Not for me as I would have to add another room to the house. I do have a grand complication, moon phase, perpetual calendar that I do keep on a winder as it is a PITA to set. good luck

 

Yup. At this point a perpetual calendar is the only watch I would put in a winder. Set it at a minimum number of revolutions to keep the gears turning.

I currently have a winder that sits empty and unused.

 

Ugh…I hate reading empirical evidence that contradicts something I do and think is a solid notion😅.

I do use a two watch winder in concert with the three watches I alternate daily, but am definitely not super confident it’s the best path. I’ve only been using the winder for a year or so, so time will tell. Or not. Cause my watches broke😁.

 

I guess my thought is leave the watch sit and not cause wear which with my luck the watch would not start again because the oils are gummed up or take my chances with a winder. Either way, the watch is going to need to be serviced every few years. 6 of one and half dozen of the other comes to mind. I like the convenience of a winder for watches that I don't wear every day. I can't see how the gentle rotation of the winder is any more wear and tear than just wearing the watch.

 

Watches don't wear out when they're not moving. Same with the oils, they won't gum up that fast when not moving. My watchmaker (and it's not the first one I could find) says it's better to let the watches rest when you're not wearing them. Since the winders do the same motion over and over again, it CAN generate some minor wear (enough for my AP to not start anymore. Just my two pennies.

 

(1) Watch winder - Make sense from maintenance standpoint? | WatchUSeek Watch Forums

(1) Watch winders good, bad or ugly? | WatchUSeek Watch Forums

(1) Watch Winders for Beginners | WatchUSeek Watch Forums

 

Lots, and lots of posts discussing this...

Are watch winders worth it?

I'm considering the purchase of a watch winder for my automatics since, while nice to look at occasionally, it is annoying to get them out of their bulky display boxes and get them going each time I want to wear one. That said, would a winder cause damage to the watch in that it wears out the...

www.watchuseek.com

Watch Winder and Storage

Any recommendations? would like to wind at least 2 automatics and store at least 5 standard watches… Haven’t really done anything other than a basic google search so maybe you can point me in the direction of some models to look at?

www.watchuseek.com

Opinion on watch winders

What is your opinion? Do you use one? Do you think keeping a watch wound is necessary for lubrication? Do you think using a watch winder could cause excessive wear thus requiring more frequent service? Personally, I believe that one may be useful for a perpetual calendar watch but not so much...

www.watchuseek.com

Considering a Watch Winder

I've currently got 3 automatics, and don't really mind keeping them wound. But as my collection progresses I'm considering an automatic watch winder - especially since I'm looking at buying a watch or two that cannot be wound using the crown. I've just started looking around, and saw some...

www.watchuseek.com

Opinions on Watch Winders?

I searched but didn't see a thread here. Based on browsing online, people have different viewpoints on the topic. Some say it is important so the lubricants don't gunk up if it is sitting. Others say it is nice to let the watch run a full cycle of power reserve. And so on... I've been winding...

www.watchuseek.com

Winders - Pros & Cons

So what do you see as the pros & cons for automatic winders? I'm an older guy, but only recently have become interested in watches from a collector standpoint. For the run of the mill watches, divers, chronographs, manual winders, general automatics I don't see the need for a winder, but instead...

www.watchuseek.com

Watch winders - are they worth the investment?

I'm new to the WUS site, and wish to contribute with my experiences / purchases ... and I'm happy to report that my son has also inherited the watch obsession. As watch enthusiasts, we all get it ... I mean - how cool is it (and a mechanical marvel) that humans have developed a way to tell time...

www.watchuseek.com

 

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Watch winder advice | WatchUSeek Watch Forums

 

Some say do, some say don’t, we will discuss this and “Watches in the shower“ for ever ad nauseam.

 

What about watch winders in the shower? Has that ever been discussed???

 

No for me. I keep my watches in a safe not displayed. Always thought it can only cause wear


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I guess my thought is leave the watch sit and not cause wear which with my luck the watch would not start again because the oils are gummed up or take my chances with a winder. Either way, the watch is going to need to be serviced every few years. 6 of one and half dozen of the other comes to mind. I like the convenience of a winder for watches that I don't wear every day. I can't see how the gentle rotation of the winder is any more wear and tear than just wearing the watch.

Watches don't wear out when they're not moving. Same with the oils, they won't gum up that fast when not moving. My watchmaker (and it's not the first one I could find) says it's better to let the watches rest when you're not wearing them. Since the winders do the same motion over and over again, it CAN generate some minor wear (enough for my AP to not start anymore. Just my two pennies.

lol. OP asks for opinions on a subject, receives opinion, and proceeds to explain why the scolicited opinion is wrong.

 

It's called a discussion.

 

I don’t use them. Maybe it’s just in my head, but I see it as unnecessary wear and tear on the movement. I may go weeks before going back to a particular watch, and I don’t need for it to be continuously running during that time.

That, and I kinda get a kick out of giving the watch I’m going to wear for the next couple of days a fresh start.

 

I kinda get a kick out of giving the watch I’m going to wear for the next couple of days a fresh start.

I hate having to do that... consequently I love my winder (8 watches on it). Yes it causes additional wear. I'm OK with that in order to minimize having to set my watches. (For the same reason, I like my manual winds to not have dates - minimizes fussiness when setting them.)

 

A quick answer: Since I don't let the engine of my car run through the night after the car is parked and no longer needed, of course I don't use a watch winder. What doesn't move, doesn't wear out…

 

This is a flawed analogy. Car engines don't need to run all the time. You turn off your car, then you turn it back on. A car engine's purpose isn't to constantly measure something and accurate display the measurement. It just produces energy when you need it to. An automatic watch movement that sits will stop working, and must be wound and reset to serve it's purpose.

Yes, it makes sense that the parts in a watch movement that runs less may last longer before wearing out than a watch that runs all the time. But watches are designed and intended to run all the time (or, at the very least, a lot of the time). What's the difference between a watch sitting on a winder or a watch being worn all day, every day? (other than the fact on the winder it never gets jostled, hit, dropped, shaken, etc.) Do people that fear wear from winders not own daily wear watches?

 

No thanks for me. Just extra wear and tear not needed, IMHO.

 

Much like timegraphers when I started this hobby, I thought a watch winder was a must have.

I now sit on two in the house that are rarely, if ever, in use. I gifted one to my father and he gave it back to me when he left the state. I got one as a freebie from an AD and neither get used enough to justify the horizontal space they take up.

 

Used one for a couple years. Couldn't get the thought out of my head that it was just causing unnecessary wear and tear on my watch movements. Stopped using it about 2 years ago and haven't looked back. The only reasons I can see for using one would be really complex watch movements and or the simple convenience of being able to pick up and watch and go. I now enjoy the few minutes of interaction with a watch to get it started up with a minute of shaking and setting the date/time. I figure as long as I'm using my watches in somewhat regular rotation, I'm not worried about the lubrication drying up or getting gummy.

 

Not for me as I don't own any perpetual calendars and such, it'll just cause the gears to wear out faster. But I can imagine having to use one for perpetual calendars...

 

Winders (quality ones) are a tool of convenience that work well on properly-running, and properly-maintained (i. e. Regularly serviced) watches. [They are also not long-term (weeks), unmonitored storage devices for reasons following.]

Outside of those conditions, constantly running any watch; whether by auto or hand winding; is going to exacerbate existing or generate new issues.

If you have enough gear wear to stop your watch, you likely had at least two of:
contamination.
Improper or expired lubrication.
Excessive winding from improper /low-quality winder use.

None of those issues are inherent to the winder.

 

I would never use a watch winder. Mainly for the wear reason and I don't think watches were made to be put in winding machines. Anyone who needs a watch winder needs a quartz watch more.

 

I would think this one is easy, but I am finding on WUS, nothing is easy lol. If one doesn't want to have their watches continuously running, don't get a winder. If one does want the convenience, of pulling one, putting your watch on without having to set the date and day, get one. Easy right?

 

A recurring question which has been discussed ad nausem:Books, Tools, Winders & Other Watch Accessories

 

Hasn't this subject been discussed hundreds of times? I don't think we're gonna reach consensus on this.

I don't use winders for the simple fact that I don't want yet another device that I have to plug in, use up electricity, make noises where I have to put it in a place where the sound won't drive me crazy, and spend major coin for a good one(s), when I don't own a perpetual or annual calendar.

I promise to ping you back when or if I ever do get an annual or perpetual calendar. Even then, I probably won't buy one for the reasons stated above.

As for wear and tear, last time I checked, an automatic watch is designed to be worn every day. I'm sure all watches are designed to be worn everyday. So service times, wear and tear, it's immaterial to me. The watch will be serviced when it needs to be serviced. I don't think that is an issue whether you use a winder or don't.

 

I wind my watches when I wear them.

 

Nope. I simply strap three on and go about my day.

 

.

 

No, not a great idea. Think of it this way, if it is being wound, you are wearing the movement by something other than actually just wearing the watch. In other words, more service intervals more often.

 

What's YOUR opinion on using watch winders?

I struggle to see the point in using an electric device for keeping a mechanical watch wound. Why bother to pick a mechanical watch in the first place when the convenience of a quartz watch (pick up and go without winding and setting) is what you want? The usual excuse for living with way higher servicing costs, way less accuracy and less convenience is the fascination of mechanical movements not needing any electricity to run. Using an electric device for creating the convenience of a quartz watch seems bizarre.

 

...the fascination of mechanical movements not needing any electricity to run. Using an electric device for creating the convenience of a quartz watch seems bizarre.

But the fascination part doesn't change just because keeping it wound provides more convenience. Why is that bizarre? Are you saying you don't want convenience? (You may not... some folks here have stated they really like having their watches stop, and having to restart them. For me, I'll take all the convenience I can get, while still enjoying the fact that they're mechanical.)

-- Putting watches on winders causes more wear and tear than letting them rest (though no more than they would get IF you were to wear them all the time)
-- Winders provide convenience in setting/wearing, though some people don't need that convenience, or like less convenience and interacting with their watches more often

That's pretty much the whole story. All the arguments are basically just talking about what you prioritize and how. Everything's a trade.