Q. Shalom U'Bracha, Recently I purchased a Citizen eco-drive watch, that gets charged automatically from the light.
My question is: (1) Is it permitted to wear such a watch on shabbos (at home or within an eruv) when the watch has a reserve battery that can last about a year?
(2) This watch has a power save function "When the watch is continuously not exposed to light for 30 minutes ... the second hand is automatically stopped to reduce the power consumption. The hour and minute hands operate continuously"
Would it be mutar to wear on shabbos, I noticed when I am sleeping (with my hand under the cover the seconds handle stops until I take it out.)
A. Many Poiskim permit the use of self-winding watches, while they are still working (see Shemiras Shabbos K’hilchoso 28:28). A watch that gets charged automatically from the light it receives and is ticking would also be permitted.
However Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit"a opinion in regards to the eco-drive watch you describe, is that it should not be used on Shabbos, since your covering or uncovering of the watch will have a direct effect and change the operation and functioning of the watch.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
I'm a little confused by your answer. First you write that the eco watch is similar to a windup watch, then you write that Rabbi Miller rules that "in regard to the eco-drive watch you describe" it should not be used. Does Rabbi Miller rule that the wind up watch should not either be used? Or does he feel that the eco watch is worse because "covering or uncovering has a direct effect" on the watch?????
Important Numbers
