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Watch winders
- Thread starter Yasrolex
- Start date
Not saying you shouldn’t go for it, but wouldn’t watch winders add to the time “run” by the watch. Isn’t it a bit better to just let it rest every now and then
DzR-ALF
Active Member
I'm also thinking of taking a winder, because I wear my watch at most 1 time a week or less often.
I recently talked with one person and came to the conclusion that winder is harmless if you set the mode to ~ 650-750 rotation \ day
Perhaps it does more harm to my watch when it just lies in the closet and gets oil thickening.
I recently talked with one person and came to the conclusion that winder is harmless if you set the mode to ~ 650-750 rotation \ day
Perhaps it does more harm to my watch when it just lies in the closet and gets oil thickening.
- 25/9/22
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Is the person you talked with a watch maker? Yes or no?
"Oil thickening" is a falsehood that stems from the old days where oils were trash, modern synthetic oils dont "thicken", nor do you need to run your watch.
Think about it like this. Running your watch on a winder is like turning on your car on idle and not running it.
The only reason to run a winder is if you have a watch with a weak crown, such as the VSF seamaster or PO. Or some horrible perpetual calendar you don't want to set every time you wear it.
DzR-ALF
Active Member
~600 rotation per day = the same as just wearing a watch. Is not it so?
It's bad if they always spin in winder without stopping (cheap winder without programs)
P.S. I do not know about the thickening of the oil, but due to the fact that my vsf 126610 constantly lie in the closet, they have a slightly smaller power reserve at the maximum spring factory (it was ~ 68 hours, now exactly 66) + before the hands started after 1-2 turns of the crown, now it happens that after 10-15. Is this due to the fact that they lie motionless for a long time? Everything can be
This week, I had two crowns broken on my 14 year old replicas with 7750 movement. It happened when putting on the date (one had rust and the other didn't).
I did not had them in the winder and use them around ten times per year over these years... may be after changing the crowns I think about putting them on the winder…
Both replicas I had to replace the movement because after around 10 years the ended stopping after a while running (probably due to oil thickening) take into account that some movement makers may try to cheap out in the oils. The good ones are pretty expensive, and if they run out of it, they can put canola or sesame seed oil...
Best regards
I did not had them in the winder and use them around ten times per year over these years... may be after changing the crowns I think about putting them on the winder…
Both replicas I had to replace the movement because after around 10 years the ended stopping after a while running (probably due to oil thickening) take into account that some movement makers may try to cheap out in the oils. The good ones are pretty expensive, and if they run out of it, they can put canola or sesame seed oil...
Best regards
I would say it's absolutely a matter of taste. Even if you would like to display your watches for yourself, there are great watch cases and watch boxes that really look good.
The sole reasons I don't use watch winders is the movements, even Gens, have a finite life as does anything mechanical.
Further, modern synthetic oils do not dry out and congeal.
So, IMHO ....................
Running watches on winders is just like leaving the engine running 24 / 7 / 365 on a vehicle, it will crap out sooner rather than later.
I still have all my watches on display, in a cabinet with glass front and watch stands.
The cabinet is in our bedroom rather than visible to family and friends, simply because I am not a "look at what I've got" kinda guy, and don't always want to discuss watches with other non watch enthusiasts.
Further, modern synthetic oils do not dry out and congeal.
So, IMHO ....................
Running watches on winders is just like leaving the engine running 24 / 7 / 365 on a vehicle, it will crap out sooner rather than later.
I still have all my watches on display, in a cabinet with glass front and watch stands.
The cabinet is in our bedroom rather than visible to family and friends, simply because I am not a "look at what I've got" kinda guy, and don't always want to discuss watches with other non watch enthusiasts.
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DzR-ALF
Active Member
I have already written about this a little bit above.
In a normal winder, the clock doesn't rotate 24/7, does it? If you set the mode to ~ 600-750 rotation per day, then it will be about the same as just wearing a watch on your hand, isn't it?
I'm just trying to think logically)
Yes what you say is correct, but so is what I say, I'm not for one minute suggesting they are being overwound !!
What I am saying is if you keep the watch running with a winder, therefore running when you don't wear it, all the time it is running it is wearing out !!
If like some of us with multiple watches, we don't wear them often. Mine can go a month or more not running before I decide to wear lets say my Daytona, or Seamaster etc, so during that period it is not running it saves wear and tear, therefore it will last one helluva lot longer
These are all arbitrary figures off the top of my head .................
Simple maths, lets assume a certain rep movement will clap out at 2 years, that is 730 days.
If it is only running for 1 day per month that is 12 days per year, now that watch will still be working in 60 years time, so the watches last exponentially longer.
Obviously IRL wearing it for a day will likely result in it running 2 - 3 days before it stops, but it would still mean 20 - 30 years of good service.
HTH
yes, I think here We have to choose between two evils which one is less harming to the watch... risk the whole movement with the winder equivalent to normal full time use or risk breaking the crown adjusting the date...
Yes but in many replicas, finding a movement is a lot easier and not far more expensive than a crown ... on a GEN, will be way cheaper the crown than the movement... so, I'm leaning towards a winder that like the one I have turns 5min/ hour for the replicas and the box for the GENs...Yes what you say is correct, but so is what I say, I'm not for one minute suggesting they are being overwound !!
What I am saying is if you keep the watch running with a winder, therefore running when you don't wear it, all the time it is running it is wearing out !!
If like some of us with multiple watches, we don't wear them often. Mine can go a month or more not running before I decide to wear lets say my Daytona, or Seamaster etc, so during that period it is not running it saves wear and tear, therefore it will last one helluva lot longer
These are all arbitrary figures off the top of my head .................
Simple maths, lets assume a certain rep movement will clap out at 2 years, that is 730 days.
If it is only running for 1 day per month that is 12 days per year, now that watch will still be working in 60 years time, so the watches last exponentially longer.
Obviously IRL wearing it for a day will likely result in it running 2 - 3 days before it stops, but it would still mean 20 - 30 years of good service.
HTH
how do I solve this?
DzR-ALF
Active Member
Yes, you are definitely right too.Yes what you say is correct, but so is what I say, I'm not for one minute suggesting they are being overwound !!
What I am saying is if you keep the watch running with a winder, therefore running when you don't wear it, all the time it is running it is wearing out !!
If like some of us with multiple watches, we don't wear them often. Mine can go a month or more not running before I decide to wear lets say my Daytona, or Seamaster etc, so during that period it is not running it saves wear and tear, therefore it will last one helluva lot longer
These are all arbitrary figures off the top of my head .................
Simple maths, lets assume a certain rep movement will clap out at 2 years, that is 730 days.
If it is only running for 1 day per month that is 12 days per year, now that watch will still be working in 60 years time, so the watches last exponentially longer.
Obviously IRL wearing it for a day will likely result in it running 2 - 3 days before it stops, but it would still mean 20 - 30 years of good service.
HTH
I rarely wear my watch (I can't do it in 1-3 days of wearing a watch on my hand so that the power reserve is enough for 3 days, usually it turns out for a maximum of 2-2.5 days) so sometimes I have to wind them manually 1-2 times a week
(I can work for 3 days and then have 3 days off, so by my next work shift, the movement of the clock usually stops. And lately I've been working from home, so I only wear a watch a couple of times a month when I leave home for some events)
In my situation, it is probably better to have a winder, because in my mode of frequent manual winding of the watch, there is a very high chance of breaking the crown or the gear mechanism
And this is provided that in the future I want to buy 2-3 more rep watches)
I'm obviously not getting across my explanation of why I don't use winders.
Whether a watch is hand wound, wrist wound or winder machine wound the watches movement will be running. The whole point of my advice is based upon the wear and tear of any mechanical device when it is running.
Whether a watch is hand wound, wrist wound or winder machine wound the watches movement will be running. The whole point of my advice is based upon the wear and tear of any mechanical device when it is running.
speadracer
Active Member
I think we all here your point of view... and it is logical and w/o question of reasoning.
Others (like myself) use a watch winder to keep our 'daily' wear (2) watch variety running strong. I feel GEN or REP the crown is the weakest part of the watch and would rather have a watch ready to wear, rather then unwinding and winding every couple days.
I keep two watches wound and my wife keeps two watches wound for a week/month... then we rotate our collection and let the watches 'relax' until the next go-around.
There is no wrong answer... it's all about each person preference. I just had (two) GEN 7750 movements replaced after 20 years of service... for me it was cheaper to spend $1,500 for a movement versus $500-$900 to have the movement repaired and serviced.
Oh, for sure yes, each person to his own, 100% agree.
I was also pleased to see that like myself, you have had good service with 7750 movements.
I hang out on a lot of car forums, and I see a lot of "so and so is always going wrong, these cars are shit", (we are talking high end Mercedes here) ..........
I see it that the issue is everyone and his dog reports problems, disses the product, but very few actually write up that their whatever has been good for a very long time
I guess that is just human nature. Anyways, I hope the watch winders work out for you
Teamjlf
I'm Pretty Popular
Ive been using one for years. ( medium quality Ali Express 4 watch winder ) The biggest issue has been the wear and tear on the actual watch winder motors themselves - LOL I've replaced them 3 times now.
The watches on the winder are still going strong with no issues. Depending on the quality of the winder, some movements do not respond well....... I have plenty of MYOTA 9015 reps and these do not work well on my winder. The single direction rotor wind on many watches just dont work as well on the cheaper winders. Basically the watch winder does not wind them up sufficiently and do they stop working after 3-4 days. In fact my GEN OMEGA SMP Chrono running the calibre 3330 also doesn't like the winder too much. ( once again this modified ETA Valjoux 7753 runs a unidirectional rotor )
On my bi directional watches - all good with no issues. As long as the winder keeps running - so do the watches.
The watches on the winder are still going strong with no issues. Depending on the quality of the winder, some movements do not respond well....... I have plenty of MYOTA 9015 reps and these do not work well on my winder. The single direction rotor wind on many watches just dont work as well on the cheaper winders. Basically the watch winder does not wind them up sufficiently and do they stop working after 3-4 days. In fact my GEN OMEGA SMP Chrono running the calibre 3330 also doesn't like the winder too much. ( once again this modified ETA Valjoux 7753 runs a unidirectional rotor )
On my bi directional watches - all good with no issues. As long as the winder keeps running - so do the watches.