuracy of the watch can meet the highest standards at all times.

Patek Philippe Nautilus

The Nautilus models from Patek Philippe delight watch lovers for many reasons. One of these is the wristwatch's rather unusual power reserve display. In this case, the power reserve display is set around the 59th minute and therefore not - as is traditionally intended - at 3, 6, 9 or 12 o'clock. So if you are looking for a luxurious watch in which the small complications are not necessarily presented in the typical manner, you should take a closer look at the Nautilus models.

Conclusion on the power reserve

To put it simply, the power reserve is the part of a mechanical watch mechanism that supplies the watch with energy. A spring is wound, the tension of which keeps the watch running and gradually decreases as it is wound until the watch finally stops - at least if it is not wound again in time. The power reserve display helps the wearer to estimate the running time and to remember to wind it regularly. The market today offers a huge selection of different watches with a power reserve, so that everyone can find a model that meets their personal wishes and ideas 100%.