Been using my new speedy for about 3 days now. Maybe I have stubby fingers but there seems to be no good easy way to wind this watch every day without a pinch of pain on my fingers! I read that it gets better, I hope it does! Such a beautiful watch.
Give it some time, it will improve. Mine was really difficult at first and now 2 years later is like butter. Feels great. Congrats on the Speedy!
Is it hard to wind due to the crown being stiff or just due to the crown guards? I can't say I've ever noticed an issue winding mine (although my crown is a later replacement and thus slightly smaller than the original ... need to remedy that).
I've heard it's because of the new gaskets around the crown stem. As they are worn, it becomes easier to wind.
That's what she said But yeah no need to grip the crown, wind it from behind with index finger in a kind of rubbing motion of the finger. Winds easy that way.
I feel like my SpeedTuesday is very easy to wind and my Alaska Project is a little more difficult. I think it's because the polished crown of the Alaska is slippery compared to the brushed finish on the ST.
Take it to a watchmaker and have the crown packed so as to slightly extend the staff - I've done that on a couple and has worked a treat especially on the the shorter staffed modern speedmasters.
IMHO its crown guards, mines only a few months old , you just get use to it, its part of my daily morning ritual.
It will really get better after a few months. Try not to modify it though. Just my 2 cents. You can also cut a small pc from a bicycle rubber inner tube, use it below crown and finger. Then wind by sliding finger with rubber inbetween. Works well for me.
There are tools out there that work like a nut driver for crowns that are difficult to wind. The inside of the "socket" is serrated and expands to go over the crown, then retracts and clamps on the crown, which facilitates winding. I have one for my smaller dress watches and my wife's TAG Heuer. Makes it easy to set the time and wind the smaller crowns, and you can get a larger version for these chronographs without the room between the crown and pushers to get your fingers in between. Oh, and I love the innuendo going on.
Toughen up those fingers Alternatively, take it to a watchmaker, have him pull the crown to the out position and dab a little silicon grease on the tube. Push the crown back in and wind. A little extra lube on the crown gasket won't hurt and might make things easier. Since it will take 30 seconds and cost next to nothing in lube, you probably won't be charged.