The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Was just wondering if anyone had an opinion on the use of a watch winder. I understand that there are a number of factors to consider ie. certain movements require clockwise rotation etc. With all those factors consider I would like to know if anyone had any insights on the overall value or affect of using a winder.

The value that I see is having all my watches ready for use at any given time without having to set them and also the idea of keeping the movement active.

Watchwinders are great if your timepiece is a complication and you don't wear it every day. However, when ever the gears in your timepiece are moving they are being worn down. I would equate putting my watch on a watch winder the same as starting my car and letting it run in the driveway until I'm ready to go out, whether its the same day or in 3 days, I just wouldn't do it.

Similar argument has been made for the opposite... in that watches actually run better and last longer when they are run continuously in a winder than if they are allowed to stop for long periods. I've also wondered which is true.

Perhaps the watchmakeress can chime in with some insight?

This argument pops up fairly regularly with respect to any electro-mechanical device, be it a light bulb or a car...a light bulb left on all the time will ultimately last far longer than one which is constantly turned on or off - similarly, computer power supplies last a lot longer when left on permenantly (believe me, I know!) (And yes, I know this isn't due to wear as such, but the principal remains valid, in my eyes)

Watches are designed and built to be wound up and run...and for the most part, they do just that. To stop and start any mechanism will have, eventually, a detrimental effect.

In reference to the poster who spoke about leaving his car idling in the drive, most 'normal' car engines wouldn't suffer very much - it's also far better to drive away with a warm engine, but I digress...aside from the fact that it's an enormous waste of ressources, there are also some engines (the VW/AUDI TDI for example) where simply leaving the car running has no efffect at all.

Personally I doubt a watch winder would 'create' wear that wouldn't ordinarily occur anyway during the life of a watch, and as most of my watches will far outlast my lifespan, I can't say I'd be worried.

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Navitimer World, Evo, Blacksteel, Avenger
Loads of Panerai
Submariner Date, GMT Master llc

I have quite a number of watches and keep my "most likely," on my "four up" winder at all times.

My winder winds both ways then rests so the stress, if any, is minimal.

Rotating ones collection between wrist, and winder keeps everything in motion and the lubrication distributed. The slip-clutch may have to work on occasion - but that is what it is for.

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Keep Ticking!
Smiles on You ~ Don in Canada.

Sorry it took me this long to reply, but I actually asked for another watchmaker's opinion, who has far more experience in this business then myself.
We both agreed that watches aren't made to be laying still for a prolonged period of time, due to the fact the oils would "settle" too much. At the other hand, an automatic winder does make the watch movement "wear out" faster, and a maintenance service would be required sooner.
So it would be our recommendation to just manually wind watches that aren't worn all the time, at least once a month, so the lubrication gets distributed. Does this make sense?
The only time we really recommend an automatic winder for our customers, is when they don't move enough to keep the watch wound while wearing it. (like retired people, or even computer analysts...)
Feel free to ask me specific questions about this.

Regards,
Vanessa

Thank you for an EXPERTs opinion.

As a 74 year old I obviously need the winder to suppliment my movements.
Even on my right wrist my "Lovelies" do not get full winds.

I does indeed stand to reason that non stop winding is overkill.

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Keep Ticking!
Smiles on You ~ Don in Canada.

Prior to watchmakeress response I sent a email to the Canadian Breitling service center for their opinion on the watch winder question and this was their response.

"Here I will give you more details regarding caring for your Breitling.

Your Breitling Super Avenger carries the calibre 7750.5 which winds clockwise and your Breitling Superocean carries the calibre 2824-2.5 which winds in both directions.

While keeping your watch on a winder will help to prevent the oil from harden, it will eventually result in wearing on some wheels and gears. However, wear and tear is the unavoidable result of any mechanical movement.

Therefore, it is recommended that a mechanical movement should have a maintenance service every 4 to 5 years, to check and re-lubricate movement parts and exchange worn parts where necessary.

Trusting that this information answered your question and we encourage you to not hesitate to contact us for any further information you may require.

Kind regards,

Breitling After-Sales Service"

Thanks to all for your valued response

Jerome

I've recently heard of a mechanical watch who's rotor actually charges a small battery which powers the quartz movement. When the watch 'senses' a lack of movement (and the battery isn't being charged) it stops moving the hands and effectively goes to sleep until such time as the wearer puts it back on and the rotor starts moving. At this point the hands whizz round to the correct time (and I imagine the date also) and hey presto !

Sounds wonderfully Japanese to me - where can I get one?!

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Navitimer World, Evo, Blacksteel, Avenger
Loads of Panerai
Submariner Date, GMT Master llc

Thats sounds like a Kinetic watch which is also referred to as autoquartz.
Never actually heard of the go to sleep or hibernate capability though.

I'll try to find the name/make - it's possibly a SEIKO

Edit: Checkout this link...

http://www.seikousa.com/Technology/Tech ... ologyId=14

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Navitimer World, Evo, Blacksteel, Avenger
Loads of Panerai
Submariner Date, GMT Master llc

I read a little of what was written by SEIKO with respect to their Kinetic watches - and this just blows my mind

"Seiko Kinetic Chronograph combines Kinetic quartz accuracy with ingenious traditional watchmaking - It has four times the number of wheels found in a standard quartz watch."

As if the performance of a watch is governed by the number of 'wheels' (technical term not usually understood by mere mortals) it has...??!!

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Navitimer World, Evo, Blacksteel, Avenger
Loads of Panerai
Submariner Date, GMT Master llc

So if I only wear my watch on the weekends, I should just manually wind and adjust the time/date each time I put it on? The AD told me my watch would be more accurate if I got a winder for it. This is all very confusing...

I've got one automatic and two quartz watches. My favorite jeans and business casual is my Aerospace so I don't have the Steelfish on every day.

I've found that putting the winder on the shortest winding and longest rest between windings possible it keeps decent enough time. If it's kept wound totally, it starts running slow.

I've thought about it and figure when a spring is close to fully unwound it will push harder than when it's about half way. When it's fully wound it will push softer.

That has nothing to do with your actual question but I was free associating for a minute.

I also figure that a watch keeps itself lubed and keeps the oil and whatnot from settling if it stays running. That and not having to screw down and unscrew the crown all the time will help a lot.

Excellent information!

Should this post be made a sticky?