Hi all, rightly or wrongly I don't often wind my watches to full capacity but did so inadvertently on my faithful '71 Speedmaster this week.

My learned Omega mentor told me he thought the spec on the 861 was 40 hours but it has been known to go to 44 hours or so. I thought it would be interesting to see how it fared-no chrono of course, day wear and night rest as per my norm. It finally ran out after a shade over 50 hours this morning, which seems pretty darn good for a 47 year old watch. (serviced 2.5 years ago)
Photo for gratuity and posterity of where it stopped-

Is this common/uncommon? Any stories of great or ungreat power reserves on an 861, 321 or other vintage?

Steve

 

My new 1861 has run close to 48 hours after a full wind (I think it was 46), but I’m sure the timing was really off near the end. I just compared the time I wound it to where it stopped when I picked it up 2 days later.

Out of curiosity, what is your reasoning for not fully winding? Do you think it reduces wear and tear on the winding mechanism and crown?

 

Not sure who your mentor is, but the stated power reserve for the 861 (and 1861) is 48 hours, so the fact yours went 50 is not unusual at all.

 

Ah well, he was only talking off the top of his head and admitted he hadn't checked.

I was worried about over-winding the spring, some of my other vintage manuals feel quite fragile. For this Speedy in particular-it winds and winds and winds (over 60 times) so I was often concerned I had crossed over into bad winding-territory. It was a relief to see there was an end to it!

 

Just wind it until it stops - there is no "bad winding territory" to be afraid of.