Do We Need Watch Winders?

[cerbom]

Originally Posted by Phrank

If I recall correctly, TRF member Vanessa CW21, who is a Rolex watch tech, recommends against the use of watch winders for several reasons.

Check out her post and reasons...think she even made it her sig at one point:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...ze#post5065210

"Okay I'm here to give my 2 cents since I was asked to give an opinion.
I haven't read the responses given, since it's late and I plan on going to bed soon!

I don't like winders.
I don't like them for several reasons:
1) Most people assume they actually wind the watch... No, they keep the watch wound, which means it should still have a good amount of power reserve in order to maintain the power. I get plenty of customers complaining that their power reserve is too short "even though the watch was on the winder all day 3 days prior".
2) Cheap winders MAGNETIZE watches! The motors aren't insulated and cause the watches to start running erratically! I just had one two weeks ago, with a 2 y.o. DJII. A complete service of the movement was required.
3) Unless you're too old, or have some kind of medical condition that prevents you from having the feeling in your fingertips to wind the crown, I don't see a reason to need a winder.
4) I don't like the unnecessary wear it causes the movement. Unnecessary because you're putting wear on the watch while you're not even enjoying it.

In the end, it's all up to you and I'm pretty sure all you TRF'ers know what to expect. I'm mostly having a hard time explaining to people who have absolutely no clue about the inner workings of a watch."

I agree with you.
#2, I didn't t realize
#4, strongly agree.
#3, just plain funny.

[Timeguy123]

Genuine collectors don’t use winders and they don’t polish their watches, but flakes do!

[asantarp]

Bought the SD 50th which states 70 hour reserve. Will wear mainly M-F, and nights out on the weekend so no need for a winder?

[BVLDARI]

For me I tend to rotate 2 watches between weekends and weekdays. Until recently most of my stuff was around a 40 hr power reserve. So if I took a watch off on Friday evening it wouldn't make it through the weekend even though it ran most of the weekend. So a winder made it much easier to wear and I also don't think I added much more wear and tear...

[davidbud88]

Does someone has the Barrington single watch winder? I just bought one this morning and seems pretty decent. Will inform once it arrives.

[Rockrolex]

I've had a Y serial GMT for over 15 years. I keep it on a winder when I'm not wearing it (which may be as much as 3-4 weeks at a time). It's never been serviced and still keeps excellent time.

[davidbud88]

Guys in case you’re looking for one, you can get the chance to win one of the Single Barrington’s watch winder by clicking the following link and participating to the competition that ends on the 20th September 2018!!!



I just got the email after purchasing it... !

[jgh1987]

i think so, unless you wear every single day

[007Sub]

scatola del tempo or nothing.

[strafer_kid]

Maybe just comes down to personal choice at the end of the day?

[Aldwyn]

Weird about the magnetizing... I have used cheap winders for the past 10+ years, and never had an issue!

[fsprow]

I only use a winder on the two Pateks i own that have complications (day, moon phase etc).

[jcatlas]

"Non-Quickset" Holy hell setting the date is a pain in the ass.

[kgglonghorn]

I used winders for several years. After my last one broke (it seems like they all do) I decided to just lay my watches on my safe when not on my wrist. Yes, I have to wind them when I put them on, but much like manual winds, I feel like it has become part of a ritual, which I thoroughly enjoy and I have had absolutely no issues with timekeeping. And I don't bother with setting the date since I cant read it anymore anyway!
:-)

[kgglonghorn]

Originally Posted by kgglonghorn

I used winders for several years. After my last one broke (it seems like they all do) I decided to just lay my watches on my safe when not on my wrist. Yes, I have to wind them when I put them on, but much like manual winds, I feel like it has become part of a ritual, which I thoroughly enjoy and I have had absolutely no issues with timekeeping. And I don't bother with setting the date since I cant read it anymore anyway!
:-)

And before people pile on, I meant IN my safe!!

[aa909]

To be honest, I don't think watch winders are a good idea. If not on your wrist, you're better off letting the watch just rest, hence less wear and tear on the movement and fewer services will be required over time.

[F83]

After reading on this subject and asking different watchmakers over the years.... I have no idea if winders are good for your watches or bad. Generally I've come to believe that there is so much disagreement that they're probably roughly neutral. They clearly aren't "terrible" for your watches - nor are they "life saving" for your watches. If either of those things were true, then there would be more of a consensus among watch makers.

However I am very clear that I like the convenience. Fo me personally - I keep the watches I am wearing in active rotation on winders (unless they are manuals of course). For me that means I have about 4 or so watches on winders - out of about 12 automatics. Some of that is seasonal (I don't tend to wear leather strap watches in the summer) but mostly it's about mixing it up a bit.

[bobernet]

Between things like perpetual calendars, non-quickset date mechanisms, and the convenience of adjusting time by a minute or two when wearing a watch that’s sat for a while, I’m a big fan.

I’m betting Vanessa doesn’t own an AP 15202, Patek PCC, non-quickset Day-Date, etc. no one tells people not to wear their watches for fear of wearing out the movement. A winder is no different, and much more configurable in terms of things like overwinding, reversing wheels, etc.

[Stuk]

Interesting thread - my DJ41 (2017) recently began stopping when on the winder. Appears that the rotor is not spinning (making a grindy noise too).

Never have a problem when on the wrist - would not have picked up there is an issue unless I used a winder or until it stopped winding on my wrist (would be damaged by then I guess - and probably out of warranty if my usual luck applied with these sorts of things).

FWIW I only wear the Rolex occasionally (weekends or travelling) so I like to grab it and go hence the winder is convenient.

AD said Rolex do not recommend using a winder but could not articulate why.

The watch is now being assessed by the Service Department. - a bit annoying TBH.

[AREK28]

I just purchased the billstone rosewood 4 watch winder for USD 425, it runs on battery or electric plug, works great! I never have to manually wind my automatic watches anymore, i might purchase another one for my other watches...

[joli160]

Originally Posted by AREK28

I just purchased the billstone rosewood 4 watch winder for USD 425, it runs on battery or electric plug, works great! I never have to manually wind my automatic watches anymore, i might purchase another one for my other watches...

I like this one, huge glass pane

[Token74]

I have ten watches. I typically have four watches on the go at any one time with the rest in my safe. I have a three-watch wonder and it’s great. I really don’t understand the negativity from some about winders,

If you enjoy setting and winding your watch, then great, don’t have a winder, I get that. I don’t want to set and wind a watch each time I go to wear it, so I use a winder.




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[gtnator]

.....so should I buy a watch winder?


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[ervelo]

Unless the watch is an annual/perpetual calendar, I don't think it's necessary. I'm in the camp who thinks it's best to let the movement rest

[jhauke]

Originally Posted by ervelo

Unless the watch is an annual/perpetual calendar, I don't think it's necessary. I'm in the camp who thinks it's best to let the movement rest

I've not heard of letting the movement rest, although several of my pieces end up that way. Is there an actual benefit vs keeping them wound and moving?

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[nda]

I am not sure what a 'genuine' collector is - however I have several GMT watches and an annual calendar too. A watch winder means I don't have the bother of re-setting them, or winding them. My winders are 'capped' at 900 bi-directional revolutions a day, so in theory they don't stay fully wound. I can change watches without any fiddling. :)

[schoolboy]

I don’t need one but I have one!

Never use it

I bought it at an estate sale for cheap so I figured why not

[Ignorant1]

I let my little friend take care of this . . .

[Kowaco]

I had my watch on a watch winder for 20 years and it didn’t wear it out, i sent it back to Rolex for a service at the 20 year mark. I think the watch would go in for a normal cleaning long before the watch winder wore it out


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[Rolexoman]

I have two built in winders...lol