All watches are not the same, and the automatic watch has one of the most complex mechanisms of all. Without a manual to guide you, you could easily wind up with a horrid watch.
Some of the most complicated and yet most expensive automatic watches have an elaborate mechanism that dates back to the 19th century. The difference in complexity with the automatic watch and its manual counterpart is due to the fact that the latter requires the wearer to do a bit of work. If you have a manual watch, then you can wind it up yourself.
You could think of a watch as something similar to a sewing machine. Once you have made one or two stitches, you then have to put it back together. A manual watch on the other hand, needs to be wound. This is often referred to as winding the watch.
Now, when you set out to buy a watch, you should do so with the knowledge that you are doing it on purpose. There are many places where you can get a good manual watch for cheap. These are often places that specialize in selling used watches, like second-hand stores.
However, you should be careful when you go to any of these second-hand stores for a watch. The mechanics of the watch are only part of the problem. The truth is that it is not so easy to tell which watch is old and which one is new.
There are also people who have some knowledge about the watch and have a good second-hand store. Some may even be able to give you a detailed idea of how the watch works. This is often useful if you are not that keen about buying a watch.
Having a manual watch around does not mean that you are a tool. For the first timer, it is usually quite easy to read the time as you have some knowledge about how the watch works.
When it comes to buying a watch, the most important thing is the price. If you want a watch that has an intricate mechanism but at a very affordable price, you could take the advantage of the people who have some technical knowledge about the watch. They will know how to get you a good manual watch at a reasonable price.