Question on self-winding watches

[doug sinclair]

Joss,

You imply that your automatic wind watches will not run for 24-hours after you remove them from your wrist. Either you don't wear each watch for a full 24-hour period to allow them to wind fully, or your 24-hours on and 24-hours off regimen is not as regular as you seem to describe. If you were to wear one watch for one full day (not taking it of evenings or nights) and then change watches and repeat the pattern for the next 24-hours with the other watch, your watches SHOULD run 24-hours off the wrist. In fact, a new one, in good shape, and fully wound when removed should run for up to 40-hours! You shouldn't expect regular performance from irregular wearing patterns which is what I suspect your problem is. Either that or your watches are vintage and are possibly functioning at less than full performance. If they ARE vintage watches, I would recommend that you DO NOT put them on a winder because you will only hasten their ultimate demise with your not getting any use out of them. If this doesn't help you, then a winder may be the answer. And, no, it doesn't harm them to re-set them often.

Regards,
Doug S.

[Dave Haynes]

Joss/Doug: In my experience, many of the
hammer type vintage automatic movements
present this problem. The newest being a LeCoultre Memovox Auto and the oldest being the A.S. 1150 based watches, Mido,Wyler
etc. If you are not as active as some, for instance, you work at a computor, these types will not get their required amount of auto
winding to run the required 24 hours.

My answer to this was to just take them off
while watching T.V. and rock them around for
awhile and let them store up some power. I too change watches from time to time and
with the exception of the Rolex, most of the others I wear have the same problem as Joss'.
I also see nothing wrong with just winding them unless they have a screw down crown which would shorten the service life of that
piece with repeated opening and closing.

[doug sinclair]

JD,

Many collectors use watch winders to store watches which have perpetual calendars. The theory being, I suppose, that there is little margin in having a perpatual calendar on a watch that has to be re-set frequently. Other folks use them to keep their chronometers on so they are able to evaluate timekeeping over a longer period of time than they could if the watch was worn sporadically. Neither manually winding and re-setting a watch irregularly, OR running the watch on a watch winder would exact more stress on the watch in my opinion. That is, assuming the watch is in peak condition! Once a watch has been in use for, say, five years, I would suggest its condition may no longer be such that a winder would be wise. Oil dries up and the watch begins to run DRY! To have it run 24/7/52/365 under these conditions would not be wise I feel. I collect watches (mechanicals mostly, of all types), and I don't use a watch winder on any of the automatics. Save the expense. Wind and set them! As you continue to collect, you are likely to find yourself buying and maintaining more and more winders as well. Then you'll find yourself torn as to which to put on your winders, and which to take off. Can you stand the anxiety? Maintaining a watch collection can be expense and aggravation enough.

Regards,
Doug S.