Autowinding—probably a dumb technical question

Annapolis

On a watch that’s a bit stiff to wind—say an Aqua Terra with two barrels—how can the rotor keep it wound?

To explain my meaning: I’ve had a few Omegas over the years where it’s required some real torque to wind them up. This seems especially true of the modern 2-barrel movements. Compared to other automatics and manuals I’ve owned, these watches are tough to wind—perhaps not helped by the fact that Omega crowns aren’t always the grippiest, but the stiff winding is more than a matter of grip.

The watches I’m referring to are automatics and the winding rotor does work, keeping them wound when worn regularly. What’s confusing me is how that small spinning weight is able to wind the spring/s when I have so much trouble winding the watch manually.

I’m no watchmaker or engineer, so I’m guessing this is a silly question. But it’s piqued my curiosity.

efauser

How does your wrist manage it?

Annapolis

Well, I suppose that's another way to ask the same question: how does a tiny little rotor (that weighs what, a few grams?) generate the same winding torque that requires such effort from my fingers, even with the gross leverage of a "tool" as large as the "ratchet" formed by my thumb and index finger?

Or does the rotor wind the spring/s via a mechanism that somehow requires less torque than crown-winding does?

An annotation to what I'm claiming here about the tough winding.

Annapolis

My subject-line created that confusion.

efauser

Yeah! It's your fault I have reading comprehension issues.