This $38,000 watch-winder is a mesmerizing work of art that keeps automatic watches ticking

Automatic watches musn't be left unattended.

Unlike a quartz watch (one that requires a battery), automatic mechanical watches are usually wound by the movement of the wrist.

When not worn, the watches die and, as you're dreading resetting all of their complications, sit neglected.

Enter the Lumisidus 11 Watch Winder, which mimics the movement of the wrist and takes winders out of the dark ages and into the 21st century.

The unit keeps 11 automatic watches wound up and read for use, displaying them behind crystal and illuminating them with individual LED lights all the while.

Made with 24 karat gold plating and complemented by a smartphone app, the device balances art and utility. But its beauty is more than skin-deep.

A Swiss-made motor rotates the cylindrical drum containing the watches in a mellow, mesmerizing way, keeping each watch ticking and its complications perfectly in order.

The winder's motion is constant and automatically programmed; it even adjusts direction for watches that can only be wound in one direction.

The speed and frequency of the rotation can be adjusted via the app. The individual LED lights (and their changing colors) can also be controlled by the app.

The 24 carat gold version of the winder retails for $38,000, while a non-gold version sells for $22,000. For the beginner collector, a model housing three watches is available for $8,200.