Watch Winder Guide
What is a Watch Winder, and, are all watch winders the
same?
A watch winder is a device designed to wind up an automatic
watch when it is not worn by the owner; so that the watch is
ready to be worn by the owner any time.
NOT all watch winders are the same. Before buying a
watch winder, one should consider the following:
1. An automatic watch winder should provide the three full
turning directions so that, no matter what types of watches youI
have now or in the future, the watch winder will fit the
specifications. The 3 turning directions are: Clockwise,
Counter-clockwise, and Alternate. "Alternate" means the watch
winder will automatically turn clockwise and counterclockwise
alternately. Watch brands such as Rolex requires this Alternate
turning mode.
2. An automatic watch winder should provide the industry
standard "Turn-and-Rest" programming. That is, it should turn
for a period of time, then rest for a period of time. This cycle
should repeat automatically until the watch is fully, or close
to fully wind up. There should be little or no human
intervention required. That is, an automatic watch winder should
be controlled by an IC electronic programming, to control all
the above functions.
The above are the minimum requirements one should consider when
buying a watch winder. Without the above functions, you might
run into the risk of over-stressing your watch; and reducing the
long term mechanical life of your fine timepiece.
Other factors to consider are the material used to construct
the winder. Is it made of real wood, or cheap thin particle
board? Not all wood are the same grade or of the same quality.
Many inexpensive cheap winders are made of thin untreated
particle board, which is not durable and is easily deformed or
broken. If you own an expensive timepiece, it is not recommended
to use those inexpensive lower quality winders.
Remember, cost should not be the only considerations
when buying a watch winder. After all, you have spent
hundreds or thousands of dollars invest in a fine timepiece. You
should investigate thoroughly when buying a watch winder, and to
make sure the winder is indeed compatible with your automatic
watch, and won't harm your watches in the long term.