How long till your V6 needs a winding?

[msj288]

Hi everyone, i apologize for the noob question but as this is the first automatic watch I've ever purchased, your insight would be appreciated. So I received my husband's v6 on Aug. 22nd (still running) and set it on the 24th and gave it a full wind (30 turns). It didn't require winding, but I didn't know you don't wind a watch until it stops . Anyway, today I checked on it thinking my husband had discovered his present and noticed it stopped. So I winded it and set the date again.

My question is, how long does your watch remain idle before you have to wind and set it again? I ordered the watch way in advance before my anniversary, seeing as the V6 i purchased prior to this for my father took closer to 2 months to arrive, and I don't know if its ok to just let it sit idle and wind it before giving it to him 1.5 months later?

Also, I may have set it incorrectly the first 2 times. Is it true you cannot set the date between the hrs of 10pm to 2am? Someone with a gen had mentioned that to me, and I'm a tad paranoid i may have done something to eventually damage the movement. Your input is much appreciated!

 

[Raddave]

Its not gonna hurt anything letting it sit for that time.

Yes you can damage the date setting mechanism if you set the date while the date changer IS ENGAGED.
You might have got lucky when you did it.

But for me, Ill always set the time to 8pm then set the date to the date before, then set the time again and advance until it trips the date over by itself then continue setting the time to what ever the time is.


Lucky husband to have a cool wife like you !

 

[msj288]

Thanks for the tip! I'll check after midnight to see if the date wheel has been affected due to my "misadventure". I'm kicking myself for playing with his watch, especially since I'm not particularly well versed with automatics. I didn't even realize until after researching this form that the dial hands move counter clockwise when setting the watch, and may have even set the time backwards. The good news is the watch is still running! And may I ask what you mean when you say setting the date when the date changer is engaged?

And thank you for the compliment!

 

[Raddave]

And may I ask what you mean when you say setting the date when the date changer is engaged?

And thank you for the compliment!

Well the date changing mech actually starts advancing at around 11pm and gets close to the date wheel at around 1145. Then at 1200 it hits the datewheel and jumps it forward one notch. the wheel continues under power to around 100 AM to clear the notches on the datewheel.

If it hasnt cleared those notches yet, and you try to set the date VIA the quick set mech (the crown) one gear will be pulling the datewheel against the other gear, and this is when the damage occurs. When this happens you will usually feel more resistance on the crown while trying to set the date.

 

[KBH]

All in all, it's very difficult, and in most cases nearly impossible to screw up an ETA movement, other than the 7750 series, by changing the date. The quick set mechanism is almost instantaneous on the 24xx series which is in your watch. And once it clicks over, it's completely out of the way.

On the other hand, it's extremely easy to screw up an ETA 7750 movement with an improper date change.

 

[trailboss99]

Just let it sit, it will be fine. The power reserve (ie: how long it will sit and run without being worn) on an auto is usually around 30 hours. It was running when delivered because it was winding itself while in the post. I can't recall having received an auto in the post that wasn't running unless it was hacked (crown pulled out to the time set so the movement stops).

 

[B&E355]

Wearing on the wrist, never (as you'd expect).

But the reserve is not long at all. Within around 12 - 16 hours I'd say on mine, if it were sitting, it would stop and need winding.

If I took it off to go to bed, and slept in, chances are by the time I got myself sorted in the morning and got to the watch it's stopped.

 

[trailboss99]

Then yours has issues mate, 20 hours should be the dead minimum.

 

[B&E355]

Possible (to be honest I think that's very ambitious, as even TC states that when actually WEARING the watch, with little movement as seen during a desk job, you may even have to wind as the reserve runs dry so to speak), but one also has to take into account how much power it has to begin with.

IE: The max power reserve is realized, leaving the watch sit after being fully wound.

After wearing on the wrist and taking off the watch may barely be wound at all.