by John Keil
A client recently asked me if there are any benefits to using automatic watch winders.
There are two viewpoints on watch winders.
1. Keeping your automatic watch on a winder, wound and running, will keep the oils within the movement dispersed properly, which is good for the longevity of your timepiece’s movement. The idea behind it is not dissimilar to the reason why you would not want to keep your car sitting in a garage for months (or years) without running it.
2. A watch winder is not necessary, however it is a nice convenience as it allows you to grab your watch after a few days of not wearing it and be able to put it on without having to manually wind and re-set it. However, keeping it running all the time will certainly advance wear and tear on the parts faster than not using a winder.
My personal opinion on this is somewhere in the middle.
I definitely agree that a watch should be wound and run periodically if it’s not a daily wearer.
A mechanical movement contains oils that reduce friction. If a watch sits for an extended period of time, the oils will settle and quite possibly coagulate.
Keeping your automatic watch on a winder will keep the watch running and prevent the oils from settling.
This Orbita Avanti 9 can wind nine watches simultaneously
On the other hand, a winder is more for convenience than anything else. I have owned many winders in the past and have ended up giving them all away over time.
I find great pleasure in getting my watches out of the safe, sitting on the couch, and winding and setting them. Every piece in my collection has a story, whether it was a gift from someone special or a purchase I made. Each time I go through the routine of winding and setting a specific watch it brings me back to the reason I have it, and my connection with the watch grows.
If you go through this “spiritual winding and setting routine” for all your watches like I do, a winder is not only unnecessary, but actually takes some enjoyment away from the collection.
If you would prefer not to manually wind and set your watches each time you pick one up, I would recommend a winder. Some great companies making excellent winders (in no special order and at various price points) are Sattler, Buben & Zorweg, Orbita, Döttling and Wolf.
Döttling creatively adds watch winders to unique safes, like this example in the Legends line
Winders can even be integrated into existing furniture or themselves be very nice pieces of décor as demonstrated by Döttling, a company making unique and customized safes.
The one time that I would definitely want to use a winder is if a watch is extremely complicated to set. If you have ever had to set a perpetual calendar or astrological timepiece, you would know what I mean. It has on occasion literally taken me hours to set an Ulysse Nardin Moonstruck, a watch I absolutely love.
Moonstruck by Ulysse Nardin
As a parting thought: Chuck Agnoff, founder of Orbita, established his company – one of the most well-known watch winder firms on the market today – because he felt it was inconvenient for him to have to wind and set the Rolex Presidential he had received from his wife as a retirement gift. Talk about a great second career!
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
-
watch winder is not something you need to store in a corner. It is possible to store all of your watches
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!
I totally agree. It’s nice to discover that, what for me has became so, somebody else considers a pleasure sitting and spending half hour of my evening winding and setting my watches. I was thinking to buy a winder but I believe that I won’t do it anymore. 🙂
Kind of funny, isn’t it, Roy? Grown men who get a lot of satisfaction in breaking out watch collections, winding, setting, and admiring them… My wife thinks I’m a nerd, and if you’d have told me in my early to mid 20s that this is an activity that enhances my Friday nights, I’d have told you that you’re sorely mistaken.
Also funny that the value of each watch doesn’t change the experience. I am just as happy going through the routine with my Seiko Monster, both of my grandfather’s oldies, or my Louis Moinet. Just as satisfying.
Glad I’m not alone!
Well, Chuck Agnof’s story is amusing – but, if you believe that, you’ll believe anything!
You can read his story here… http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/starnewsonline/obituary.aspx?pid=179467409
I met Chuck during my first month or two in the timepiece industry almost 18 years ago. He was one of the best guys in the industry. Always looking to build his network through kindness, honesty, and a genuine interest in those he did business with. Not only an interest in the business aspect of the relationships, but interested in peoples’ lives, families, etc. A man of great integrity.
Quite frankly, Ian, I find your statement offensive.
I second John’s description of Chuck Agnoff wholeheartedly. He was a true gentleman in every respect, and I am sorry to learn of his passing. As John said, he was one of the most honest and caring businesspeople I have had the pleasure to know. Both he and his family, all of whom were involved in the Orbita business.
Dear Mr. Keil and Ms. Elizabeth Doerr,
Thank you for your support of Mr. Agnoff; his character touched many lives. I came to work for him after he retired as President from Interroll Corporation (when he received his Rolex from Ms. Agnoff) and founded ORBITA Corporation. What a legacy! It is unfortunate that IanE did not have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
Thank you John and Elizabeth. IanE, if you had met Chuck you would have known what a great person he was. I feel lucky that I have had the privilege to work with Chuck for almost 20 years. I don’t understand what is so amusing to you. Chuck was honest, fair and brilliant.
IanE
You may think Chuck’s story amusing, but it is true and I can vouch for that. I will not take offense because you didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Chuck!
Just like an Agnoff, pure class!
God Bless, Evelyn,
JK
We just discussed this exact issue. Oils do not settle…
https://ontimepodcastblog.wordpress.com/2017/01/25/otp-the-truth-about-watch-winders/
Hi Chase,
I just listened to your podcast. Great job!
You guys confirmed a lot of what I always personally believed, that a winder is more for convenience, personal pleasure, and less for the the ‘health’ of an automatic watch.
Thanks for chiming in and keep up the good work with the OnTime Podcast.
Ian,
Don’t know who you are, but your comment about Chuck Agnoff is obviously coming from someone that either didn’t know him or was jealous of the success and admiration he attained in the luxury watch industry.
Chuck’s energy and passion for whatever he did was amazing to witness.
I don’t like setting watches and thus all (mainly complications) or on winders. In fact when I transfer them to the bank when I travel they stay on winders.
I use a simple two watch winder for convenience as I tend to wear my watches in rotations of threes – one on wrist and two on the winder with my Rolex Datejust always in the rotation as it has been my one true constant for the past 26 years.
I must note the irony of buying an expensive watch for its mechanical accuracy, only to manually reset it on a periodic basis.