Watch winder

[Justindo]

If price isn't an issue, I think the Orbitas are the best. They aren't the fanciest or the most expensive, but they put their money in the mechanism. I've had six for over 15 years and I've never had any problems with any of them.

[tamiya]

Originally Posted by Onikage

Also, why has no one come up with a mechanical winder, that itself you have to wind weekly or whatever? Now that would be cool.

Why all winders are electrical? If you want something that stop/starts at timed intervals care say it's a lot easier to implement electronically than to make it as a clockwork machine. Some of the clockwork automatons from the 1700/1800s are amazing pieces of art + engineering.

A mainspring itself might not store enough energy to keep a week's reserve driving a mechanism that has to do some decent work - rotating a watch in a barrel might be more friction than just driving a clock's hands.

However it's not hard to find old grandfathers clocks going for cheap unloved those things have 7-10d reserve with their big weight on a chain system. Plus they usually have quarterly or hourly chime with a separate weight for the chimes... could be an interesting repurposing.

[Steerpike999]

Agree with most here, only really need a winder if you have a perpetual that you aren't wearing or are bothered to wind to keep it going.

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by tamiya

Why all winders are electrical? If you want something that stop/starts at timed intervals care say it's a lot easier to implement electronically than to make it as a clockwork machine. Some of the clockwork automatons from the 1700/1800s are amazing pieces of art + engineering.

A mainspring itself might not store enough energy to keep a week's reserve driving a mechanism that has to do some decent work - rotating a watch in a barrel might be more friction than just driving a clock's hands.

However it's not hard to find old grandfathers clocks going for cheap unloved those things have 7-10d reserve with their big weight on a chain system. Plus they usually have quarterly or hourly chime with a separate weight for the chimes... could be an interesting repurposing.

Yeah the idea of electrical input doesn't sit right with me. I'm not a watchmaker/clock movement specialist, but please feel free to flick me a buck or two if you really take off with this. I'd be delighted to take a prototype off your hands for testing too.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyKoffee

I'll never understand those that line up to hate on a watch winder. Personally, I absolutely love my Wolf watch winder. It brings me joy. I'm not a big fan of tattoos. It's not my thing. But I don't go to a tattoo related site and tell fans of tattoos how much money they are wasting purchasing something that brings them joy.

I haven't seen anyone on this thread hating on winders, only saying that, in their view, they're unnecessary.

I'm not a fan of winders but I have tattoos. To each their own

[lhanddds]

Most winders are bought chiefly as a display case. Unless your watch has numerous complications, really not needed. I might add, if your winder doesn't fit in your safe, you could be asking for problems. That's another topic, however.

[Rocket_Man]

I have an Orbita Rotowind that I bought used. It is over 5 years old and still with the original batteries. The workmanship on the wooden case is first rate. And it is silent.

I suspect the reason mechanical 'clockwork' winders haven't been developed is because a) it is something to wind and kind of defeats the purpose of buying a machine to wind your watches; and b) most winders are kept in the bedroom and being silent in operation is a key feature.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by cc75

According to my AD, it’s Completely useless.

I can understand him or her having an opinion that a winder isn't necessary or is adding wear and tear that i worse than sitting dead but to say it is useless is absurd.

With a winder the watches I wore days or weeks ago have roughly the correct time and have the correct day or date if so equipped. Honestly, I think your AD would do better to explain the pros and cons than to spew nonsense.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by zengineer

I can understand him or her having an opinion that a winder isn't necessary or is adding wear and tear that i worse than sitting dead but to say it is useless is absurd.

With a winder the watches I wore days or weeks ago have roughly the correct time and have the correct day or date if so equipped. Honestly, I think your AD would do better to explain the pros and cons than to spew nonsense.

Not many pros when a modern Rolex can be wound and set within half a minute... Quickset date is there for a reason.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by zengineer

I can understand him or her having an opinion that a winder isn't necessary or is adding wear and tear that i worse than sitting dead but to say it is useless is absurd.

With a winder the watches I wore days or weeks ago have roughly the correct time and have the correct day or date if so equipped. Honestly, I think your AD would do better to explain the pros and cons than to spew nonsense.

I agree. I happen to have three Brookstone quad winders and would always use a winder. Some of my watches are perpetuals or semi-perpetuals, which require constant attention to keep them running. All of my watches have at least a date complication and by keeping them on winders, I know that the date is always correct.

[bobernet]

Winder haters will change their tune as soon as they buy a watch with complications, no quick set, or have a variety of watches they like to wear.

FWIW, even on a modern Rolex, crowns and crown tubes get replaced more often than any internal parts aside from the mainspring. Repeatedly unscrewing, winding, setting, screwing down the crown is more wear than 650 turns on a winder.

[zengineer]

I can turn my winders off, and depending on travel, daily rotation, etc. I sometimes do, but you can't turn a watch box on.

[Ballzzz]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Not many pros when a modern Rolex can be wound and set within half a minute... Quickset date is there for a reason.

What if you aren’t wearing your watch for 1/2/3/4 months? Does it help with lubrication then? Very curious, because if the watch does get excessive wear it technically needs service in 7-10 years if everything performs to spec correct? What can the worst case be? Whatever service I needed I will need regardless, no? Possibly a bit premature? How does Rolex or other watch companies estimate the time on service, 12 hour daily wearing? Or 72 hours a week, what is there usage metric to last that long for recommended service?

[vladamir15]

Originally Posted by SearChart

As a watchmaker, I hate winders.
Oh well, more wear in a movement means more work for me...

^^^^, especially if you only have one watch and its not perpetual calendar. But if you do want it regardless wolf is a good choice.

[JM0127]

Didn't buy a winder (Wolf Modular) until my third watch. Wolf makes a great product.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Ballzzz

What if you aren’t wearing your watch for 1/2/3/4 months? Does it help with lubrication then? Very curious, because if the watch does get excessive wear it technically needs service in 7-10 years if everything performs to spec correct? What can the worst case be? Whatever service I needed I will need regardless, no? Possibly a bit premature? How does Rolex or other watch companies estimate the time on service, 12 hour daily wearing? Or 72 hours a week, what is there usage metric to last that long for recommended service?

If you aren't wearing it for more than a month I'd recommend to wind it and let it run for a bit once every few weeks. This will move the lubricants, modern lubricants don't dry out quickly but you do need it to run frequently.

[sp3000]

It's a Rolex, who cares if the time is right ;) I have 2 and if I want to wear the other one I just put it on, dead or not.. Once it's going for a while, maybe, if I can be bothered I set the time in all of 3 seconds.. otherwise there are enough clocks around.. computer, car, iphone, buildings...etc...:)