Automatics Bore Me...

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vibe

·Jan 30, 2023

Chronographs have gotta be hand wind for me. They are much thinner and more elegant that way. Love the Valjoux 773X movements.

 

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ghce

·Jan 30, 2023

Canuck

Not too many candidates wanting a membership in the fraternity of clock collectors. Except , of course, for novelty battery powered ones. Automatic wind watches give me a break from winding six mantel and shelf clocks, and two marine chronometers. And my regular wearing of manual wind watches which are part of my rotation. Today it is two self-winders, and a 140 year old Waltham pocket watch.

Same this way, Grandfather clocks 1, wall clocks 4, mantle clocks 3, other odds and sods that have taken my attention at any particular time but thankfully 90% of my wrist watches are automatic plus 3 other mantle clocks are 400 day ones so that only a once a year task.
Don't have any Bunn 60 Hour specials so I am unlucky/lucky in that regard.

 

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lillatroll

·Jan 30, 2023

I don’t really care how my watch works. If it needs winding then fine, I will wind it, if not, equally fine.

My enjoyment of watches and collecting is mainly derived from the different and interesting designs. All the technical stuff is impressive, but I don’t care if it has a mechanical, automatic, springdrive, hybrid whatever, electronic or battery moter driving it.

I am not really a practical type person, have no interest in cars or woodworking or any of that kind of stuff, so perhaps that explains a total lack of interest the technical intricacies of watches.

 

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timoss

·Jan 30, 2023

JwRosenthal

Try a setting a slow date or 9/12 with a stiff crown and 27 days to go when your wife is ready to go and staring at you.
When I go to the office, I have taken to just slapping on the watch I want to wear in the morning and setting it (time and date) on the train.

You set the date? I almost never bother. I rarely wear a watch more than one maybe two days before rotating to another so why waste the effort.

That’s not as bad as the woman I once met at an art gallery opening, though. I said, “Nice watch” and she said, “I don’t think it runs.” For her it was pure fashion accessory—didn’t even matter if it worked or not.

 

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Dsloan

·Jan 30, 2023

SC1

Pro Tip: lock yourself in the bathroom to wind them... negates looks from the family. Works for me every time.

I can see it now:

Wife: "what are you dooooing in there!?"

Me, who is winding a 10-day power reserve: "nothing, I swear! It's not what you think!"

 

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Canuck

·Jan 30, 2023

I wonder how many manual wind watch aficianados have a Waterbury Longwind in their collections! These watches had a 9-foot long mainspring in them. It took so long to wind them that some owners took to winding them by running the crown along a board fence as they walked.

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1203481

 

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mbp

·Jan 30, 2023

I'm with you on that. I love winding my Speedmaster when I'm walking around at work.

 

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rendo

·Jan 30, 2023·faux legend

I enjoy manual watches more than automatics because I like the simplicity of them.

Probably like most of you, I like to wear a different watch each day. Even with an automatic watch, I have to set the time and date before I put it on, because I don’t keep my watches on winders 24/7. I pick the watch I want to wear the night before, set the time and wind it for the next day.

I also like how manuals are lighter and thinner compared to autos.

Manuals are easier to service, and have less parts to wear out over the years.

 

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Faz

·Jan 30, 2023

A good mix of both goes a long way for me. Love my autos while I’m on the road for long hours. Coming home to the comfort of hand winders is like wearing a nice pair of comfy slippers!

 

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JwRosenthal

·Jan 30, 2023

It’s funny how this is a part of the “thinking” among us watch collectors. Before I was a crazy watch collector and just wore an old Speedmaster every day, I don’t ever remember winding my watch, I don’t remember thinking about winding my watch, I don’t even know how it ran considering I never thought about or remember winding my watch….I apparently just did it on autopilot.

 

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Canuck

·Jan 30, 2023

@JwRosenthal just reminded me. Time to wind the 140-year-old Waltham in my watch pocket. Has anyone beside me had difficulty fitting an 18-size, hunter cased pocket watch into a typical blue jeans watch pocket? They fit, but just.

 

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SC1

·Jan 30, 2023

JwRosenthal

It’s funny how this is a part of the “thinking” among us watch collectors. Before I was a crazy watch collector and just wore an old Speedmaster every day, I don’t ever remember winding my watch, I don’t remember thinking about winding my watch, I don’t even know how it ran considering I never thought about or remember winding my watch….I apparently just did it on autopilot.

Said differently, " ...back before the insanity began and life was simple, easier."

 

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DaveK

·Jan 30, 2023·Yoda of Yodelers

I really like wearing an automatic. Knowing that it is being powered as I walk makes me think about it as I move throughout the day. I give it a few winds in the morning anyway, so best of both worlds.

Edit, winding a pocket watch is a very satisfying feeling that I wouldn’t want to give up.

 

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SkunkPrince

·Jan 31, 2023

Don't care. A watch is what it is. I like wearing it or not. Sometimes you wind, sometimes not.

 

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mcemeren

·Jan 31, 2023

Boring or not, I believe, automatic winding was a solution to a non existed-problem ever.

 

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cheznous

·Jan 31, 2023

timoss

You set the date? I almost never bother. I rarely wear a watch more than one maybe two days before rotating to another so why waste the effort.

That’s not as bad as the woman I once met at an art gallery opening, though. I said, “Nice watch” and she said, “I don’t think it runs.” For her it was pure fashion accessory—didn’t even matter if it worked or not.

I read that Andy Warhol was the same with his watches. Mind you he was an artist so I kind of get it.

 

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Spruce

·Jan 31, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

kingsrider

You know what pisses me off?

The fact that I can't hand wind some of my Seiko automatics.
This one for example.

I bought this handsome example of a Field Watch for work. Gotta do the Hippy Hippy Shake if you don't wear it for a day or two.

Thanks for reminding me why I don’t generally bother with automatic Seikos.

When I switch (non-Seiko) watches, and set them (including the date - my daughters say I’m a bit 'anal' that way) I give the crown two or three turns and we’re good to go.

With a non-winding Seiko, I’m constantly checking to see if it’s actually running.

 

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hen

·Jan 31, 2023

I wore a manual Vostok for many years and often forgot to wind it. That is why I prefer automatics and they can be wound too.

But I do prefer manual shift in cars.

 

B

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bonzodog

·Jan 31, 2023

My small collection are all manual wind.I find it quite therapeutic winding them.

 

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Aroxx

·Jan 31, 2023

ghce

Same this way, Grandfather clocks 1, wall clocks 4, mantle clocks 3, other odds and sods that have taken my attention at any particular time but thankfully 90% of my wrist watches are automatic plus 3 other mantle clocks are 400 day ones so that only a once a year task.
Don't have any Bunn 60 Hour specials so I am unlucky/lucky in that regard.

I’m curious, how long does a 400 day clock take to wind?