Opinions of winders for a first timer

[Nighthawk]

Hi

I recently treated myself to a belated birthday present, a SeaMaster 300 which is my first "auto" watch, whats the general opinion on automatic winders to prevent the watch from running down between outings?

thanks in advance

[Adrian W]

Don't bother, why wear the watch out if it's not being used,

[Nighthawk]

Do the springs not loose tension if not wound or allowed to frequently relax ?

[NDA]

I keep all my autos in winders and was advised to do so by one of the watchmakers.

[Nighthawk]

So many conflicting pieces of advice from jewellers, some say yes to them while others say no as they can over wind.

Any recommendations on a good one.

[Debaser]

It won't over wind, but I've never seen the point in a winder. I let mine wind down when I'm not using them, and it never causes any problems.

[andy tims]

Unless you have a perpetual calendar watch, I wouldn't bother.

[Nighthawk]

No, it's only the basic seamaster 300.

I'll save the cash I think

Thanks for your replies

[yeti]

Nighthawk said:

while others say no as they can over wind.

Whoever told you that; don't ever go near their shop again. There is no conflicting advice at all - buy a winder if you genuinely can't be bothered to wind your watch up. That's the only reason to get one, or not to bother.

[HereBeMonsters]

I guess I must have 40 or so automatics. I keep my favourite 3 dailies on the winder in rotation so I don t have to set the dates etc when I want to wear them. The others, I have to wind and set each time. Takes about a minute. Not an issue.
I only have a winder as it was offered in a sweetener for a trade. Entirely unnecessary.

[mybrainhurts]

Debaser said:

It won't over wind, but I've never seen the point in a winder.

I read the lubrication can dry up. Ant truth in this?

[yeti]

mybrainhurts said:

I read the lubrication can dry up. Ant truth in this?

It takes about 10-12 years for this to happen.

[marcosgt]

As others have said, they might make sense if you have a watch with a complicated complication ( ), such as a moonphase or perpetual calendar, but otherwise how hard is it to set time and day/date before you put the watch on?

Just a gadget to make money out of well-heeled watch owners

M.

[yeti]

marcosgt said:

As others have said, they might make sense if you have a watch with a complicated complication ( ), such as a moonphase or perpetual calendar, but otherwise how hard is it to set time and day/date before you put the watch on?

The only caveat perhaps is the extra wear and tear on the crown threads and seals, especially on a rated divers watch, plus the fact that some automatic watches have inherently weak winding stems. On balance though, I still don't bother with a winder

Wear from manually winding Vs. wear from constant running Vs. thickening and distruction of lubricants through lack of use

Either way, it'll need a service eventually; it's a mechanical object.

[Nighthawk]

Thanks for the comments, I'll keep the cash and wind it up

[Adam B]

I have 4 autos and 3 winders, with other on my wrist

just for ease of not having change date/time as I like to chop and change

[yeti]

Adam B said:

I have 4 autos and 3 winders, with other on my wrist

just for ease of not having change date/time as I like to chop and change

I change my watch every day. What exactly isn't easy about setting the date and time?

[Adam B]

yeti said:

I change my watch every day. What exactly isn't easy about setting the date and time?

Who said it was difficult? I just prefer not to bother.

Also I have date change paranoia if the hour hand is between 10 and 2

Edited by Adam B on Tuesday 20th May 15:58

[V12woollie]

I have a four watch Orbita programmable winder. Had it for ten years and still works perfectly.

[IroningMan]

'Which watch winder?' Sits high on my list of First World Problems...but I think I come down on the side of 'no real utility argument either way, so get one that is a nice object to own in its own right'.

I saw some lovely ones in the Connelly shop some years ago - cost more than my entire watch collection.