Unless your watches have complications such as complete or perpetual calendars or moonphase, I personally wouldn't bother using a winder. Setting time and quick-set date is not terribly cumbersome, and it gives you some tactile appreciation of your timepieces.

 

Don't get me wrong, I have a winder (Orbita Siena 2), but only for my JLC Master Calendar and my 1680 Sub with slow-set date.

 

My 1680 and other date equipped watches were the main reason for my wolf 2.7 but after the bill for repairing the auto winding system on that 1680 including reversing wheels etc, I'm wary of ever risking that damage again.

 

Ash, how long was your 1680 on the winder before the problem occurred? Mine has been for a little over 3 years, and I plan to service it at about 5-year intervals. I hadn't really thought about potential for damage, and will consult my Rolex specialist-friends...at first thought, though, these were essentially supposed to be worn daily, so I wouldn't think that being kept on a winder would necessarily be a problem if one kept regular service intervals.

 

Sorry for the confusion it wasn't damaged on a winder it was just worn by the typical first time "buy a Rolex and never service it" owner of the watch. The trouble was I had some very specific requirements at servicing including leaving the tritium intact and re-installing the bezel pearl and RSC Melbourne were less than willing to accommodate so I was forced to go through an independent.

They the had to source the movement parts needed (basically the whole winding system) from parts houses with NOS supplies and the total bill was over $1,700. The parts I got back from them were just absolute cactus. The trouble is just that since then I've babied it as Australian watchmakers don't have Rolex parts accounts here like American ones do, and RSC isn't really an option and leaving it on a winder for months on end makes me nervous knowing how much those parts cost from the parts houses.