Understanding Watch Winders: An Essential Tool for Automatic Watches
You might have encountered terms such as watch winders or winding machine, leaving you curious about their exact function.
Mechanical automatic watches wind themselves through the natural movements of your wrist, activating a mainspring inside the watch. This action triggers an automatic winding rotor to rotate, engaging gears that wind the mainspring. The energy released from this coiled spring powers the mechanisms. If the watch remains inactive for a long period, it will use up its stored energy and stop.
The term "power reserve" refers to how long a watch can function on a full wind without additional winding. Many watches typically have a power reserve of 35 to 48 hours, but technological advancements have extended this to 60-72 hours in modern designs. Special models, such as the Hublot's Big Bang MP-11 offering 14 days, and A. Lange & Söhne's Lange 31 with a remarkable 31 days, set exceptional standards. Nevertheless, without manual winding, most watches will stop running after about 1.5 to 3 days.
Extended inactivity also may lead to complications like lubricant inside the watch to be uneven or solid, potentially contaminating the dial, prohibiting smooth movement, or accelerating the wear of waterproof seals. Even though the lubricant quality in newer watch models has improved, avoiding lubricant-related issues is still crucial.
By mimicking the arm's movements, a watch winder maintains the watches to operate continuously, just by setting the watch and activating the device. This eliminates the need for hand winding, keeping the watch always ready for use and reducing the risk of damage due to lack of motion.
Especially for those who reserve their watches for special occasions or possess a collection, a watch winder offers a seamless way to ensure your automatic watches remain functional and well-preserved, serving as an essential accessory for sustaining the condition and readiness of your timepieces in a busy lifestyle.
