Do you keep ALL of your watches running ....

[watchmaninpa]

I asked this question before and got just 2 replies... so I thought I would ask again.

What do you guys do with your watches that are out of rotation ? Do you keep them running all the time?
OR ... do you let them wind down and start them up again when it is time to put them on ?

Is it better to keep a watch running.... or let the movement rest while you wear other watches ?

Just want to know what others are up to. I usually let mine run down... what do you do ?
AND....what is best for the watch ?

Thanks

 

[Retina]

nope, let them be, im too lazy and cheap to keep them always running... no problems so far though

 

[junbug5150]

I do. OCD.

 

[Ralphy]

Some guys are so consumed with keeping them all running. Some aren't. I think consensus here is winders aren't necessary. Just rotate them and wear them happily.

Myself, I usually wear one for a week or so then switch. Keep them all in my box. Don't have a winder. If I don't rotate I give them all a shake every few weeks to ensure they keep running. Doing so is best to keep the oils and lubricants in the right spots inside the movement.

I don't mind setting my watch in the morning. So as long as you don't have an issue setting them daily I recommend this. Good luck!


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[Rx4Time]

Personally, I have a two watch winder, so the ones that are in the current rotation are ready to go, the rest, I just let them wind down. This is more of a laziness thing as the more complications on a watch, the longer to get it ready to go. Overall, probably better to let it wind down and give them a few shakes occasionally to run them as mentioned to reduce wear on the movement. My two cents for what it is worth.

 

[mysterio]

Dear goodness, no. It would be prohibitive for me to buy a winder that could accomodate my auto PAMs. :lol: Just give them a shake for the most part and there they go.

 

[sinsir]

I don't want them running all the time, more wear and tear equals more service and $$$. I try for a steady rotation and every so often give those left on the bench a shake. But for the most part it's a rep and if it dies it dies.. Sell for parts, replace, or upgrade.

 

[watchmaninpa]

I don't want them running all the time, more wear and tear equals more service and $$$. I try for a steady rotation and every so often give those left on the bench a shake. But for the most part it's a rep and if it dies it dies.. Sell for parts, replace, or upgrade.

I know they are reps.... but I am so attached to them... I feel sometimes they are the real thing.
when the day comes that they die off and I have to replace them. I'll feel some sadness about it. LOL
I know... maybe I am crazy... but some of them are so accurate.... I forget they are reps.

 

[Rx4Time]

I forget some of mine are reps also, and yes, the cost of maintaining them can add up (I currently have an A7750 out for service and that is pushing $200, still cheaper then replacing it). More reason to not subject them to unnecessary wear.

 

[watchmaninpa]

Thanks everyone for your comments.... always interesting to see what people are doing.

I do think maybe I will let them wind down and then start them up again when it's their turn.

no sense in adding extra wear if the watch is not on my wrist.
that seems to makes good sense.

thanks again.

 

[Rx4Time]

You are welcome! Enjoy the hobby, it can become addicting!

 

[JAFO]

I have never once worried about the reps in my watch box that I don't wear on a regular basis. Sadly, my most expensive reps are the ones I don't wear all that often.

There are numerous threads here discussing the benefits vs the down side of using winders and I pretty much ignore them all. Most of us own reps and they're either 2813s or 2836s, and the cost of replacing either movement is negligible if you have a watch you really love. So wear them whenever you want and store them whenever you want.

 

[peterpl]

I have a 6 watch winder. You cant keep all watches running when you have over 30 of them. LOL

 

[mech500]

I do think maybe I will let them wind down and then start them up again when it's their turn.

no sense in adding extra wear if the watch is not on my wrist.
that seems to makes good sense.

In my personal experience, the only time my watches (gen or rep) have failed on me, was when I was messing around with the crown/date/ time setting and/or when a watch has been in storage for a while and I pick it up and notice it won't start up.

Regularly setting the time on a dead watch (kept in storage) Increases the risk of stripped crown, broken stem, snapped date change gear etc (particularly on reps).

If you only have 3-4 watches that you wear in rotation, then I personally believe you will be adding more wear and tear by winding/setting time once or twice a week per watch.

Generally speaking, A watch constantly worn on the wrist (except at night) has seldom caused me any issues for many many years. Mechanical watches are designed to be worn. Movement keeps the mechanism lubricated.

Therefore using a watch winder on slow speed with loooooong rest periods (mimicking daily use on the wrist) - is perfectly harmless IMO.

 

[Zeinharis]

I do let them down for couple of hours once a week just to rest them and winding them just because I want the watch to run at its optimal performance, I never have a problem with all my reps and gens (which have either ST2555, ETA2836, and clone). I understand why we shouldn't manually wound A7750 due to bad gears, but I don't see any reason why we can't manually wound an ETA2836/24 clone.


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[mech500]

but I don't see any reason why we can't manually wound an ETA2836/24 clone.

I like to wind my watches too but it's the only time I have damaged a watch. Rep watches often have soft crowns/tubes that can strip easily. I've even snapped a stem during winding. It's hard to find crown/tube parts for some of my older reps and therefore I am very careful when winding. I even snapped a date change spur on a gen 16600 when winding....I took the watch out of storage...started to wind it....noticed a small amount of resistance after only 15 turns....gave it one or two more winds and SNAP....something broke.

 

[Zeinharis]

I like to wind my watches too but it's the only time I have damaged a watch. Rep watches often have soft crowns/tubes that can strip easily. I've even snapped a stem during winding. It's hard to find crown/tube parts for some of my older reps and therefore I am very careful when winding. I even snapped a date change spur on a gen 16600 when winding....I took the watch out of storage...started to wind it....noticed a small amount of resistance after only 15 turns....gave it one or two more winds and SNAP....something broke.

Sorry for your losses mate.

Yes we should wound it slowly either it is a reps or gens, I always wound my watch 40 turns when it's ran out of power.


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[Debellum]

I own 4 watch winders , and use them for gens and the reps.
In fact today I entered the gen 16570 and the gen BB Tudor....
But for Panerai I have never used them....'cause I like only the manual windind.
Maybe I'll use it for 243 when will I have it in my hands , but fit the Asian 7750 , I think it does not retain the charge.
I noticed this problem when I was an AP Rubberclad....:dry:

Junio M.

 

[sinsir]

I like to wind my watches too but it's the only time I have damaged a watch. Rep watches often have soft crowns/tubes that can strip easily. I've even snapped a stem during winding. It's hard to find crown/tube parts for some of my older reps and therefore I am very careful when winding. I even snapped a date change spur on a gen 16600 when winding....I took the watch out of storage...started to wind it....noticed a small amount of resistance after only 15 turns....gave it one or two more winds and SNAP....something broke.

I agree a weak point on reps is the crown/tubes. If they break it's a good time to go Gen parts if you can, but that's not always an option. I have a theory besides the "soft" materials used.. It's the amount of watches we have in our collection that adds to a chance of failure (the constant and stagnate rotation theory). I feel if you have a rep or two in regular rotation that you will rarely need to adjust the time and the "soft" material wouldn't come into play as much. It's worn, loved, and a happy watch on the wrist that only needs a little adjustment of the time. That comes with the territory of owing a self winding watch.

Either way, winder or no winder, There is no wrong answer...

 

[rezolution]

I know they are reps.... but I am so attached to them... I feel sometimes they are the real thing.
when the day comes that they die off and I have to replace them. I'll feel some sadness about it. LOL
I know... maybe I am crazy... but some of them are so accurate.... I forget they are reps.

Being attached to them is fine as long as you don't talk to them :laughing: