Winding up an automatic watch
Discussion
I recently bought an automatic Longines and have been wearing it for a couple of months with no problems. When I swapped over to another watch recently, the Longine ran down so I thought I would give it a wind just to keep it going as I'd heard that it's not good to leave watches unwound for too long.
The winder wouldn't turn clockwise (at least not without forcing it) and winding it anti-clockwise doesn't seem to do anything. If I give the watch a shake, it does start running again but the automatic mechanism does seem quite noisy compared to my old Omega (you can hear and feel the mechanism moving in the Longines when you shake the watch) and the watch will run down within about 10 minutes even if I've fully wound the crown (anti-clockwise).
Is there any reason why the watch won't wind on the crown or have I got a faulty mechanism? Any advice much appreciated.
The winder wouldn't turn clockwise (at least not without forcing it) and winding it anti-clockwise doesn't seem to do anything. If I give the watch a shake, it does start running again but the automatic mechanism does seem quite noisy compared to my old Omega (you can hear and feel the mechanism moving in the Longines when you shake the watch) and the watch will run down within about 10 minutes even if I've fully wound the crown (anti-clockwise).
Is there any reason why the watch won't wind on the crown or have I got a faulty mechanism? Any advice much appreciated.
Automatics are exactly that - automatic. The crown does not wind them, the movement of your hand - or shaking them - winds them. You can buy watch winders which rotate the watches on a plinth to wind them. The only other way to wind them up is to give them a gentle shake for a couple of minutes, and then wear them. A gentle shake will only give a light wind for about 10 mins of power, as you experienced.
I'm guessing this is a modern (IE: last 20 years) watch, right? Any pics?
Sorry if this is obvious, but is it a diving watch, by any chance? If so, many have a screw down crown to keep water out, so winding the crown down will only tighten the drown against the watch body. Winding the crown the other way can't harm the mechanism, so maybe try unwinding it for a good few turns & seeing if it'll let you wind it then. Manual watches often wind until they can't be wound any more, but an automatic should wind no problem, even if it is full.
Noise from the auto shouldn't be a worry unless it's a knocking sound- some are noisier than others.
Sorry if this is obvious, but is it a diving watch, by any chance? If so, many have a screw down crown to keep water out, so winding the crown down will only tighten the drown against the watch body. Winding the crown the other way can't harm the mechanism, so maybe try unwinding it for a good few turns & seeing if it'll let you wind it then. Manual watches often wind until they can't be wound any more, but an automatic should wind no problem, even if it is full.
Noise from the auto shouldn't be a worry unless it's a knocking sound- some are noisier than others.
Edited by glazbagun on Monday 25th April 13:07
glazbagun said:
I'm guessing this is a modern (IE: last 20 years) watch, right? Any pics?
Sorry if this is obvious, but is it a diving watch, by any chance? If so, may have a screw down crown to keep water out, so winding the crown down will only tighten the crown against the watch body. Winding the crown the other way can't harm the mechanism, so maybe try unwinding it for a good few turns & seeing if it'll let you wind it then. Manual watches often wind until they can't be wound any more, but an automatic should wind no problem, even if it is full.
Noise from the auto shouldn't be a worry unless it's a knocking sound- some are noisier than others.
Interesting, just tried my Rolex Sea Dweller, with the crown backed off, which you need to do to be able to pull it out to adjust the time, but with just backed off, it allowes me to wind it one way.Sorry if this is obvious, but is it a diving watch, by any chance? If so, may have a screw down crown to keep water out, so winding the crown down will only tighten the crown against the watch body. Winding the crown the other way can't harm the mechanism, so maybe try unwinding it for a good few turns & seeing if it'll let you wind it then. Manual watches often wind until they can't be wound any more, but an automatic should wind no problem, even if it is full.
Noise from the auto shouldn't be a worry unless it's a knocking sound- some are noisier than others.
Edited by glazbagun on Monday 25th April 13:07
Thanks for the comments guys. For information, the watch is the one on this thread which I posted back when I bought it (about two-thirds of the way down that page):
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It's a sports chrono and definitely doesn't have a screw-in crown.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It's a sports chrono and definitely doesn't have a screw-in crown.
It's a Longines Heritage 1954, which utilises a 7750 movement. The rotor on a 7750 only winds in one direction and as such, is most likely the reason that your watch was not running after a short period on your watch winder ... It was probably rotating in the 'freewheel' direction
You should be able to unscrew/pull out the crown to 'position 1' and wind the movement manually.
You should be able to unscrew/pull out the crown to 'position 1' and wind the movement manually.
A 7750 is an auto plus hand wind, isn't it? Fairly sure that my Longines has the same movement, at least the sub dials are in the same place, it doesn't have a day wheel though.
How do you adjust the day/date OP? Are you sure that the crown doesn't wind/pull out? That's how you'd normally be able to adjust the day/date on a wathc like that and you should find that the crown will wind the mainspring with the crown in situ i.e. you may not have to pull it out before you wind.
ETA I may be wrong, it could be set up a Ikemi says. I think on my one the crown unscrews and then you can wind before you pull the crown a click or two to adjust time/date, if on yours it just pops out a couple of clicks with no unscrewing then maybe it winds with the crown flush to the case which is how my Hamilton works.
How do you adjust the day/date OP? Are you sure that the crown doesn't wind/pull out? That's how you'd normally be able to adjust the day/date on a wathc like that and you should find that the crown will wind the mainspring with the crown in situ i.e. you may not have to pull it out before you wind.
ETA I may be wrong, it could be set up a Ikemi says. I think on my one the crown unscrews and then you can wind before you pull the crown a click or two to adjust time/date, if on yours it just pops out a couple of clicks with no unscrewing then maybe it winds with the crown flush to the case which is how my Hamilton works.
Edited by CardShark on Monday 25th April 18:55
Edited by CardShark on Monday 25th April 19:02
Have just tried and it definitely won't wind if you pull the crown out as turning it clockwise changes the date and anticlockwise changes the day. The next stage on the crown adjusts the time.
So the only winding I can do is anticlockwise with the crown in and that seems to provide no power at all. Sounds like I might be making a trip back to the jeweller!
So the only winding I can do is anticlockwise with the crown in and that seems to provide no power at all. Sounds like I might be making a trip back to the jeweller!
Just to confirm, can you turn the crown anticlockwise 30 times? However if you turn the crown clockwise, is doesn't move? Is there resistance or a slight amount of movement? Are you sure there is no definitely 'position' between crown closed and setting the date? It's really easy to skip to 'position 2' - I do it quite often when setting my watches!
Otherwise, take it back to the jewellers and see what they say ... There might be a mechanical fault in the manual winding mechanism.
Otherwise, take it back to the jewellers and see what they say ... There might be a mechanical fault in the manual winding mechanism.
lauda said:
Have just tried and it definitely won't wind if you pull the crown out as turning it clockwise changes the date and anticlockwise changes the day. The next stage on the crown adjusts the time.
So the only winding I can do is anticlockwise with the crown in and that seems to provide no power at all. Sounds like I might be making a trip back to the jeweller!
A watch you say, why not just wear it. So the only winding I can do is anticlockwise with the crown in and that seems to provide no power at all. Sounds like I might be making a trip back to the jeweller!
lauda said:
I recently bought an automatic Longines and have been wearing it for a couple of months with no problems. When I swapped over to another watch recently, the Longine ran down so I thought I would give it a wind just to keep it going as I'd heard that it's not good to leave watches unwound for too long.
The winder wouldn't turn clockwise (at least not without forcing it) and winding it anti-clockwise doesn't seem to do anything. If I give the watch a shake, it does start running again but the automatic mechanism does seem quite noisy compared to my old Omega (you can hear and feel the mechanism moving in the Longines when you shake the watch) and the watch will run down within about 10 minutes even if I've fully wound the crown (anti-clockwise).
Is there any reason why the watch won't wind on the crown or have I got a faulty mechanism? Any advice much appreciated.
Did you solve the problem with Longine watch winding?The winder wouldn't turn clockwise (at least not without forcing it) and winding it anti-clockwise doesn't seem to do anything. If I give the watch a shake, it does start running again but the automatic mechanism does seem quite noisy compared to my old Omega (you can hear and feel the mechanism moving in the Longines when you shake the watch) and the watch will run down within about 10 minutes even if I've fully wound the crown (anti-clockwise).
Is there any reason why the watch won't wind on the crown or have I got a faulty mechanism? Any advice much appreciated.
I have the same problem with Longine Conquest (ETA 2000-1) movement. The crown is not moving in a clockwise direction. The watch stopped working, it seems the automatic winding is not enough.
I feel I have waited long enough before responding to this.
Your watch has an ETA 7750 movement in it.
Unscrewing the crown (not pulling it out, just unscrewing it) is how you wind the watch.
Pulling the crown out 1 click, is to set the day/date, the next position (2 clicks) is to set the hands.
The crown should wind the watch movement when turned clockwise. Nothing happens when you turn it anti clockwise.
If it is actually jammed and not moving at all when you try to wind it, then it is either (a) something is jammed in the winding mechanism. (b) your reverser wheel is broken, so when you are trying to wind it, it’s actually trying to move the automatic weight(which is heavy)
It could be an easy fix if that’s all it is.
Your best bet is to get a watchmaker to look at it.
Both of these instances will be immediately obvious to see and feel.
Your watch has an ETA 7750 movement in it.
Unscrewing the crown (not pulling it out, just unscrewing it) is how you wind the watch.
Pulling the crown out 1 click, is to set the day/date, the next position (2 clicks) is to set the hands.
The crown should wind the watch movement when turned clockwise. Nothing happens when you turn it anti clockwise.
If it is actually jammed and not moving at all when you try to wind it, then it is either (a) something is jammed in the winding mechanism. (b) your reverser wheel is broken, so when you are trying to wind it, it’s actually trying to move the automatic weight(which is heavy)
It could be an easy fix if that’s all it is.
Your best bet is to get a watchmaker to look at it.
Both of these instances will be immediately obvious to see and feel.
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