Stick the watch on the end of your arm.  As you move about during the course of the day the movement of your body will wind your watch for you provided of course it has a self winding mechanism in it.  My Omega Seamaster is still keeping good time 20 years after first purchasing it.  If wearing a watch on your wrist is a real hassle which it can be for people with sensitive skin, get a clock and hang it on the wall.  Problem solved.

I have a Rapport unit, which has served me well for the last 5 years. Rotates the watch back and forwards in one of 3 different timers. My Breitling will only last 2 days without a self-winding charge and I have another 3 watches that vie for my attention. The winder is a must. About £300, which seemed good value compared to some I looked at.

Glad I only have the Daytona to think about. Worn every day, as it should be. 

Gorgeous Monaco by the way

Steve2 posted:

Stick the watch on the end of your arm.  As you move about during the course of the day the movement of your body will wind your watch for you provided of course it has a self winding mechanism in it.  My Omega Seamaster is still keeping good time 20 years after first purchasing it.  If wearing a watch on your wrist is a real hassle which it can be for people with sensitive skin, get a clock and hang it on the wall.  Problem solved.

The OP said that they have two automatic watches, hence the potential benefit of a winder.

(My automatic Tag chronometer has been on my wrist for ~17 years. I wear it 24/7. The band has had pins fail on two occasions, each time causing the watch to fall to the ground, but the watch has never been serviced or repaired, apart from a calibration it needed soon after purchase. The most remarkable thing has been the glass which remains completely scratch-free in-spite of it actually protruding above the bezel a bit.)

Thanks Nick. Rapport is a good starting point to look at. What timer lengths are your winder options?

Thanks Tony. I like the shade of blue this edition and particularly the matt face.

Winky, if it's not been serviced in 17 years, I think you've been lucky with the movement still working fine. Is your glass sapphire crystal, as it's particularly resistant to scratching?  

Count, nice watch I have the black/silver Calibre 12 version, which is about 6 years old now.

I use the Wolf Designs ( now known as Wolf 1834 ) Module 4.1 winder, set to 600 rotations and turning both ways. I also use the 'foot' to raise it and angle it back slightly.  They have other singles and finishes, so depending on where you are placing it you could 'match' or contrast the furniture.  Mine is closer to the bed, so I would recommend a covered front option if that is the case (helps with dust too) and depending on your sensitivity to a low rotation noise.

One word of warning, with the Chrono, they are not a watch for too sporty an activity - running/gym et al - as I found out, and luckily within the first year so it was repaired free.   Driving and walking is all good though. Enjoy the watch.

count.d posted:

Thanks Nick. Rapport is a good starting point to look at. What timer lengths are your winder options?

Thanks Tony. I like the shade of blue this edition and particularly the matt face.

Winky, if it's not been serviced in 17 years, I think you've been lucky with the movement still working fine. Is your glass sapphire crystal, as it's particularly resistant to scratching?  

Yeah, I know. I suppose I'm waiting for it to fail.

I don't know what the glass is, but it is seemingly scratch proof.

No intent to sound judgmental, but I could never have imagined such an esoteric need exists. Verily a first world problem, though realistically so are most topics on this forum. I'm thrilled that my 2008 flip phone with its original battery still maintains accurate time, works flawlessly, and I can unimpressively wear it in my pocket.

I use a Time Tutelary Black Dome Automatic Watch Winder KA083. It's a brittle, plastic, piece of Ronco toot which does exactly what it says on the box and for my needs doesn't need to look flash or classy because it sits at the back of my office, winding the watch I'm not wearing. I only have the two. I'm not 100% confident it will accommodate a Monaco. Although I don't know. 

joerand posted:

No intent to sound judgmental, but I could never have imagined such an esoteric need exists. Verily a first world problem, though realistically so are most topics on this forum. I'm thrilled that my 2008 flip phone with its original battery still maintains accurate time, works flawlessly, and I can unimpressively wear it in my pocket.

Joe, but your phone has a battery, the automatic does not.  The only issue is when you have more than one...

Life is all about choices, on here it's should I go top of the audio pile or lower down, but with broader interests else where, be it watches, cars, photography, properties, travel, wine et al  

But as you point out, most on here have first world problems, but luckily 'birds of a feather flock together' and can help out.

Thanks Harry, I'll take a look.

You probably already know this, but it's the seals that need servicing too, or they leak air and this then deteriorates the face/hands a lot faster. 

Thanks Guy. What's the specific reason to raise the foot, so it angles it back?

When you say you had a problem with yours during sport, what was it? What damage was done?

For the last fourteen years or so, I've more or less exclusively worn a Seiko Kinetic watch. Keeps perfect time, no batteries. You can leave it for a couple of weeks (I had to leave mine off for a spell in hospital) & when you next pick it up the hands go round to the correct time. When it eventually expires I shall get another one.

count.d posted:

Thanks Nick. Rapport is a good starting point to look at. What timer lengths are your winder options? 

Not sure what the options are, but the winder, in operation, rocks the watch for about 30s and then stops for about 15 minutes, when set to 'maximum agitation' mode. There are 2 lesser modes. But I find that my Breitling will not charge itself unless I use the maximum agitation mode. Doesn't the Rapport website give technical details?

count.d posted:

Thanks Guy. What's the specific reason to raise the foot, so it angles it back?

When you say you had a problem with yours during sport, what was it? What damage was done?

 

Count.  The foot serves two purposes for me 1) It makes getting the cover off easily, so no risk of scraping the table 2) In having it angled back the heavier watch like the Monaco is unlikely to fall out if not 'clicked in' correctly - I had an earlier (10 years ago) Module 2, with no cover and that sat flush. If not clipped in correctly, the watch would occasionally work free and pop out. Also hence my previous comment about noise too.

With the watch I was using it for running, cycling, gym, tennis etc,  It started loosing time and you could feel something wasn't right when turning the crown.  Anyways it was within the 1st year, they replaced the whole movement. I was advised Chrono's are more sensitive and more costly to repair, so I've treated it more carefully and had no issues since then. i.e. no 'jarring' sport.  My Monaco was actually a replacement for a 2000 series Automatic I got for my 21st, but was stolen in a break in.

I would also endorse Tony's comment on Seiko Kinetic, I use one when traveling.

Thank Nick. I could only see the Rapport site saying fast wind or timed modes, but no specific details.

Thanks Guy. 

Yes Tony, Seiko do very nice watches and I've always liked them.  

tonym posted:

For the last fourteen years or so, I've more or less exclusively worn a Seiko Kinetic watch. Keeps perfect time, no batteries. You can leave it for a couple of weeks (I had to leave mine off for a spell in hospital) & when you next pick it up the hands go round to the correct time. When it eventually expires I shall get another one.

I've had a Seiko Kinetic for nearly 20 years, it was last service in the early 2000's.  It has a capacitor and a flywheel for self-charging.  A traditional winder will not work as the smooth motion doesn't generate the charging current, it needs a flick kind of motion in the turn cycle.

I did see that many are converting their inductive electric toothbrush chargers into a charger for the watch !  I've not risked it ...

Hi Shoot, good to see you're still around! Hope you're keeping well.

It depends if you wear it everyday I have one of the new Tissot visodate which is also automatic but because of my job I cannot wear it everyday and so have to wind it and reset it everytime I want to wear it which is a real pain but there are worse things in life, my Dad who has a small collection has a couple of winders and swears by them.

Have a look at Klarstein winders if you want a traditional design, or if interested in something more "out there" have a look at MTS winders with some funky designs.

definately stay away from cheap import stuff that has poor lifespan to failure.

also need to think if you intend to buy more watches, to plan ahead with a 3 or 4 unit winder!

tonym posted:

Hi Shoot, good to see you're still around! Hope you're keeping well.

 

You too Tony !!

Thanks for the further suggestions. I've looked into various manufacturers and it doesn't seem to be simple subject. Maybe I'm looking too hard. They do seem to be expensive, especially if you want flexibility of adjustments. I like the idea of an advanced model which allows it to be connected to a computer to infinity adjust the number & direction of turns per day. 

I bought a 6 watch winding box from watch-winder .co .uk for only £173 which seems a bargain!!

It has three different winding modes, altering duration and frequency of winds, which operates in both directions. Two watches per winding drum (if that's the right terminology)

Apparently I have to choose a winder that is guaranteed to have the motor shielded, so the watch does't get affected by a magnetic field.