Automatic watch when not in use: Do you use a winder box, or just let it run out?

[ZTK_M240i]

Curious to what you all do/think is better/and why.

I have multiple automatic watches and some can sit for months in my rotation. I have a winder box I have a few in, and some others are just in a regular watch box (so after awhile they of course stop keeping time).

I've never had an issue with a automatic watch I let sit and run out. In some cases over a year too, they always start right back up.

So what do you all do in this case?

[DanG]

I have a regular rotation of three watches. Two of them sit in winders. A forth watch that I rarely wear is sitting in its factory box. The winders are because I am lazy and all three watches are always on the current time when I grap one.

It doesn’t hurt the watch to let it run down and sit for months. Some say it does hurt more harm to have them on winders. I find both ways work about the same until the watch need service.

[2heeldrive]

I just let it run down. The date will be off, but since I can't see it anyway, I don't care.

And, a watch that is not running, is not wearing itself out.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by DanG

I have a regular rotation of three watches. Two of them sit in winders. A forth watch that I rarely wear is sitting in its factory box. The winders are because I am lazy and all three watches are always on the current time when I grap one.

It doesn’t hurt the watch to let it run down and sit for months. Some say it does hurt more harm to have them on winders. I find both ways work about the same until the watch need service.

I also have 3 automatic watches that I rotate and wear on a regular basis and a Wolf double watch winder.

Most of the better watch makers will give you their recommended number of rotations (TPD) and the direction that the winder should turn that you can program and you should always follow their instructions.

For example the recommended setting for my Zenith Defy Chronograph Skeleton watch with the El Primero movement is bi-directional rotation and 650 turns per day.

Most Tag Heuer watches are bi-directional and 650 TPD but some are 800 TPD.

[gatorfast]

I dont use a winder and just let my watches stop when not in use. It takes all of a minute to start it back up and set the time/date so not a big deal. Plus, the physical interaction of winding the crown can be part of the enjoyment of owning a mechanical watch.

[Pauly Wauly]

My father was a watchmaker for almost 70 years and he never owned a watch winder, so I don`t own a watch winder. He used to say that a watch winder is useful for automatic watches with complex perpetual calendars that you don't wear every day, but for simpler functions watches a watch winder put extra wear on the movement.

[Murf the Surf]

I have a SeaDweller that I wear every other day so for the most part its reserve keeps it going. My other watch is a Speedy mechanical that I wind manually and it seems to keep up being swapped out every other day. If one of them stops it's easy to wind it up. My wife wears a Yachtmaster that's her daily, she has an Seamaster that she wears occasionally the she just manually winds.

[ntailor]

I just let mine run down. Daily is an Apple Watch. It doesn't take long to get them going and set the time. I've looked at watch winders a few times. Unfortunately, the internet has both letting your watch run down or watch winder as best lol. I was always curious how running them down vs a watch winder affected service intervals.

[ZTK_M240i]

Thanks everyone for the input.

It seems like the best bet is to just let them run down and sit as is.

So no watch winders for me.

[ny325]

Run out.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by ZTK_M240i

Thanks everyone for the input.

It seems like the best bet is to just let them run down and sit as is.

So no watch winders for me.

Sounds like a wise decision as the better watch winders are expensive. Aside from storing all of my watches in one place as my Wolf has several storage compartments on the top of the box is that the two winders below are behind a glass door so I can display some of my watches.

The winder puts a smile on my face whenever I look at it.

[tranquility]

Good question and replies.

[six-n-twins53]

Run out

[SDRider]

I just let mine run out. It takes less than 30 seconds to wind and set the time and date. Some automatics you don’t want to set the date if it has stopped past the 6 o’clock hour marker but I only have one automatic like that. The others you can set the date no matter what time it stopped running.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by SDRider

I just let mine run out. It takes less than 30 seconds to wind and set the time and date. Some automatics you don’t want to set the date if it has stopped past the 6 o’clock hour marker but I only have one automatic like that. The others you can set the date no matter what time it stopped running.

That is an excellent point about setting the date, thanks for reminding people about it!

[Westside Guy]

I have my winder sitting on top of the dresser in my bedroom. This might sound crazy to some people but sometimes when I am lying in bed and looking at it rotating it has the same relaxing effect on me that I used to have many years ago staring at a lava light.