Anyone into automatic watches has an opinion on watch winders. These cool-looking gadgets first came out in the 1920s, making them much newer than most things in the ancient world of watchmaking. Some watch collectors swear by them, and others look down on winders with disdain. So which way is the right way? Do you need an automatic watch winder, or is it just a fad?
First, How Does a Watch Winder Work?
Automatic watches are designed to be self-winding. A rotor inside the watch uses the natural motion of your wrist to wind the mainspring and keep the timepiece running. Watch winders essentially replicate this movement to keep your automatic watch wound even when you’re not wearing it.
An automatic
watch winder contains a small motor connected to a turntable that will
slowly rotate your watch. Many winders have intermittent rotation patterns with
customizable speed settings. They can run on AC or DC power and their battery
life will depend on the make and model.
Do You Really Need a Winder for an Automatic Watch?
And now for the question that divides the automatic watch world: do you need a winder? To put it plainly, no – you don’t need a watch winder the same way you don’t need a car. It’s perfectly possible to hand wind your watch whenever it stops running. Having an automatic watch winder just makes things easier and more fun.
Some may argue that watch winders save time, especially for people with large watch collections. The purpose of a winder is to keep your watch in a ready-to-wear state. Still, that’s not the only reason people buy them.
Mythbusting Two Common Watch Winder Beliefs
Watch Winders Keep Your Watch Lubricated
Mechanical watches are complex pieces of engineering. They contain tiny gears, springs, and bearings that need lubrication. Many watch winder enthusiasts say they use a winder to prevent the lubricant oils in their watches from gumming up. The idea is that a watch winder will keep the mechanism running smoothly, even when you’re not wearing it.
This is simply not true. Today, watchmakers use synthetic oils as lubricants that do not solidify and degrade the same way as mineral oils. Modern watches can safely be left to run down without fear of clumpy oil or damaging the movement.
A Watch Winder Will Overwind Your Watch
On the other side of the argument, we have those who believe that using a watch winder does more damage to your watch than simply letting it run down. This myth comes from the idea that constant movement will overwind the watch’s mainspring and put pressure on the delicate components inside.
In reality, it is impossible to overwind an automatic watch. A winder will not damage the movement no matter how long you leave your watch turning. Modern automatic watches have built-in safeguards like a slip clutch and bridle. These mechanics prevent movement from affecting the mainspring once it reaches its maximum tension.
Where Watch Winders Shine: Complications and Perpetual Calendars
So if watch winders don’t do any damage, and they don’t add any mechanical protection, what are they actually good for? The average timepiece owner probably won’t miss a watch winder if they don’t have one. Yet for a serious collector of sports watches packed with complications, a watch winder can be a real time saver.
Watches with a perpetual calendar can be particularly tricky to reset once they lose time. This is where having a watch winder would be ideal. The motion of the winder keeps the mechanism working so the days tick forward correctly even when the watch is in storage.
Using Watch Winders as Display Cases
Whether you like watch winders or not, you can’t deny that they make great display cases. Some models even become collectors’ items themselves, giving horology enthusiasts one more thing to get excited about. A watch winder’s design can be as sleek as the timepiece it holds inside, adding extra glitz to a luxury collection.
Some may argue that a winder is the best place to store an automatic watch. The winder protects it from dust and moisture and holds the timepiece on a cushioned display that won’t cause scratches or wear down the finish of the metal.
Watch Winders vs Manual Winding
Despite the hype online, it’s important to remember that you don’t need a winder to own an automatic watch. A winder is a nice-to-have designed to replace manual winding, which you might still have to do from time to time.
|
Watch Winders |
Manual Winding |
|
Great for large collections |
Perfect for single-watch collections |
|
Saves time, keeps your watches in a convenient “ ready-to-wear” state. |
Can be time-consuming, especially for watches with complications. |
|
May have to change the winder’s settings according to each watch model and brand. |
The built-in winder on the crown is designed specifically for your watch. |
The Final Verdict on Watch Winders
Watch winders will always be a polarizing topic among collectors. In our eyes, they are fun gadgets to own and deserve recognition for their role as conversation pieces in the horology community. It’s not wrong to own a watch winder, and it’s by no means a requirement to join the watch club.
Automatic watches are designed to keep time when you’re wearing them, and nothing terrible will happen if they run down. At the end of the day, there is more than one way to wind a watch. Some methods are just cooler than others.