matthias Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 Hello Friends, Once the drawers and closets start to fill up with automatic watches we're all faced with the question, "should I keep them running, and if so what is the best way to do so?" I'm surprised at how little debate I can find on the merits of watch winders vs. hand winding each watch daily. Which puts more wear and tear on the watch parts, which is healthier for the watch? The general consensus seams to be that keeping watches running is a good idea. What do you do? I'd love to hear your anecdotal feedback, and appreciate anyone who actually works on watch movements chiming in. How do I keep this guy running? Gen. Armand Nicolet Perpetual Calendar with Moonphase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 Auto-winding (via the internal rotor or external winder) an automatic watch is preferable to daily manual-winding because the latter prematurely wears the auto-wind components. If you search the subject on most watch forums, you are likely to find many threads discussing this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 Hand-winding an automatic watch spins the reducing gear at fantastic speeds. This can and does strip off it's teeth, especially in the 7750 and 7753 Swiss and Asian copy. Many people here with lots of watches simply allow them to run down and then wear them to get them running again when you want to use it. Some people pull the crown to hack (stop) the movement in their 7750s between uses. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkal Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 Jkays first method is what I do. Jkay, Does hacking the movement and leaving it that way for extended periods have negative affects? I have read conflicting info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 I can't answer that question with authority. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtguk Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 I would be interested to know an informed opinion on this to mine are kept in a winder and (touch wood) no worries so far, but I mainly do that because I hate to have to set the time/date every time I change watch I prefer to pick one up and its ready to wear. I generally find that once a month I need to reset a few of them to the correct time so I do it on or after the 1st so if I need I can reset the date too, from a mechanical point of view I would think having the movements working would have more benefits than having them not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 Personally speaking, I let mine run down. I wouldn't keep a car on a rolling road in the garage just to keep the engine running, so I don't view a watch as any different, in that it's a mechanical device with moving parts, so really can't see the point in keeping them running if they're not being worn, it's but a moment's work to restart and reset them when needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceberg1459 Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 damn if i let my watch stop it MIGHT break!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woof* Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 I have a nice winder I bought a few years ago. I used it faithfully for three or four months. Since I had to adjust my watches anyway I lost interest in it and finally quit using my winder. I have never read anything solid one way or the other as to winders being good or bad. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imajedi Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 Just using common sense if your watches are always running than they are continually putting wear on the bearings and will wear out at least those parts faster. This is probably especially true in the Asian movements if they have not been serviced because from what I've read they typically show up dry. I can tell you from experience of taking apart a Chrono on a A7750 that the Chrono portion has an all plastic bearing and it's not advisable to leave the Chrono's running for extended periods, for example just to see the smooth second hand. That being said the jewels are designed to make excellent bearings and should last a long time if lubricated correctly. I think the answer to this is likely that it is way more important to the life of your watch to have it services regularly and the decision to wind or not wind pails in comparison. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 I think the answer to this is likely that it is way more important to the life of your watch to have it services regularly and the decision to wind or not wind pails in comparison. You have spoken the truth. A watch ticks billions of times .. No exaggeration. It's about maintaining the oil in the jewels first and foremost. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthias Posted June 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Great words guys. From what I've gleaned here and around the internet it appears that: 1. The most important thing is to have your watch serviced regularly. This gives life to moving parts like nothing else. 2. There's no point to keeping a watch running for months on end if you're not wearing it, but a watch winder can be helpful if you like to rotate watches regularly. 3. It is good for an automatic watch to see real life wear and not to sit for months on end without running. 4. Manually winding your watches daily will put unnecessary wear and tear on the winding mechanisms. 5. Perhaps the best way to bring a watch back to life is to put it on your wrist, allow it to charge naturally, set the time, and ENJOY the magic on your wrist. I'm really appreciating the wealth of knowledge here. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceberg1459 Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 maybe no need to get overexcited,not a vintage museum patek ,its a watch just wear it, when you dont wear and it stops resetting takes 2mins...i abuse my high end gens daily and i see no magic..also watchwinders are just for show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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