What is a Watch Winder?
Watch winders are devices that will keep your automatic watches running even when you don’t wear them. Your automatic watch works with a principal to wind itself with the help of a moving weight that is inside it. This weight rotates/swings when you have your watch on your wrist and with the movement; it turns the winding system that is present within the watch.
CHIYODA Single Automatic Watch Winder (Click Image to See at Amazon)
What is a watch winder exactly?
If your watch is not moving or you don’t have it on your wrist, it will stop working because it is not receiving power. You can manually wind almost all automatic watches but this is not always convenient. This idea gave birth to having a watch winder that will keep your watch moving and you don’t have to wind it each time you wear it after a short while.
Watch Winders for Automatic Watches (Click Image to See at Amazon)
Why wound a mechanical watch?
The internal parts and components within the mechanical timepieces are a set of mechanical gears and they spin to fulfill different objectives. The oscillator and the escapement work in tendon for keeping time. The dial train drives face dials on your timepiece. And its gear train works as a transporter of energy. There is a mainspring inside the watch that is a key component of your automatic watch.
The mainspring stores energy and releases it. This mainspring keeps the entire system running. It is a coiled metal piece that links the winding system to the dial and gear train. Without the mainspring, your wristwatch is nothing but a collector’s item with no use.
This mainspring stores the kinetic energy when you tightly wound it. It will gradually release that energy as it unwinds. Therefore, a good quality automatic watch can go on moving for days without having you to wound it. However, most of the watches require winding every night. But the automatic winding wristwatch is an exception to this rule.
The automatic winding wristwatches
During the 18th Century, mechanical wristwatches were popular but the watch wearer had to wound the wristwatch every night, which might seem a bit tedious. Hence, the watchmakers started working on automatic watches and the first one made an appearance in the 1770s.
There is a winding stem in a regular mechanical watch and this stem has a knob outside the body of the watch. With this knob, the wearer can easily wind its mainspring manually. The automatic version has oscillating weight in it and it replaces the stem for winding. Therefore, as long as the wearer is moving the watch remains wound and working.
Is a watch winder necessary?
If you like wearing automatic watches and own a few, you will need a watch winder for sure. This device will keep your watch showing accurate time and ready to be worn whenever you want. The date and date function will be running adequately. You won’t need to reset your watch whenever you take it out.
You won’t need to reset and wind you watch daily because that can be a hassle if you are feeling lazy on a given day or are in a hurry. Your watch will remain on time and you won’t have to put in an effort to set it before wearing it. Just grab your piece and start moving; it’s that simple!
![Watch Winder, Piano Finish with Adjustable [Upgraded] Watch Pillows, 8 Winding Spaces Watch Winders for Automatic Watches, Built-in Illumination (Wooden/Carbon Fiber)) (Carbon Fiber)](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51hk1fkfzgL.jpg "Watch Winder, Piano Finish with Adjustable [Upgraded] Watch Pillows, 8 Winding Spaces Watch Winders for Automatic Watches, Built-in Illumination (Wooden/Carbon Fiber)) (Carbon Fiber)")
Watch Winder, Piano Finish with Adjustable (Click Image to See at Amazon)
Will keeping the watch on a winder damage it?
No, keeping your watch on a winder is not going to damage it. Most of the automatic watches are quite durable and they are built to work 24/7. Besides, keeping the watches on winders is not very different than wearing them daily. Hence, keeping them on winders is not an issue.
Your watch will be on the winder and it will remain clean. There is no problem in using a winder for any good quality automatic watch. There is no evidence available that a winder can either damage or save your watch.
Will it overwind the watch?
You might be thinking that such a winder will definitely end up over winding the watch, but that’s not the case!
A winder can’t overwind your automatic watch because all automatic watches come with a special mainspring and it will never come to the spring’s end. Most of the winders are on some kind of a timer. This means that they will only work for a few minutes and then rest. This goes on in a cyclic procedure as after the rest they will start the motion again.
These winders are fully useless with the quartz watches that run on batteries. However, these winders will work with Seiko Kinetic or some similar movements. The quartz/automatic hybrid watches also work with the same weight movement principle that we have just mentioned above. The weight movement generates electric power for running the quartz movement.
What is a watch winder box, how can I choose a winder?
There are so many winders on the market and they come at different prices as well. Choosing the best one might seem a bit overwhelming job especially if you don’t know what to look for in a watch winder.
Some of the watch winders look more like a jewelry box. They are made of high-quality hardwood material and they are designed in a way to display as a showpiece in your home or office. As these winders are so elaborate, they have a hefty price tag on them.
Other winders have a simple construction and they are to the point. They might not last for very long but they also won’t break your wallet. You can also choose a winder that runs on a battery. This model is convenient if you travel a lot.
A standard plug model is also available for home use. It’s all boils down to what you want and how much you want to pay.
Features of watch winders
You need to buy a winder that can rotate in clockwise as well as counterclockwise direction. Usually, there is a setting that will alternate from one to the other during a day’s period.
It is important to alter the oscillating weight’s movement direction. This way they will remain equal in either direction. Some older models of automatic watches only wind in one direction! Therefore, you need to buy a winder that winds the watch in both directions.
The tie between the on/off cycles is another feature of watch winders. If you are looking to run and wound different types of watches then you need to alter run/rest times according to your requirements. So altering the time is an important feature of a watch winder.
Best Watch Winders Brands
JQueen
The watch winders from JQueen come equipped with very quiet motors. The brand has one thing in mind when designing these winders and that is precision. With the technology of variable rotation, these watch winders go well with all kinds of automatic watches. With features like a 0.1 percent defect rate, graceful ebony wood finish and adaptable to different watch chains and straps, the JQueen watch winders are simply the best.
Wolf
Wolf has been around for a long time and the company has a long list of watch and jewelry boxes on offer. These products from Wolf are all handmade and come with a lifetime warranty. Since the time of its inception, the company has focused on quality and this has been the norm since 1834. For five generations the company has been known for making high-quality products that not only grace your desk but also stand the test of time.
Versa
Versa is among some of the new brands in this industry and it has garnered a tremendous amount of success in just a few years. The company specializes in watch winders and has a range of products suitable for different budgets. You can look for different single, double and quad watch winders at very affordable prices.
Comparison Chart
![[Newly Upgraded] Versa Automatic Single Watch Winder](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31CwxPO+cVL._SL160_.jpg)
Last update on 2020-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Watch Winders on the Market
1. Double Watch Winder by JQueen
JQUEEN Double Watch Winder (Click Image to See at Amazon)
If you are looking for a good quality watch winder that works well in terms of performance and has an elegant look, there is nothing better than JQueen watch winder. It is available in seven different finishes including three different styles of Ebony, Bamboo, Mandshurica, Green, and White.
The double watch winder boasts the Japan Mabuchi motor that is extremely silent in operation. It will only produce noise that is 5 dB, which is quite low for rotating your watch and there will be no running noise either. There are five different programs that you can choose from.
- 1st Mode is off.
- 2nd Mode features 2 minutes CW, then rest for 6 minutes, then repeat.
- 3rd Mode features 2 minute CCW and then rest for 6 minutes, then repeat.
- 4th Mode is 2 minutes CW then rests for 6 minutes, then 2 minutes CCW then rest for 6 minutes, then repeat.
- 5th Mode is 5 minutes CW the 5 minutes of CCW, then repeat it for 3 hours and then rest for 9 hours, then repeat.
It also features dual power supply using an adapter that will come with your purchase of winder and you can run it using a couple of 1.5V batteries. The watch winder is covered with 18 months of warranty as well.
CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON.COM
2. The Heritage Watch Winder by Wolf
WOLF 270002 Heritage Single Watch Winder (Click Image to See at Amazon)
The Heritage by Wolf is a high-quality single watch winder that focuses on simplicity. It features a single winding module and has a top-notch commercial grade glass cover. The hardware has a chrome finish on it and there is a locking cuff as well.
All watch winders from Wolf feature the brand’s patented technology that allows these winders to count an accurate number of rotations. This is a feature that sets this watch winder apart from the competition because all other winders only work by estimating the rotations.
There is a preset 900 TPD direction setting that you can do anticlockwise, clockwise and both. The winder runs on dual power supply this means that you can either run it using an adapter or run it on battery.
It features high-quality satin and faux leather construction and you can even fit in heavier watches with big dials as well. For a secure fit, you can also lock the cuff so that your watch doesn’t fall off due to any reason. Furthermore, this watch winder comes with a 2-year warranty.
CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON.COM
3. Versa Watch Winder
![[Newly Upgraded] Versa Automatic Single Watch Winder](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31CwxPO%2BcVL.jpg "[Newly Upgraded] Versa Automatic Single Watch Winder")
Versa Automatic Single Watch Winder (Click Image to See at Amazon)
This watch winder will turn for five minutes and then will rest and the pattern will vary based on the setting that you have chosen for winding. Versa has programmed this winder not to keep turning continuously and this will prevent your watch from being overwound.
This winder runs on an adapter and it has a spring action pillow that can accommodate larger wristwatches as well. The winder comes with a 1-year warranty and it will continue to perform for many years to come. Versa has designed this winder to reduce magnetism and it will not damage your automatic watch either.
CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON.COM
4. Chiyoda Single Watch Winder
CHIYODA Single Automatic Watch Winder (Click Image to See at Amazon)
Chiyoda is also among the top-ranked brands when we talk about watch winders. This single watch winder comes with a silent motor and it runs on battery. There are twelve different rotation modes that you can use to wound your automatic watch. This watch winder is available in two different finishes: one is Ebony while the other one is Brown.
The winder features a window of organic acrylic glass that has a high-lacquered finish. This watch winder is completely handmade and looks like an exquisite piece of decoration. There is an 80mm diameter pillow in it that can hold a variety of automatic watches.
As this winder comes with upgraded components as well as Japan Mabuchi motor, it is not going to produce a lot of sounds. There are four different modes for turns per day (TPD) including 650, 950, 1250 and 1850.
Moreover, there are three different directions you can also choose from including counterclockwise, clockwise and both. You can set all of them separately.
CHECK LATEST PRICE ON AMAZON.COM
Final Word
So now you know; what a watch winder is. Some of you might consider that the watch winders are not that necessary device to spend on. Well, if most of the watches in your collection are battery-powered then you don’t need a winder for sure.
But if you happen to own a few automatic mechanical wristwatches then a watch winder can be a blessing in disguise for you.
You might think of it as an accessory but if you put it to good use it will keep you on time no matter what!
