Speedy winding

[TikTok]

Does anyone else find it difficult to wind a speedmaster. Small crown and the pushers get in the way. Not easy for someone with sausage fingers. I had a look at the white dial and discounted it for that very reason. I have also turned down a Snoopy, again, for the same reason.

[brandrea]

If you hold the watch so that you simply “roll” your forefinger under the crown, it’s super easy and smooth. I don’t use my thumb at all

[Rudiologe]

Winding my old 1861 was an absolute pain in the a**. My new 3861 was difficult to wind in the beginning, now it's pretty smooth. Rolling your finger as mentioned above does make it a bit easier for me, just be careful as it might put strain on the crown stem.

[brandrea]

Here is what I’m referring to OP … there’s no strain whatsoever on the stem if you don’t manhandle it

https://youtu.be/DEtuchdujtk?si=RvWz0JUTh5HWBOAm

[samson66]

OK two part answer

Yes Speedmasters are a PITA to wind compared with other watches. Tudors with their big crowns, no pushers, and lack of crown guards are a complete joy to wind. Speedies are not. The 3861 seems to be a little smoother than the 1861, but it's still not great.

But if you use the finger rolling technique it is a lot easier. I do what Brian says with the rolling the finger under the crown, but I also involve my thumb at the same time on top. Whatever method works for you. Where people really struggle is when they attempt to TURN the crown with their thumb and forefinger. That can be a frustrating and painful experience.

Try the "roll" and I think you will do just fine.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by TikTok

Does anyone else find it difficult to wind a speedmaster. Small crown and the pushers get in the way. Not easy for someone with sausage fingers. I had a look at the white dial and discounted it for that very reason. I have also turned down a Snoopy, again, for the same reason.

The Speedy has always been a thumb shredder.

Been wearing mine for the past few weeks.

[TikTok]

Thanks everyone. Seeing it on the vid makes it look so easy and dare I say it, obvious.
I’ll give it a go.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by TikTok

Thanks everyone. Seeing it on the vid makes it look so easy and dare I say it, obvious.
I’ll give it a go.

Let us know how you make out

[alllexandru]

Originally Posted by brandrea

If you hold the watch so that you simply “roll” your forefinger under the crown, it’s super easy and smooth. I don’t use my thumb at all

This

[Tricolore66]

Tudor Black Bay Chrono is kind of awful to wind. Big crown, but high resistance. Apparently this is just a characteristic of the shared Tudor/Breitling chrono movement, but it definitely diminishes the experience.

Originally Posted by samson66

OK two part answer

Yes Speedmasters are a PITA to wind compared with other watches. Tudors with their big crowns, no pushers, and lack of crown guards are a complete joy to wind. Speedies are not. The 3861 seems to be a little smoother than the 1861, but it's still not great.

But if you use the finger rolling technique it is a lot easier. I do what Brian says with the rolling the finger under the crown, but I also involve my thumb at the same time on top. Whatever method works for you. Where people really struggle is when they attempt to TURN the crown with their thumb and forefinger. That can be a frustrating and painful experience.

Try the "roll" and I think you will do just fine.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

Tudor Black Bay Chrono is kind of awful to wind. Big crown, but high resistance. Apparently this is just a characteristic of the shared Tudor/Breitling chrono movement, but it definitely diminishes the experience.

I've never operated the crown on a BB Chrono. I was speaking about my experience winding the Black Bay divers, of which I've owned four over the years and none currently (this hobby)

Those wound smoothly, had nice big easy to grip crowns, no crown guards, and no pushers. I really enjoyed winding those. I imagine the chrono might be a different story with those screw down pushers on each side of the crown.

[watchdoc123]

Got a motorized crown winder off eBay for like $30. Works like a charm winding my speedmaster 3861. Well worth it if you have trouble winding with your fingers.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/36414288481...4aAltpEALw_wcB

[Jets_fan44]

Interesting

[AEC]

Originally Posted by watchdoc123

Got a motorized crown winder off eBay for like $30. Works like a charm winding my speedmaster 3861. Well worth it if you have trouble winding with your fingers.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/36414288481...4aAltpEALw_wcB

Sacrilege!!! I'll probably buy one

[omar-rye]

If you’d rather not use a motorized one (I wouldn’t either), here’s a great manual option with a rubber tip.

https://youtu.be/_YBsn_iPPX8

https://www.esslinger.com/bergeon-31...der-tool-fr3w/

[wcgreiner]

You're not alone—winding a Speedmaster can be tricky, especially with the small crown and pushers in the way...

It’s a common complaint, especially for those with larger fingers. Some just get used to it, while others pass on the model for that reason!

[RolexBHR]

Very interesting, would be nice if you can post some pics and/or video using it winding a speedy.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by AEC

Sacrilege!!! I'll probably buy one

Ha! Agree and I probably will too

[Andad]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Here is what I’m referring to OP … there’s no strain whatsoever on the stem if you don’t manhandle it

https://youtu.be/DEtuchdujtk?si=RvWz0JUTh5HWBOAm

I don’t look forward to winding my Speedmaster Brian but that is not a good way to wind a manual watch.

But a good way to wear out the crown seal and increase stress on the stem?

[0nly5iv3Digits]

I've never had issues winding my speedy.

PS: I don't have "sausage" fingers

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Andad

I don’t look forward to winding my Speedmaster Brian but that is not a good way to wind a manual watch.

But a good way to wear out the crown seal and increase stress on the stem?

IMO, it doesn’t put any stress on the stem at all. It’s not like a Rolex crown/stem where you pull the crown out and it “pops” into the winding position, it’s “fixed”.

The movements wind so smoothly that it barely feels like anything, (3861/321).

YMMV


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Andad]

Originally Posted by brandrea

IMO, it doesn’t put any stress on the stem at all. It’s not like a Rolex crown/stem where you pull the crown out and it “pops” into the winding position, it’s “fixed”.

The movements wind so smoothly that it barely feels like anything, (3861/321).

YMMV


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ll give this method a try right now.

Yeah, ok, it did wind up but to wind it up fully would still be a pain.

I only got about half way and am not sure if I could ever wind it fully this way or feel the fully wound point.

[AEC]

Originally Posted by TikTok

Thanks everyone. Seeing it on the vid makes it look so easy and dare I say it, obvious.
I’ll give it a go.

There are two factors at play: the person doing the winding is one, and the specific example Speedmaster itself is the other.

Some specific examples of the Speedmaster Pro have extraordinarily high resistance in their crowns. I'll bet if we took ten brand-new Speedmasters out of their boxes and wound them there would be eight perfectly smooth and easy ones, and two painfully difficult ones. I don't know if it's due to seals around the stem or what, but some examples have crowns with resistance to twisting that is simply prohibitive. It's possible you have encountered those.

My first Speedmaster Pro was an old one from the 1960s with Caliber 321 (overhauled by RGM), and its crown twisted easily and smoothly.

I purchased an early 2000s model, reference 3570.50 with Caliber 1861, but its crown was so tight and difficult to twist that I chose to sell it after having it only a few weeks. Just couldn't wind that one!

My wife got me a new 3570.50 for my birthday a year later, and its crown turns easily and smoothly. Also, I feel like over time it got a little easier and smoother. This watch just turned 10 years old and went for its first routine maintenance service. I asked the watchmaker to take any steps he could to prevent the dreaded resistance in the crown, and now after the service it's still buttery smooth to wind and set.



I also own a brand new Speedmaster "First Omega In Space" with Caliber 3861. This one also is super smooth to wind right out of the box, plus the crown is not recessed into an asymmetric case like on a Speedmaster Pro.



Anyhow, a long winded way of saying some Speedmasters are easy, while others are downright miserable. Strange but true.