Ok, so, who made the first official automatic wrist watch?
Rolex says “In 1931, Rolex invented the first wristwatch self-winding system with a free rotor, called the Perpetual rotor, the precursor of contemporary self-winding systems” in their 2019 catalog on page 8.
Eterna came out with the “Eterna-matic, featuring micro ball bearings for an automatic winding rotor” according to the 2019 Watch Annual Catalog.
When doing internet searches I’ve found that the answer to who made the first automatic wrist watch is “In 1948 Eterna made the Eterna-matic which was the first automatic wrist watch.”
Yet Rolex claims it’s their claim to fame. So which is it? Or is it both?
Rolex says “In 1931, Rolex invented the first wristwatch self-winding system with a free rotor, called the Perpetual rotor, the precursor of contemporary self-winding systems” in their 2019 catalog on page 8.
Eterna came out with the “Eterna-matic, featuring micro ball bearings for an automatic winding rotor” according to the 2019 Watch Annual Catalog.
When doing internet searches I’ve found that the answer to who made the first automatic wrist watch is “In 1948 Eterna made the Eterna-matic which was the first automatic wrist watch.”
Yet Rolex claims it’s their claim to fame. So which is it? Or is it both?