How to Use a Watch Winder - Diamond Source NYC

If you’ve never heard of a watch winder, don’t feel alone. Devices of this type are constructed for the purpose of ensuring that automatic watches continue to operate even if they’re not worn for some time. Since these kinds of watches rely on the typical movements people make with their wrists and arms in order to cause the mechanism to wind, the winder is configured to mimic those types of movements.

People who decide to invest in their first automatic watches may be asked if they would like to purchase an automatic watch winder as well. The question of whether you need one depends a great deal on how often you will wear the watch. Assuming that this may be a watch you only wear for special occasions, it does make sense to consider purchasing a watch winder box and learn how to use it properly. Here are some basics that will help.

What Your Watch Winder Looks Like

While designs do vary slightly, expect the typical watch winder to look something like a square or rectangular jewelry box. The design may include a drawer that you pull out in order to position the watch for charging. Others may open from the top and include a holder that you will position the watch. There are also some designs that open from the front. With any of these designs, the watch will be held firmly in place so that it can be moved around enough to ensure the self-winding watch does remain wound at all times.

It’s not unusual for a Rolex watch winder to also have a clear window that allows you to see the watch while it’s in the holder. As for the case materials, they may be made of everything from wood to some sort of resin material. In terms of general appearance, you can select from winders that are simple and easily fit into many types of décor, or you can go with something that has a color scheme or other design elements that reflect the specific style of the room.

While the winder performs an important task, it’s not something that will take up a lot of space. You’ll find that it can rest with ease on the top of the dresser, on a small area of the top of a chest of drawers, or even on a nightstand.

How the Watch Winder Works

Motion is the name of the game when it comes to the way the winder functions. The holder or cradle that keeps the watch in position makes it possible to turn the timepiece according to a pattern that you can adjust manually. Generally, makers of self-winding watches include instructions for the use of winders in the manuals included in the watch packaging.

Unlike a wind-up watch that you would wind manually, automatic watches are wound while you go about the usual movements that people tend to perform every day. It’s also possible to make deliberate movements while wearing the watch that keep it wound. The best watch winder mimics those movements and ensures that the watch continues to keep an accurate time even if you don’t wear it for extended periods.

As long as the watch is properly placed and mounted in the winder, there will be no issues with the rotation. You’ll also need to program the pattern for the movements based on the recommendations of the watch manufacturer.

Can the Winder Manage More Than One Watch at a Time?

What happens if you own more than one automatic watch? Is it necessary to remove one watch so you can repeat the process with the other one? How about having to buy and use two winders? In fact, things are much simpler.

Along with the ability to buy a winder that will accommodate one watch, it’s possible to purchase a double watch winder that will keep two watches wound and ready for use. While the body will be larger, it’s still likely to be small enough to keep on a nightstand or on one end of the dresser. In terms of operation, the process will be the same. Along with the advantage of being able to wind two watches at once, you only need a single power source to keep the winder going.

Does It Have to Be Plugged In?

In order for the winder to function, it must have a source of power. The most common designs include power cords with plugs that will fit into a standard household outlet. However, those are not the only options you have for keeping the winder supplied with a power source.

More models today are configured to utilize a USB cable rather than the standard power cord.  This a more versatile variation on that traditional cord. Connect the cable to the winder and then use the other end to connect to your laptop. If you have a solar charger that is used during a power outage, you can also connect it to the winder in order to keep it working.

You can also connect the other end of the cable to a plug adapter and use it just like a standard power cord. There’s also the option of taking the winder along when you take a long road trip. It’s easy enough to use the cable with an adapter to connect to whatever power source you have for ancillary devices in the vehicle.

Can the Winder Overdo It?

One concern that people voiced as they learn how to wind a watch using a winder has to do with winding the mechanism too much. That’s a valid concern, since it’s easy to wind traditional watches too much and damage the movement. Fortunately, there’s not an opportunity for the watch to be wound too tight if you’re using an automatic watch winder box.

The winder’s configuration ensures that it will override any settings you’ve entered once the watch is fully wound. Essentially, it remains inactive until the sensors detect that the watch is in need of winding again. Even if there are days or weeks in between the times you remove the watch for wearing, you can depend on the winder to not overdo the winding.

Setting the Turns Per Day

One of the first things you’ll need to learn about how to wind an automatic watch using the winder is setting what’s called the TPD. That’s short for turns per day. The best winders allow users to set a pattern that includes so many turns per hour. In order to determine how many turns are needed, consult with the recommendations found in your watch’s owner manual.

What you may find is that the watch needs a minimum of 240 turns per 24-hour cycle. That would translate into ten movements per hour. That would be the number of turns you would specify when you set the pattern.

Keep in mind the pattern is not something that can be set once and you’re stuck with it from now on. There’s the option of replacing that pattern with another one if the need arises. The instructions that come with the winder will walk you through the process. Before long, managing this task will be no more difficult for you than dealing with hand winding watches.

And the Direction of the Turns

It’s not just the number of turns that you can adjust. It’s possible to set the pattern so that the movements are clockwise or counter-clockwise. Some models even allow you to program the winder for up and down movements. There are still others that allow you to program a combination of movements, or even set a random pattern.

You may find that opting for a random pattern works well. Given the fact that you would make all sorts of movements while wearing the watch, it helps if your self-winding watch box imitates that range of movement. You can try going with one direction if you like, but if it doesn’t seem to keep the watch charged and ready to go, consider opting for that random pattern.

Keep in mind that not all winders will allow each of these functions. Before you buy one, make sure it will allow for several different movement patterns. You’ll find that the best watch winder for Rolex watches will be in the latter category.

Placing Your Watch in the Holder Carefully

When you first start using the winder, pay special attention to how you place the watch in the holder. The design can vary from one winder style to the next, but all of them will require that the watch be positioned so that it won’t slip off the holder while a turn is in progress.

You can ensure all is well on this front by making sure to follow the exact steps outlined in the owner’s manual. Test it out a couple of times and let the winder go through the pattern for a couple of hours. Open the winder and see if the watch is still firmly on the holder. If so, then you’ve got the process down pat.

Check the Watch After a Couple of Days

There’s one last thing you need to check; that’s making sure the auto watch winder is keeping the watch wound. After setting up and activating the winder, give it a couple of days. At that point, remove the watch and check the time. Is it still accurate? If so, then the winder is doing the job. If not, you may want to play with the turning pattern and see if you get better results.

While you may hear some people say there’s no need for a Rolex watch winder box, the fact is that winders are handy devices that can make life a little easier. Even if you plan on wearing the watch most of the time, consider investing in a winder. In the event you do need to tuck the watch away for a few weeks, it’s nice to know that you have a resource that will ensure the watch remains fully operational and ready for use.