I am preparing to "lay down" a couple of watches

timotyjvscarl203 · 2026-01-30T06:50:23-0600

I am preparing to "lay down" a couple of watches that I have not been wearing, a Rolex Datejust 16220 and a Baume et Mercier MOA8112 (I believe).

Q1) Is it better to store them in a winder or simply box them away?

Q2) When I wound my Rolex, it did not begin to beat until I gave it a moderate shake! I do not recall this being the case prior. It was last serviced by Rolex in 2016, so not too long ago.

Q3) A buddy recently purchased his first automatic watch (T W Steel), but he also rotates a large number of quartz watches (20+). My concern is about a winder, whether to wind or not to wind when wearing every couple of weeks.

Thank you in advance for any feedback, advise, or recommendations.

Dan S · 2026-01-30T07:06:00-0600

Putting a watch in a winder gradually causes additional wear to the movement with no real benefit. Since you are already seeing some issues with the Rolex, I would certainly not recommend it.

For an inexpensive watch like your buddy's, it's really just a matter of taste. It's really not the kind of watch that he is likely to have serviced or repaired in the future, so he should probably just do whatever helps him enjoy it.

noelekal · 2026-01-30T07:42:35-0600

Winders seemed as daft to me as leaving one's car always idling in the garage. At least watch winders don't emit carbon monoxide.

Tony C. · 2026-01-30T07:46:38-0600

noelekal
Winders seemed as daft to me as leaving one's car always idling in the garage. At least watch winders don't emit carbon monoxide.

To be fair, that could be seen as disadvantageous to the suicidally inclined...😀

noelekal · 2026-01-30T08:05:10-0600

Did the rise of the quartz watch era pave the way for popularity of watch winders? Were watch winders even a thing, outside of watch makers' shops perhaps, before the advent of quartz watches?

mjb · 2026-01-30T08:10:27-0600

timotyjvscarl203
It was last serviced by Rolex in 2016, so not too long ago.

Some might say that it was 9 years ago, which means that it's about ready for a service.

I wouldn't worry about it unless it's not keeping good time.

I also vote NO on using the winder. Just set the time when you want to wear them.

I am preparing to "lay down" a couple of watches

timotyjvscarl203

Dan S

noelekal

Tony C.

noelekal

mjb

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