A Full-Rotor watch uses a large winding weight mounted centrally, above the bridges, that swings a complete 360 degrees to wind the mainspring. Because that mass is heavy and sits far from its pivot, it generates more winding torque than a recessed micro-rotor, which is why the central rotor became the default automatic layout. Rolex patented its free-rotating 360-degree Perpetual rotor in 1931, an early design that still wound in a single direction, and the idea spread across the whole industry. In 1948 Eterna mounted the rotor on five ball bearings to cut friction, a development the brand still marks with its five-dot logo.
The everyday backbone here is the ETA 2824-2 and its drop-in successor, the Sellita SW200-1, both central rotors that wind bidirectionally through reverser wheels. On the Japanese side, Seiko's NH35 and 4R36 use the Magic Lever to wind both ways, while the Miyota 8215 winds in a single direction. Move upmarket and Tudor's in-house MT5602 carries a one-piece tungsten rotor, with Black Bay 41 models starting around £4,050. Watches running Omega's Master Chronometer 8800, such as the 38mm Aqua Terra, sit roughly between £5,900 and £8,000, and Patek Philippe builds both the central-rotor 324 and the slim 240 micro-rotor.
When buying, weigh winding efficiency against service economics. A watch on an SW200 or NH35 runs from about £320 to £1,600, parts are everywhere, and almost any watchmaker can service it. Bidirectional winding keeps the mainspring topped up even on a low-activity wrist; the unidirectional Miyota is simpler and tough but winds a touch slower. Remember that on a display caseback the broad rotor hides much of the movement, so if you want to admire the finishing, a skeleton rotor or a micro-rotor may suit you better.
For nuance, openworked full-rotors are their own pleasure. Pieces like the H. Moser Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton, the Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton (calibre UN-372, 96-hour reserve) and the Parmigiani Tonda PF Skeleton use skeletonised or 22k-gold rotors to reveal the movement while keeping the winding advantage of a full rotor. The rotor mass itself is cut from dense metals such as tungsten, gold or platinum to maximise inertia, which is what gives that familiar weight as the watch swings on your wrist.