Why a watchwinder?

Midget

Midget

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Jun 1, 2002
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I read some posts on watchwinders.

Watchwinders, being a machine with mechanical arms that move to keep automatic watches wound, yes?

So, what exactly is the appeal to this particular item? Is it a terrible thing to allow an automatic watch stop? Or is it just a pain to have to reset watches in the EDC rotation?

And even on the rotation note, it seems like a lot of the autos/ecodrives that I've seen have capacities to maintain the watch for days, sometimes months on end. Maybe I'm just limiting myself to browsing seikos and citizens.
 
some quick searches in google pulled up a lot of watchwinder sales websites. the first three being, mywatchwinder.com, watchwinderstore.com, jfainc.com.

they are asking prices at the minimum of $320.00 and in some models, up to 600.00.

Winding watches may be a pain in the ass, but is it a 600.00 pain in the ass?
 
Reasons to have a watchwinder:

You have a watch that you only wear for "special" occasions, and you don't want to set it each time you pull it from the drawer

You have so damn many watches that you can't wear them all enough to keep them wound (had a friend in this situation)

You are really into gadgets and just want one

It is a neat way to show off a nice watch

You are a lethargic slob, and don't move from the couch very often much :D
 
nice. :)


i did some more searching last night and read they help keep gears and lubricants tip top as well, which makes sense i guess.

just get a dog and put your omega around it's collar, if you ask me...

:)
 
Watch winders are very much a luxury item, even more so than high-end watches.

Their primary appeal is to those watch nuts who not only have too many watches to keep them all wound, but very complicated watches as well.

To set a standard time and date watch takes maybe a couple minutes, depending on how far off the date is. When you start looking at things with moon phase calendars and multiple time zones and other complications setting can get to be a laborious process.

The watches you see that have a power reserve measure in months are electronic pieces such as Seiko Kinetics and Citizen eco-Drives. A mechanical watch has a power reserve of (at best) a couple days, except in rare (and pricey) models.

Believe me, $600 is almost below entry level in the winder pricing structure. To get one that would be considered "quality" requires at least a couple thousand dollars, and they can end up costing more than your average family sedan.

Apparently there are enough takers to keep the manufacturers in business.
 
Wow.

I really see my cheesy, seiko 5, or any other self powered watch (kinetic, mech, light, heat, etc.) as sort of a symbol of efficiency; and that's ironic, I suppose, because it seems like having a watchwinder is the least efficient idea ever. Hehe, we don't want to spend money on watch batteries, but we drop hundreds on a battery to power our battery-less timepieces.

I guess, while I ask "why would anyone spend so much on a watch/watchwinder" they ask, "why would they spend so much on a piece of sharpened steel?"
 
I use a watch winder and wouldn't consider being without it.I have 2 watches as of now that I switch between. One is an Omega the other is a Breitling.After many years of not knowing what damage I did to my Omegas' I couldn't understand why my watch was loosing more time and had less power reserve.I got on the phone and called the finest watch repair men I could find.They had nothing to gain from me and I told them nothing, I only asked them the best way to take care of my fine watches.They all gave me the same answers.Make sure you keep the watch wound,have it serviced every 4 years and try to keep it out of the shower! So thats what I have done and my watches run better than ever. When you lay your watch on a counter it will lean to one direction or the other,which ever side is higher will loose all lubrication and dry quicker causing harsh wear as well as the lubrication coagulating(SP?).Fine watches are no different then fine cutlery neither one are important they just make us feel good!! I would NEVER spend $1,000 on a knife let alone use it and scratch it, but you can bet I'll wear a $2,000 watch everyday and wack it against the stove accidentaly:confused: It's all in the head,none of it matters.We're all fickle or we wouldn't be here!!!;)By the way I usually carry a $400.00 EDC. I can justify scratching it!!!:confused: :confused:
 
Masterchef

Excellent post. I have never seen anyone put it that way. Maybe I will get a watch winder.
 
sygyzy Thank you!!! You can also find a pretty decent one for $200.00 or $300.00. It will not be the crem d'la crem but it will work and you will feel good about it. I've seen them as high as $20,000
 
I use several watchwinders. They are in my gunsafe and hold four watches each. I have some complicated watches that are a pain to set. I also keep a couple of every day wear watches on the winders because sometimes I just want to pick up a watch and go.
 
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