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WHAT IS A WATCH WINDER AND DO I NEED ONE?
What is a WatchWinder? A WatchWinder is a mechanical device used to wind an Automatic Watch. WatchWinders wind automatic watches by rotating the watches over a set time period, stopping and starting again as needed. A watchwinder is a maintenance tool, and keeps your watch in top notch working shape.
Do you need a WatchWinder? Yes if you own an automatic watch you need a watch winder! A watchwinder is a luxury product, but an automatic watch is a "super luxury product"!
An automatic watch also called a self-winding watch is a mechanical watch which is wound by the movement of the wearers wrist instead of by a winding stem, though most automatic watches have winding stems and can be wound by hand winding.
Rolex made the first automatic watches and their movements are called "Perpetual". All automatic watches are mechanical watches,typically with a balance wheel mechanism for regulating the motion. This type of watch has a mainspring, which winds by the motion of the wearer's arm, instead of having to wind it manually every day.
The name automatic means that instead of the owner having to wind the watch to power, the watch winds itself "automatically" when worn regularly. On some automatic watches, the rotor is visible through a transparent case back, called a display back or exhibition back. In these cases, the rotors are often engraved or decorated in some way. All automatic watches will have the word automatic on the case somewhere, or it is not an automatic watch as opposed to quartz, kinetic, or manual watches.
For people who do not wear their watch every day, watch winders are a device that can hold one or more watches and moves them in circular patterns to mimic the human motion that keeps the self-winding mechanism working. Service for a full automatic watch (which involves disassembly, cleaning and re-lubrication) should be performed as often as the manufacturer recommends--anywhere from one to every five years to keep the movement as accurate as possible.
Seriously consider investing in a watch winder if you own beloved, fancy, collectible, or merely sufficient self-winding watches. Watchwinders probably extend the overall life of fine watches by keeping parts lubricated and moving. By advancing the mainspring, it gently and continually winds the watch, yet prevents your watch from ever being "over wound."
If you find you need to reset your automatic watch at least once a month because it has powered down, you are handling the watch stem twelve times a yearore if you are doing this weekly. Good watch winder devices keep your timepiece accurate whenever you pull it out of the winder compartment. Watchwinders can handle anywhere from one to twenty-eight watches, to cover your basic needs or display an entire collection.
Batteries power single and double watch winders. Some single and double models offer an AC adapter that plugs into the wall. Most all larger winders use AC adapters with a few that offer batteries as an alternative. All watch winders have a small motor and the quality winders only emit a low hum. It is better to keep your box on a dresser or in a walk in closet rather than at your beside. A winder should let you set the winder to wind your watch bi-directionally (both directions), or clockwise, or counter-clockwise. The great majority of watches, but not all, are designed to turn (be wound) in both directions.
Watch winders can vary greatly in appearance. Be careful of the inexpensive but beautiful cases that have poor motors. However, some companies produce beautiful watch winders that are as decorative and dependable as the timepieces that they hold. Some resemble cubes of polished and inlaid wood. Others have a glass top as a window to see the watch as it rotates, doubling as a display case and you want to keep them in view, away from dust, yet protected like jewelry. The devise that holds the actual watch should be adjustable, so it can handle bands of different diameters. The weight of a watch may narrow the choices of winders that will keep the watch wound over the years.
Do you need a watch winder? Yes, if you have an automatic watch you want ready to wear and safely stored while you are not wearing it. Tip:
Invest at least 10% of the total cost of your watch or watch collection in your watchwinder or winders, to ensure the watchwinder lasts as long as the watch. If you have a fake rolex, then by all means by a cheap steinhose winder, it will not matter. The watch will stop working before the watchwinder, but if you have a real Rolex, then buy a real winder, either an Orbita, a Buben, Eilux or Wolf Designs Watch Winder. For your first WatchWinder get the best, get an Orbita WatchWinder