A wind watch is commonly known as a mechanical watch. These watches use a mainspring that you wind by hand or through wrist movement (automatic watches) to keep time. You’ll often see terms like hand-wind, self-winding, or automatic mechanical in product descriptions. Unlike quartz watches, wind watches don’t require batteries, making them a classic choice for those who appreciate traditional watchmaking. When browsing at Walmart, look for these keywords to find the right style for you.

Winding a watch means turning the crown (the small knob on the side) to tighten the mainspring inside a mechanical or wind-up watch. This action stores energy, which is slowly released to power the watch and keep it running.

• Manual wind watches need regular winding, usually once a day.
• Automatic watches wind themselves as you move your wrist, but can also be wound manually if needed.

When talking about watches, "wind" is spelled w-i-n-d and pronounced with a long "i" sound, like "find." It refers to the action of turning the crown to power a mechanical watch. This is different from the word "wind" (as in the breeze), which is spelled the same but pronounced differently. If you’re searching online or asking for help in-store, just use "wind"—it’s the correct spelling for both meanings.

Yes, many people still wind watches today, especially those who enjoy mechanical or vintage timepieces.

• Manual wind watches require regular winding to keep running.
• Automatic watches wind themselves with wrist movement but may need manual winding if not worn daily.

If your mechanical or wind-up watch stops ticking or the second hand isn’t moving, it likely needs winding.

• For manual wind watches, you’ll usually wind them once a day.
• For automatic watches, wearing the watch daily can keep it powered, but if it’s been off your wrist for a while, a few turns of the crown can get it going again.