Infrequent use - cause for concern?
Discussion
I'm looking to buy a new watch in the next week or so.
Most likely to wear it on the odd weekend, it certainly won't ever get worn at work for various reasons.
It's an automatic chronograph and whilst I'd like a winder the watch is likely to be left in the safe when I'm not wearing it so the winder's not practical solution.
Is starting the watch and letting the reserve run out going to do any damage to the watch's mechanical in the long term?
/watchnewb
Most likely to wear it on the odd weekend, it certainly won't ever get worn at work for various reasons.
It's an automatic chronograph and whilst I'd like a winder the watch is likely to be left in the safe when I'm not wearing it so the winder's not practical solution.
Is starting the watch and letting the reserve run out going to do any damage to the watch's mechanical in the long term?
/watchnewb
PJ S said:
No, none whatsoever – it'll reduce wear on the components, and extend the timeframe before needing a service.
Battery powered winders are available, should you tire of having to set the time/date, down the line.
There's a slight caveat to that in that oil which is left too long without use can suffer. But "too long" is hard to define in this context because there are plenty of other factors that will affect it - quality of oil, quantity of oil, the metals involved, temperature (average and extremes) will all play a part. Battery powered winders are available, should you tire of having to set the time/date, down the line.
If it's likely to sit idle for more than 6 months or so at a time then it's worth giving it a hand wind every couple or 3 months (or whenever you're in the safe for other reasons) just to keep it ticking over.
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