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It’s one thing to keep a mechanical watch ticking over using the power generated from your wrist’s movement, but it’s another to keep more than one watch going at the same time, especially if you like to change your wristwatches over regularly. That’s where a watch winder comes in handy. If you’re a watch collector or dealer, you need to keep your watches running all the time.
A watch winder will take care of this issue, no fuss. But even if you only own one mechanical watch, a winder for your wristwatch is still a great product to invest in. So, what different types are out there and which is the best watch winder for you?
Just like a timepiece, watch winders are varied in their style as well as their functions and size. That’s great news for you if a watch winder means much more than just a box to put your watch in for restoring its power. For many, a watch winder is a platform to showcase the beauty of your watch. It doubles up as a piece of décor, compliments a side dresser in a bedroom, and can even be chosen in a coordinated material to match the style of your watch.
What is a watch winder?
A watch winder stands in for your wrist during those occasions when you can’t wear your watch. It rotates the timepiece, keeping it powered up so that it can keep accuracy even when you aren’t wearing it. When you take a watch off, the energy stored up from the movement created by your wrist will eventually run out, which is where a good quality watch winder comes in handy. The device mimics the motion creating naturally by your wrist when you wear a watch. Set at a certain angle, it rotates, creating kinetic energy that can then be stored to keep your timepiece running perfectly.
Do I need a watch winder?
If you own more than one automatic watch, you may want to consider purchasing a watch winder.
There are single watch winders and double watch winders as well as ones that power multiple wristwatches at the same time. This is a particularly useful option if you’re a watch seller or dealer. It’s not essential to own a watch winder, but it sure makes life easier if you want your watch to be ready wound and waiting for you to wear at any point, day or night.
Watch winders are all about convenience. If you have spent your money on a quality watch (which of course you have, since we’re talking mechanical watches in this article), the idea of purchasing a luxury watch winder to accompany it will probably appeal to you.
Why are watch winders so useful?
If you’re big into collecting watches, you’re bound to have purchased a watch winder or two before. Maybe it’s time for a new one? Even if you’re still yet to buy your first watch winder, you’ve more than likely considered it before now because they’re such a great novelty to own. Watch winders are also a place to store your watch. You can’t always wear the same watch every day of the week. So if you’re going to keep your watch on display at home, why not showcase it while you’re keeping it ticking over?
If you travel frequently, be it for business or pleasure, and you own more than one watch, a watch winder can be a useful tool to own. You can keep the watch or watches that you aren’t taking away with you in a watch winder, ticking over nicely for when you return. Alternatively, you can take your watch winder away with you on business or vacation and alternate your timepieces whenever you desire, depending on the occasion. Watch winders are also a great choice for those with busy on-the-go lifestyles who don’t have time to think ahead to wind their watch manually in time for an event.
Different kinds of watch winders:
There are a few names within the industry that are associated with creating exceptionally beautiful high-quality watch winders. Orbita watch winders and Wolf watch winders are some of the most recognizable names associated with quality materials. They’re a reliable, long-lasting design. Prestigious watch brands like Rolex, Hublot, and Omega make their watch winders too.
What are the main features of a watch winder?
Some watch winding devices are made using materials like wood and leather. They not only look beautiful but double up as a safe environment for your luxury watch, assisting collectors and sellers in keeping their timepieces safe and secure. Some devices have interchangeable settings and sleep modes that enable the daily rhythm of wearing a watch to be simulated as if on the wrist. This feature is also a useful energy-saving function for night time and weekends. Features like an automatic stop function (which turns off when the box is opened, assisting with the safe and easy removal of a watch) is handy for a watch seller or watch dealer.
Before buying your watch winder, it’s essential to figure out how many turns per day (TPD) it performs at. This will ensure your watch can be wound to its full capacity. The best kind of watch winder will enable you to set a specific amount of turns per day. It will also rotate both ways since not all watches are wound in the same way.
What to consider before buying a watch winder
If you’ve spent a considerable amount of money on a watch, you won’t want to risk putting it in a cheap watch winder. They can constantly spin, causing your watch to become overwound. The amount of storage space a watch winder offers is also important. Do you need it to rotate one or more watches? There are some seriously beautiful double watch winders out there, like the Wolf Viceroy double winder, which can be set between 300 and 1200 turns per day and features a 72-hour delay winding feature to guard against over-winding.
Other factors worth considering before buying a watch winder are things like the power supply. Do you want to use a battery, a plug, or both? You also need to keep the size of your watch in mind when choosing a watch winder design, as well as features like a quiet performance. Once you’ve considered these factors, enjoy deciding on a design that suits your preference and compliments the style of the watch that will sit inside it.
