Automatic Watches
Do You Really Need a Watch Winder? The Truth About This Pricey Accessory
By Argos Watches
Let's be honest right from the start: if you're a watch enthusiast, you probably know that a mechanical watch is a luxury. We don't need them. There are countless simpler, cheaper ways to tell time. But for many who love watches, the blend of style, history, and pure charm offers enough value to keep these intricate machines alive.
Yet, even for those deeply passionate about watches, there's one item in the watch-collecting world that can feel even more excessive than the watch itself: the watch winder.
Watch winders often promise convenience for automatic watch owners, but they're rarely worth the cost. In fact, in some cases, they might even do more harm than good.
Yet, even for those deeply passionate about watches, there's one item in the watch-collecting world that can feel even more excessive than the watch itself: the watch winder.
Watch winders often promise convenience for automatic watch owners, but they're rarely worth the cost. In fact, in some cases, they might even do more harm than good.
What Exactly Is a Watch Winder?
A watch winder is essentially a box designed to keep an automatic watch running when it's not being worn. It gently rotates the watch, ensuring the mainspring stays wound. These devices range from simple tabletop boxes to elaborate, secure vaults. They seem to offer a handy solution, but they can be an overpriced, sometimes gaudy, and often unnecessary device that poses as an "essential tool" for watch collectors. At best, a winder offers minor convenience. At worst, it could potentially harm a cherished timepiece.
Is a Watch Winder Truly Necessary for Watch Health?
A similar question was presented to Henry Ly, the Managing Director at Watchmaking Project, a reputable independent watch repair shop in NYC. His answer was "No, absolutely not."
According to Ly, while factors like a watch's age and the surrounding temperature can indeed cause its lubricants to dry up, a simple lack of use shouldn't be a cause for concern. More importantly, modern synthetic watch oils are a far cry from the animal-based lubricants used in watches of yesteryear. These newer oils simply don't coagulate or "gunk up" in the same way. While they will naturally dissipate and lose their effectiveness over time (regardless of whether the watch is running or sitting still), there's no need to worry about them causing damage just because the watch isn't constantly moving.
The clear takeaway here is straightforward: as long as regular service intervals are adhered to, an automatic watch will be perfectly fine.
The Risk of Too Much Winding: Unnecessary Wear and Tear
"Imagine you have had your watch for about four or five years, and it is at the point where it needs service soon," Ly explains. "But instead of servicing it, you put it on the winder and forget about it. The gears and pivots are constantly winding, causing wear and tear." He contrasts this with simply putting the watch in a drawer or closet, where it stops running. In that scenario, "it stays in a place where the gears and wheels aren’t being excessively worn."
While it's true that you want to avoid lubricants gunking up a watch's gears, a winder won't prevent that from happening if the oils are already past their prime. In fact, it might accelerate wear on parts that are already operating with diminished lubrication.
So, for a watch nearing its service interval, continuous motion on a winder could actually worsen internal friction and lead to more significant wear.
While it's true that you want to avoid lubricants gunking up a watch's gears, a winder won't prevent that from happening if the oils are already past their prime. In fact, it might accelerate wear on parts that are already operating with diminished lubrication.
So, for a watch nearing its service interval, continuous motion on a winder could actually worsen internal friction and lead to more significant wear.
What About the Convenience Factor?
Another common argument in favor of watch winders is convenience. It's true that if an automatic watch isn't worn for a couple of days, it will stop, and you'll need to reset the time and date (and sometimes wind it) before wearing it again. But is this really such a burden that it justifies spending hundreds, or even thousands, of rupees on a specialized device?
For most watch enthusiasts, the act of winding and setting a mechanical watch is part of the charm, a small ritual that connects them to their timepiece. It's an interaction that many collectors genuinely enjoy, taking no more than a minute or two of their morning.
For most watch enthusiasts, the act of winding and setting a mechanical watch is part of the charm, a small ritual that connects them to their timepiece. It's an interaction that many collectors genuinely enjoy, taking no more than a minute or two of their morning.
Watch Winders: Not an Investment?
Let's talk aesthetics. Few watch winders genuinely serve as an attractive storage solution. Many are bulky, uninspired cubes that take up valuable dresser or desk space. Affordable options, which can range from ₹5,000 to ₹30,000 or more in India, often feature questionable design, utilizing cheap plastics, synthetic leather, or over-polished wood that looks artificial. If a truly luxurious display is desired to complement high-end watches, prices can soar into the hundreds of thousands of rupees.
Instead of a bulky winder, consider a simple, elegant leather valet tray for under ₹5,000. It's a much more attractive way to store a watch, and taking a minute to wind and set it in the morning is a small price to pay for genuine appreciation of the timepiece.
Conclusion
There are indeed plenty of winders to choose from that offer various settings for turns per day and winding direction, some even featuring high-quality, near-silent Japanese motors. A range in quality and features can be found as the price increases.
However, it's important not to purchase a watch winder out of some perceived sense of necessity for a watch's health. The consensus among watch repair experts is clear: it's not necessary. A watch winder, for most automatic watch owners, is nothing more than a frivolous luxury good designed for other luxury goods.
However, it's important not to purchase a watch winder out of some perceived sense of necessity for a watch's health. The consensus among watch repair experts is clear: it's not necessary. A watch winder, for most automatic watch owners, is nothing more than a frivolous luxury good designed for other luxury goods.
Effortless Timekeeping: The Argos Olympus with Power Reserve Indicator.
The Argos Olympus automatic offers a combination of good craftsmanship, reliable timekeeping, and classic design. The Olympus delivers on its core features, providing a balanced choice for daily wear or as a thoughtful present. With its convenient power reserve indicator, the Argos Olympus takes the guesswork out of winding, letting you easily see the remaining power and ensuring your watch is ready when you are, simplifying the experience of owning an automatic watch. Explore the Olympus Collection.
