Automatic Watch Winders - Are They Really Needed?

With the resurgence and increased popularity in automatic watches, more attention has been given to the need for automatic watch winders. To determine whether one needs a watch winder, the watch owner should have a basic understanding of the workings of automatic watches and consider how the watch will be used on a daily basis.

What is an Automatic Watch?

First, let's briefly define an automatic watch. Also commonly known as a self-winding winding watch, an automatic watch is a simply a mechanical timepiece that winds itself as long as it is worn regularly. This feat is accomplished by means of the internal mainspring that winds the watch automatically by the kinetic movement of the watch wearer's arm.

Why Automatic Watches Need to Stay Wound Up

All mechanical watches, including self-winding and automatic watches should be kept wound-up and running as much as possible to prevent the internal lubricants from drying out or congealing. Dried or congealed lubrication can greatly reduce accuracy and shorten the lifetime of the watch, so it's important that watches be serviced periodically. Most experts recommend mechanical watches be serviced about once every five years or so to keep the watch running as smoothly and as accurately as possible. Servicing includes taking the watch apart to clean, adjust, and re-lubricate as necessary.

Although an automatic watch never needs winding as long as it is being worn, it will run certainly run down after a few hours or days of not being worn. This presents a problem for anyone who doesn't wear the same watch regularly, but still needs the watch wound and set to the right time whenever it is needed.

Enter the Automatic Watch Winder

This problem is easily solved by means of an automatic watch winder. A watch winder is a device that can store one or more self-winding watches and keep them wound up at all times. This device physically rotates the watches in a circular pattern that mimics the motion of the human wrist and keeps the watches wound up. Keeping the watches wound up is especially useful for watches that have perpetual calendars and different phases.

Beauty and Function Combined

Many watch winders are made of quality wood, metal, leather, and other materials, and double as beautiful jewelry display boxes that protect and make a perfect showcase for self-winding watches. Much more than jewelry boxes however, these innovative devices serve a more practical and functional use of keeping the watches automatically wound up and ready to go at all times.