FAQ

WHAT IS A WATCH WINDER?

A watch winder is a storage device used to keep automatic watches wound when they are not used. Automatic watches operate on the principle of winding themselves using a weight inside the watch. The weight swings and rotates while the watch is worn on your wrist and turns the winding mechanism inside the watch. If the timepiece is not being worn, then it will no longer receive power and will eventually run down. Although all automatic watches can be manually wound, this is not always convenient especially for watch collectors who have a busy schedule.

DO I NEED A WATCH WINDER?

If you have several automatic watches or don’t use your automatic watches daily, then you definitely need one of our watch winders. Automatic timepieces are designed to store their mainspring energy for at least 24 hours. When the reserved power runs out, the watch has to be manually wound by hand. Otherwise, the wristwatch will lose its programmed time, day and date as well as any other mechanical functions. An automatic watch that’s unused for long periods of time causes lubricants in its complex mechanisms to dry up from critical areas, affecting overall mechanical movement. This eventually causes accelerated wear on the watch’s movement parts, affecting accuracy and in extreme cases - causing unnecessary damage to the fine mechanics of the luxury timepiece.

In short,

Our watch winder provides convenience and time-saving benefits. Your timepiece will always be wound and ready to wear. Maintenance becomes a breeze especially with various wristwatch functions such as perpetual calendars and moon phases.

Our watch winder reduces wear and tear on your mechanism and avoid costly repair bills while enhancing the watch’s mechanical life.

WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS THAT I MUST CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A WATCH WINDER?

Rotational Direction: Most automatic watches operate in a Clockwise (CW) or Counter Clockwise (CCW) rotation. However, there are a few luxury timepieces that rotate in one direction only. To learn more about your watch’s rotation setting, check the user manual of your timepiece.

Programmable Features: Programmed timed winding operations are a crucial feature for a watch winder. As a rule of thumb, the timers for our watch winder should be set for 3 hours of operation and 9 hours of rest. Although it may cost you more initially, the longevity of your automatic watch is assured in the long run. If you decide to buy a watch winder without time winding function, we strongly recommend that you purchase a small appliance timer at your local hardware store.

Battery Operated Watch Winders: All Orient Crown winders come with an AC/DC adapter. Certain models in our diverse watch winder collection are also available with battery operated functions. This lets you store your automatic watch in a safe or when you plan to display your watch winder without a power outlet in the vicinity.

Number of winders: When choosing your perfect watch winder, understanding the winder’s rotation control option is beneficial. This way, you can choose a watch winder that has individual winders or one that boasts winding rotation simultaneously at the same time.

CAN A WATCH WINDER OVER - WIND MY WATCH?

Definitely not! Today’s automatic watches are manufactured with mechanisms that will disengage once the mainspring is fully wound. However, it is possible to overstress your automatic watch, if you don’t periodically allow it to rest between cycles. An overstressed timepiece shortens its lifespan so choosing a watch winder with built-in time or external time function is imperative to its longevity.

HOW LONG WILL AN AUTOMATIC WATCH RUN WHEN UNWORN?

Most automatic watches will run from 42 to 60 hours before stopping. Thus, most automatic watches require 500 to 800 Turns Per Day (TPD) although there are other watches that require longer power reserves of 1300 Turns Per Day (TPD).

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AC AND DC POWERED WATCH WINDERS?

Both types of watch winders use electrical motors. The essential difference is how the motor gets its power. AC watch winders plug into a wall outlet. A DC powered watch winder is portable and runs using batteries. It can also be used with an AC/DC adapter.

CAN MY WATCH GET MAGNETIZED ON A WATCH WINDER?

Strong magnetic interference can make some automatic watches run fast, requiring a demagnetizer to correct them. Automatic watches and their movements are not affected by the magnetic fields generated by the watch winder motor. Furthermore, all modern automatic watches are made up of non-magnetic material such as titanium, brass, stainless steel, etc. Hence they are unaffected by close proximity to magnetic fields.

GLOSSARY

Mechanical watch: A device that derives its power from a tightly coiled mainspring that is housed in a drum or barrel within the watch. As the spring unwinds, it provides the power for the gear train escapement, balance wheel, and other components that make the watch work. The timepiece has to be manually wound by hand daily.

Automatic watch: A special type of mechanical watch that is wound by the movement of the wearer’s wrist. This motion causes a rotary pendulum inside the watch to rotate or oscillate, thus winding the mainspring. The term “self-winding” also refers to the timepiece operating through the winding of the user’s wrist.

Quartz watch: A battery operated watch in which the timekeeping is regulated by a quartz crystal that vibrates at a certain frequency.

Chronograph watch: A type of watch that features an additional stopwatch ontop of regular time and date functions. A chronograph can be either quartz or mechanical (or a hybrid in some instances) and is activated via a set of pushers protruding from the side of the timepiece.

Dive watch: A dive watch is essentially a water-resistant watch, although you should not be confused with the fact that not all water-resistant watches are dive watches. True dive watches should meet a specific standard for diving like ISO 6425, which requires the timepiece to be water-resistant to at least 200 meters. It also typically features a unidirectional rotating bezel and illumination features.

World timer: An automatic wristwatch with a dial that can be adjusted to show the time in 24 different time zones represented by 24 major cities across the globe.

TPD (Turns Per Day): Number of turns of the internal rotor within the wristwatch that is required each day to keep it wound.