What time is it? This question has inspired generations of watchmakers to craft exquisite wrist watches with amazing skill and dedication. These timepieces feature intricate movements and elegant artistry and will last for years with proper care. To keep your automatic watches in working order, invest in a watch winder. A watch winder will maintain the self-winding movement of an automatic watch while it is in storage. Watch winders are available in many styles and sizes. With the information provided in this watch winder buying guide, you can search for the winder that best suits your needs.
The mechanics of automatic watches
Automatic watches feature self-winding mechanical movement. When you wear an automatic analog watch, the energy produced by your arm movements winds the mechanical device and keeps it at full power. As the spring in the movement unwinds, it releases this energy to make the watch functions work.
If you wear the same automatic watch every day, you are keeping the power reserve at a high level. However, if you wear several automatics or have luxury automatic watches that you only wear occasionally, the power reserves will diminish, causing the movement to stop. Many timepieces feature a power-reserve register on the dial that lets you know when to rewind the watch. You can wind these timepieces by hand when they stop by winding a knob or by gently shaking them back and forth for several minutes. This method becomes a chore if you own several watches or are in a hurry to get dressed. A watch winder will keep these watches and all their functions -- date, moonphase, timer, perpetual calendar, stopwatch -- working, so they'll be ready to wear when you need them
A watch winder maintains the power level in an automatic movement by rotating the wrist watch on a turntable, the spinning wheel in the watch box. A basic watchwinder has one turntable which rotates at five turns per minute; some have an adjustable schedule you can preset while others just run until you turn off the power. Many watch winders have more than one turntable and have extra features that are worth examining:
The watch winder often sits in a decorative watch case that also includes storage slots for quartz and mechanical timepieces; some may have room for a pocket watch, too. Storing your watches in a box protects them from dents and scratches. Good watch boxes come in many styles, but here are some details to look for when choosing one:
Should I keep an automatic watch on the winder all the time?
An automatic watch that is worn almost every day rarely needs to be set on a watch winder; once every two weeks should restore power to the movement. Watches that are worn sporadically will need to stay on a winder most of the time if you want them ready to wear at all times. However, the watch winder should be set to a schedule of rotations and rest periods.
Constant rotation can wear down the gears in the movement, and it isn't necessary to keep a watch at full power. Most winding turntables rotate at five turns per minute and have a set schedule; for example, it will rotate for one hour and rest for three hours. The higher-end watch winders have adjustable rotation schedules. Be sure to check the manufacturer's recommendations for your watch to find the preferred winding schedule.
Some of the watch winders are so big. Why is that?
A simple watch winder will have one turntable for one watch; however, some watchwinders can accommodate 2, 4, 6 and even 12 timepieces at a time. These large winders assist shops and individuals in organizing groups of watches. Also, many watch winders are encased in watch boxes or men's jewelry boxes. As some men and women own a lot of timepieces, these watch boxes have extra storage space; some have as many as 12 slots for watches and four or more turntables.
In order to hold the watches and the winding mechanism, large-capacity watch winders can be over a foot tall and deep.
Fill those drawers. . . with watches
Watch boxes with winders are essential accessories for a gentleman's wardrobe. Even if you don't have many watches yet, owning a large watch case with plenty of storage room is a good idea. You'll have a slot for each new Swiss, chronograph or divers watch you acquire in future years; after all, a wrist watch is more than a clock -- it is a fashion accessory. (You can keep bracelets and chains in the empty slots for now.) If you have a lot of men's jewelry, opt for a handsome jewelry box with compartments for rings, chains and necklaces. Jewelry and watch boxes not only keep your accessories organized, making it easier to get dressed, but they also make beautiful pieces of home decor.
Keeping time and timepieces on the road
If you travel extensively, you may like to keep several watches with you to match different social occasions. Be sure to protect these valuable timepieces with their own travel case. The timepiece's original box is probably sturdy enough for travel, but these tend to be bulky. There are plenty of durable fabric and leather watch boxes available that were designed for travel. A slim watch box with slots for two to four watches slips easily into carry-on luggage and protects watches from the rough knocks of life on the go.
