Yes — automatic watches do need to be wound, but not in the same way or as often as manual watches.
An automatic watch is designed to wind itself through the natural movement of your wrist. Inside the watch is a rotor that spins as you move, automatically winding the mainspring and storing energy. If you wear your automatic watch regularly, it usually stays fully wound without any manual input.
However, if an automatic watch has not been worn for a period of time and has stopped, it will need to be wound to get it running again. This can be done by gently turning the crown clockwise (usually around 20–40 turns, depending on the movement). Once started, wearing the watch will continue to keep it wound.
Automatic watches may also benefit from occasional manual winding even when worn daily. This ensures the mainspring is adequately charged, helping maintain accurate timekeeping and consistent performance.
If you rotate between several watches and do not wear an automatic watch frequently, using a watch winder can help keep it running and ready to wear. This is especially useful for watches with complications such as date or moon phase functions.
In summary, automatic watches do not require daily winding if worn regularly, but they do need to be wound initially if they stop, and occasional winding can help keep them performing at their best.
