Self winding watch questions

Bruceter

Bruceter

Gold Member
Joined
May 19, 2000
Messages
1,476
Hi All,

I received a Seiko 5 self winding watch for Christmas from my wife. I have only had battery powered watches before and was wondering if a self winder needs any special attention? I wear it to work during the week but I probably won't wear it on the weekends. Will it sit for a couple of days without stopping? Or, should I "shake" it side to side for a bit on the days I don't wear it to keep it wound? Can they get over wound? Should I look at one of those winders to store it on?

TIA

Bruceter
 
if it sits for a couple of days it might stop working. but if you give it a quick shake or get on of those shaker stands it should be ok. it also depends on the watch
 
I've had a Seiko Diver for some years. You may have to shake/agitate it for a minute or more daily if not worn to keep it running. I found it easier to let it stop if I don't plan to wear it for a while, and then re-set the time/date/day when I use it again. Your choice, of course.
 
I had and have automatic (self-winding) watches. heysox nailed it. I've seen watch winders as cheap as $40 and as expensive as $1,000(+). Slip it on your wrist and do a self-winding. Spend the watch winder money on a new knife or something you'll enjoy.
 
It probably won't make it the weekend without running down unless you do shake it. I'm pretty sure that uses the 7S26 movement which means you can't wind it with the crown; that's not a big deal but you should be aware of it. Like the others I wouldn't spend the money on a winder.

Auto watches have a clutch in the geartrain so they can't be over-wound. Once the mainspring is fully wound it slips to prevent that from happening.
 
Thanks for the help!
I will probably just give it a shake every morning. It has a screw down crown that is a bit of a nail breaker to pull out to set.

Bruceter
 
I also have a Seiko 5, the aviator model. If you don't wear it for some days, you could shake it every morning for one or a few minutes to keep it running. But I found out that setting the time, day and date takes about one minute. So if I don't wear it, I just let it stop and when I decide to wear it again, I set the time, day and date, shake the watch a few times and then put it on my wrist.
 
I have a Seiko 5 and I wear it every day. As all the guys have said ---- don't get a winder unless you are really trying to maintain consistency with the watch. If that is not big deal to you just wear it when you want to and enjoy it. I have found them to be good watches for the amount of money you pay for them.
Seiko52.jpg
 
Hang it on a hook on your bathroom door. the movement will keep it going. Or Fridge etc. My seiko monster goes for about 3 days or more before stopping. Nice thing about autos is no battery to buy, no oppening the case so seals stay shut. I love autos.
 
Most autos will last about 48 hours before stopping, it's also better for the watch to keep it running rather than let it stop.
 
Haze said:
Most autos will last about 48 hours before stopping, it's also better for the watch to keep it running rather than let it stop.
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Yes you shouldnt let a mechanical watch stop if possible. I think it relies on keeping running to make sure the lubricant stays where its meant to be on the movement.
 
bladefixation2 said:
Yes you shouldnt let a mechanical watch stop if possible. I think it relies on keeping running to make sure the lubricant stays where its meant to be on the movement.
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That's what I was thinking. I didn't have any problems with it stopping this weekend, so I think what I was doing worked.

Thanks for all of the info.

Bruceter
 
Does Seiko use different automatic movements in their watches? I had an old auto about 10 years ago that had an auto movement that would charge a battery, so it could go six months without being worn and still work fine. I don't know if they still use those though.
 
storl said:
Does Seiko use different automatic movements in their watches? I had an old auto about 10 years ago that had an auto movement that would charge a battery, so it could go six months without being worn and still work fine. I don't know if they still use those though.
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An automatic watch movement winds a spring that keeps the watch running.
I think that the movement you are thinking of is the Kinetic movement that Seiko has. It does charge a battery or capacitor and has a rotor similar to an automatic.
 
ArchAngel said:
An automatic watch movement winds a spring that keeps the watch running.
I think that the movement you are thinking of is the Kinetic movement that Seiko has. It does charge a battery or capacitor and has a rotor similar to an automatic.
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Yeah, that was it. So what's the advantage of a true automatic? Cool factor?
 
storl said:
Yeah, that was it. So what's the advantage of a true automatic? Cool factor?
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Thats one reason !

Also you arent reliant on a battery. A mechanical watch needs servicing every 4 or 5 years but there is some flexibility in exactly when its carried out.

A quartz watch with a self charging movement is still reliant on a rechargable battery that will eventually fail.

IMO however its personal preference. Modern automatic movements and modern quartz watches are both very good
 
A mechanical watch (hand-winding or auto) compared to a quartz is almost like comparing a good factory blade to a blade custom-made by a respected knife maker. Both are excellent blades, both will work very well, you can depend your life on both of them but for the owner the custom is waaaaay more cooler, probably will have some more refined details or materials and has the edge "because it's custom made by X".

I have a collection of sorts of watches, autos and quartz, and though I do admit I'm a bit more interested in mechanicals I would NEVER go with out my Casios (G-Shock rule!), Citizens (EcoDrive is IMO the coolest technology in modern wrist watches) and Seiko (I only have two quartz, being one a kinetic and the other one a high end quartz that performs in the realm of +/- 20 seconds per year).

If you permit me using another analogy, it's basically pocket knives against fixed blades: depending on the situation, one is better then the other, so you have to have at least one of each :cool:.
 
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