Watch Winders
Posted by: i am simon 2 on 28 January 2005
I am slowly increasing my collection of watches, and with this in mind I fancied a box to keep them in. As a couple of the watches are automatic I fancied a winding box, however they are very exspensive, and to get one for more than one watch is easily £280 or upwards.
On ebay I happened across one of these in black
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=12265&item=4962014561&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVWwhich I bought for $70 US plus postage. It arrived today, and whilst I have not powered it up yet, it looks and feels excelent.
How do they do it for £35 GBP?
Anyway I thought I might share this with the forum as it seems like a good deal, and I know that there are one or two of you who share my passion for wristwatches.
Simon
Posted on: 28 January 2005 by London Lad
I would think the 60 USD postage helps
Posted on: 28 January 2005 by graham55
Surely it would be better to leave the watches unwound when they're not being used. Or am I missing something here?
G
Posted on: 28 January 2005 by i am simon 2
Yes and no
There used to be an argument that the lubricants in a watch that was static for a long time would clog, therfore it would be a good idea to keep it running. Modern lubricants do not do this so it is no longer a problem.
The real reason is if you have more than one auto watch that you wear regularly, and want to be able to wear it withouit setting the time every time you put it on. Also itink that it is fair to say that the automatic winding on the watch from the rotor is probably less traumatic on the watch than winding it by the crown.
Finaly, most watches from good manufactures are capable of running for more than one lifetime without missing a beat. Many people have a single watch which they wear everyday for their adult life, and the watch does not wear out, so the increase wear and tear caused by keeping a watch wound will have minimal impact on its maintaince requirments.
Simon
Posted on: 28 January 2005 by justiceklopper
ah i suspected that naimites would also appreciate mechanical watches.
imo, winders are a waste of time. how hard is it to set the time ffs?!
Posted on: 28 January 2005 by graham55
I have two lovely watches. One is a Rolex Explorer, bought about 15 years ago. The other is an IWC Portuguese, which I got a couple of years ago. I like both, so tend to wear one for a week or so, then change to the other for the next few days.
I certainly don't keep them wound in their "off" time and would not be easily persuaded that I should do so.
G
Posted on: 28 January 2005 by Jim Lawson
"I tink that it is fair to say that the automatic winding on the watch from the rotor is probably less traumatic on the watch than winding it by the crown."
What makes you think that ?
Jim
Posted on: 29 January 2005 by i am simon 2
quote:
What makes you think that ?
Gut feeling mostly
Posted on: 31 January 2005 by greeny
quote:
Surely it would be better to leave the watches unwound when they're not being used. Or am I missing something here?
quote:
"imo, winders are a waste of time. how hard is it to set the time ffs?!"
Well if you get a more complecated watch with a moon phase or perpetual date then setting the correct time/date/moon phase is not that straight forward. Even many watches with a simple day/date have periods of several hours in the day when you should not adjust these features making watch winders pretty useful.
However the winder should be adjustable enough not to overwind the watch.
Posted on: 31 January 2005 by blythe
Bugger! I just paid about £280 for a twin winder!!!!
Could've saved a bundle!
Oh well, never mind..........
Watches are better off kept running rather than letting them wind down and having to wind & re-set them when you want to wear them.
The reason?
My watchmaker says so.
And he should know; he's a watchmaker
Posted on: 31 January 2005 by graham55
If he's in the business of selling winders, he would say that, wouldn't he? You'll have to do better than that to convince me.
I remain convinced that my two automatic watches, working on a one week on/one week off cycle, are better off for not being constantly wound.
G
G
Posted on: 01 February 2005 by i am simon 2
Blythe
No need to worry about the price you paid.
Whilst at about £60 inlcuding postage my winder was dirt cheap, and whilst the finish both inside and outside is excelent, I think the cost saving has been made on the internal gubbins which would dissapoint at your price level, but at £60 one cannot argue. I am sure that the mechanics of yours will outlast mine, but it seems to do the trick for the time being.
Simon
Posted on: 01 February 2005 by justiceklopper
how about storing watches on top of the washing machine?
Posted on: 01 February 2005 by i am simon 2
Justice
Whilst this might work for early automatic movements that have a hammer that swings from side to side, I do not think the range of motion is enough to wind a modern automatic with a rotor.
That would be the answer if you were serious. However I do not know where the washing machine is in my house
