Automatic Winders

[Poohbore]

So i have been given a Breitling Transocean as a wedding present and want to look after it as it will be dress watch for the more formal occasions.

I've just realised that an automatic watch winder is recommended to prevent premature wear so can anyone recommend an automatic watch winder that is not going to break the bank or the watch ?

[surlynkid]

Originally Posted by Poohbore

So i have been given a Breitling Transocean as a wedding present and want to look after it as it will be dress watch for the more formal occasions.

I've just realised that an automatic watch winder is recommended to prevent premature wear so can anyone recommend an automatic watch winder that is not going to break the bank or the watch ?

premature wear? never heard that one. it wears as it runs, and running it all the time on a winder would mean more wear. winders are to keep the time correct when you cycle between a lot of automatics. I would just pull it out when you want to wear it, wind it up, set the time, and then put it away when you are done - especially as rarely as you claim you will be wearing it.

[wrickem]

About a month after I started using a winder one of my Rolex's spring sprung. The jeweler couldn't say it was related, but he could not say it wasn't. Like surlynkid said, I was using it so I didn't have to set the time/date on each of my watches when I wear them. Now I just use the winder as a case with it off and set the time on the one I wear that day like I always did before.

[Poohbore]

Perhaps I wont be so gullible next time I read several adverts for watch winders and what they will do for your watch !

I have a titanium citizen ecodrive that must be 7 years old now that is my everyday watch that gets used and abused. I alternate that with a breitling Titanium aerospace that gets used a lot too so the new one wont get used too frequently.

Thanks for the help

[tr_ms3]

Sorry Poohbore, but the 2 posters above are DEAD WRONG.

Get a winder. The winder keeps everything running and lubricated. Yes, you will cause wear on the watch by having it run all the time, but that's normal. That's why you have it serviced. Watches are designed to run. Keep the main spring wound and the gears moving. Leaving a watch sitting 99% of the time will make for more expensive services in the future.

/Just the random musings from a guy who has been collecting for years and has a few M3's worth of watches on hand.

[dagolfpro]

Any particular make/model for a winder?

[Yeggman]

Originally Posted by tr_ms3

Sorry Poohbore, but the 2 posters above are DEAD WRONG.

Get a winder. The winder keeps everything running and lubricated. Yes, you will cause wear on the watch by having it run all the time, but that's normal. That's why you have it serviced. Watches are designed to run. Keep the main spring wound and the gears moving. Leaving a watch sitting 99% of the time will make for more expensive services in the future.

Letting an automatic sit, and then wind it up and wear it is like starting a car and flooring it before the oil pressure and temp have come up. You are expecting the inner workings to operate with no lubrication.

Look on Amazon, I buy cheap winders in the $30-$50 range that work great.

BTW I have a 28 year old Submariner that has been serviced 1 time and keeps near perfect time.

[mja bmw]

I use an Orbita Siena 3 watch winder ..... www.orbita.com

[PandaM3]

+1 for orbita

[wrickem]

Originally Posted by wrickem

About a month after I started using a winder one of my Rolex's spring sprung. The jeweler couldn't say it was related, but he could not say it wasn't. Like surlynkid said, I was using it so I didn't have to set the time/date on each of my watches when I wear them. Now I just use the winder as a case with it off and set the time on the one I wear that day like I always did before.

Originally Posted by tr_ms3

Sorry Poohbore, but the 2 posters above are DEAD WRONG.

Get a winder. The winder keeps everything running and lubricated. Yes, you will cause wear on the watch by having it run all the time, but that's normal. That's why you have it serviced. Watches are designed to run. Keep the main spring wound and the gears moving. Leaving a watch sitting 99% of the time will make for more expensive services in the future.

/Just the random musings from a guy who has been collecting for years and has a few M3's worth of watches on hand.

I don't know what you think about my post could possibly be "dead wrong". I never said winders are bad or good, or actually caused the spring to break (or didn't). What I do know is one of my Oysters that I bought in 1999 (manufactured in 1998, so it sat still in a box for a year) ran flawlessly for all of these years no matter how long it sat off of my wrist. Sometimes depending how lazy I am to set another one, it gets worn for 2 days in a row, or sometimes once a month. It's had 2 normal services from my AD and it's always ran like a champ ...until a month after I started using a winder.

[anselmw]

I am partial to swiss kubik winders. Omega and regular versions


Also have an orbita winder.

Best value for winders would be brookstone


Here is my brookstone dual winder

[Th3xf4ctor]

I've got the brookstone one as displayed above and I love it...keeps my breitling for bentley watch running beautifully.

[sparkyg]

I have an Orbita on my Submariner, very good quality and works flawlessly.

[EdM5]

I have a stack of Kubik watch winders. They look awesome and can be programmed to meet the specs of your watches.
Downside is they are very expensive (about 900 USD each in Europe)

[bolinp78]

I also have the Brookstone dual winders above for about a year and a half and they haven't quit yet. I've left watches on them for 3 weeks straight and they keep em going.

[anselmw]

Originally Posted by bolinp78

I also have the Brookstone dual winders above for about a year and a half and they haven't quit yet. I've left watches on them for 3 weeks straight and they keep em going.

Brookstone is the best bang for your buck. Only problem I ever had with one is that a lower cord did not fit properly but nice I go another it was perfect. Quiet winding and adjustable settings.

[E90TiAgX]

I bought this for a good price on Amazon, pretty reliable reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._ya_os_product

[Brunotheboxer]

Winders in my opinion are a waste. You are wearing out the movements cause the oil stays cold. When you wear a watch your body warms the oil. People that know 100x more than me about watches say not to use them so I don't.

[Chris M4CS]

I use an Orbita Siena One for my Tag Carrera. They are a little pricey, but really nice quality.

[rennis]

more importantly, does it matter which setting you put the winder on? My winder has like 4 different settings. clockwise, counter clockwise, both directions, and all have different revolutions per 24 hours.

I have no idea what setting is best...

[RandomHero]

Treat an automatic watch much like a car. The battery doesn’t need to be charged everyday but if you rarely drive it, it’s a good idea to start it every once in a while.

Most people don’t need a watch winder. The only advantages they offer are convenience.

If you have several watches and frequently rotate wearing them it can be advantageous to have them on winders so you don’t have to reset the time.
The claim that watch winders help to avoid lubrication issues has only a tiny bit of truth to it. Modern watches use synthetic oil which will not dry out or harden. If you rarely wear the watch there’s no need to wind it more frequently than every few weeks. Even mineral oil simply isn’t going to harden that fast. It’s going to take years before that happens (unless the oil becomes contaminated with dirt). I’ve seen plenty of stories from people who have 50+ year old watches and have never had them serviced.

Short Answer: There’s really no need for winders unless you’re incredibly lazy and can’t find the time to spend 30 seconds winding your watch every month or to set the time. Ultimately, they can be more harm than good in the long run speaking strictly of the added wear that comes from the watch constantly running.

[BeOnEdge]

+2 for Orbita...