Which Watch Winder Setting is Best?

DoctorEvil · Feb 20, 2021

Hi all. A bit of a newbie question here and not sure if it's been answered already.
I have a Seamaster Pro 2551.80 with Cal 1120 movement which I only wear a couple of days every fortnight these days. When not wearing it, I keep it on a watch winder. My preference is to use the bi-directional settings but there are two options.

Option one: rotates the watch clockwise for 2 minutes, then rests for 6 minutes, rotates the watch anticlockwise for 2 minutes, then rests for 6 minutes. This cycle then repeats itself.

Option two: rotates the watch clockwise for 5 minutes before rotating anticlockwise for 5 minutes. Repeats this back and forth for 3 hours before resting for 9 hours. Cycle then starts again for 3 hours before resting another 9 hours.

The total winding time for both is the same, but my impression is that option two would allow the mainspring to unwind more before it gets wound back up again. Option one would keep the mainspring wound up all the time.

My question is this: Which option would be "healthier" for the mainspring and the movement as a whole? Should I let the mainspring unwind more or keep it tightly wound up all the time?

Appreciate your advice on this matter if anyone out there knows a thing or two about this subject.

Gruesome · Feb 20, 2021

My understanding (and I'm not a watch winder expert) is that for any given setting, your winder will either over or under wind the watch. It's very unlikely that the winder winding rate matches the watch power usage rate (its natural unwinding rate) exactly.

If your winder is set to a number of turns per day that over winds, the main spring will be 'riding the clutch' for a bit every day. I don't think the choice of option matters in this case. The main spring will be scraping along the barrel wall for the same number of (excess) turns every day.

If your winder is set to under wind, then option two will make the watch run out of power sooner than option one. With option two, once your power reserve falls below 9 hours, the watch will stop before being wound again. With option one, the watch will stop when the power reserve has dropped below 6 minutes, i.e. essentially to zero. Since the caliber 1120 supposedly has a power reserve of 44 hours, the watch will run 20% (9/44) longer under option 1.

I do not know how bad constant over winding is for the main spring barrel, but i assume that when you send the watch in eventually for an overhaul, Omega will replace the main spring barrel anyway.

That's my two cents.

Gav1967 · Feb 20, 2021

Unless I had a perpetual calendar I wouldn't bother using a winder at all.
Put simply why encourage wear and tear of mechanical parts when you are not even getting the pleasure of wearing the watch? I have seen nothing that convinces me of any benefits of using a winder. If you search the Forums you will find other similar threads with many more technically minded members agreeing with this.

Additionally when changing over watches I enjoy reconnecting with each timepiece during the setting process.

DoctorEvil · Feb 21, 2021

Gruesome
My understanding (and I'm not a watch winder expert) is that for any given setting, your winder will either over or under wind the watch. It's very unlikely that the winder winding rate matches the watch power usage rate (its natural unwinding rate) exactly.

If your winder is set to a number of turns per day that over winds, the main spring will be 'riding the clutch' for a bit every day. I don't think the choice of option matters in this case. The main spring will be scraping along the barrel wall for the same number of (excess) turns every day.

If your winder is set to under wind, then option two will make the watch run out of power sooner than option one. With option two, once your power reserve falls below 9 hours, the watch will stop before being wound again. With option one, the watch will stop when the power reserve has dropped below 6 minutes, i.e. essentially to zero. Since the caliber 1120 supposedly has a power reserve of 44 hours, the watch will run 20% (9/44) longer under option 1.

I do not know how bad constant over winding is for the main spring barrel, but i assume that when you send the watch in eventually for an overhaul, Omega will replace the main spring barrel anyway.

That's my two cents.

Thank you for answering my question. I suppose it's true that the mainspring barrel does get replaced each time it gets serviced every 5 years or so.

DoctorEvil · Feb 21, 2021

Gav1967
Unless I had a perpetual calendar I wouldn't bother using a winder at all.
Put simply why encourage wear and tear of mechanical parts when you are not even getting the pleasure of wearing the watch? I have seen nothing that convinces me of any benefits of using a winder. If you search the Forums you will find other similar threads with many more technically minded members agreeing with this.

Additionally when changing over watches I enjoy reconnecting with each timepiece during the setting process.

Thanks for your response. I have thought about only winding my watch up when I need it but I suppose I like to be able to "grab and go". I also read from somewhere that automatic watches don't like being wound up manually too often as they are designed to be wound up by the rotor most of the time. Frequent manual winding can eventually break the winding stem supposedly. Don't know how true this is.

Gav1967 · Feb 21, 2021

DoctorEvil
Thanks for your response. I have thoight about only winding my watch up when I need it but I suppose I like to be able to "grab and go". I also read from somewhere that automatic watches don't like being wound up manually too often as they are designed to be wound up by the rotor most of the time. Frequent manual winding can eventually break the winding stem supposedly. Don't know how true this is.

Yeah I understand and each to his own. I am never really so time deprived that I can't set a watch i guess or if I am I just leave on the one I am wearing.
As for you comment about the winding stem, I have read many different views but generally the watchmakers on OF have said this is not really a problem.
Anyway I am sure someone more technical will come along soon and give you further advice
Good luck

Larry S · Feb 21, 2021

Go to the Orbita web site. Look up your movement ... the more setting options the better.

Archer · Feb 21, 2021

DoctorEvil
Thanks for your response. I have thought about only winding my watch up when I need it but I suppose I like to be able to "grab and go". I also read from somewhere that automatic watches don't like being wound up manually too often as they are designed to be wound up by the rotor most of the time. Frequent manual winding can eventually break the winding stem supposedly. Don't know how true this is.

Generally, it’s not true. Winding your watch every couple of weeks when you decide to wear it, isn’t going to cause any issues.

Wetworks · Feb 21, 2021

I run mine for about 4-6 hours a day, that's plenty to keep my autos running. I only have one watch that I am concerned with keeping wound, that's my 1969 Seamaster day/date; keeping it on the winder is (to me) better than playing catch up with the quickset crown function as it is a bit nerve-racking to use (those of you with cal 750/751/752 movements know what I mean).

SkunkPrince · Feb 21, 2021

"OFF"

Rado63 · Feb 21, 2021

Gruesome
My understanding (and I'm not a watch winder expert) is that for any given setting, your winder will either over or under wind the watch. It's very unlikely that the winder winding rate matches the watch power usage rate (its natural unwinding rate) exactly.

If your winder is set to a number of turns per day that over winds, the main spring will be 'riding the clutch' for a bit every day. I don't think the choice of option matters in this case. The main spring will be scraping along the barrel wall for the same number of (excess) turns every day.

If your winder is set to under wind, then option two will make the watch run out of power sooner than option one. With option two, once your power reserve falls below 9 hours, the watch will stop before being wound again. With option one, the watch will stop when the power reserve has dropped below 6 minutes, i.e. essentially to zero. Since the caliber 1120 supposedly has a power reserve of 44 hours, the watch will run 20% (9/44) longer under option 1.

I do not know how bad constant over winding is for the main spring barrel, but i assume that when you send the watch in eventually for an overhaul, Omega will replace the main spring barrel anyway.

That's my two cents.

Maybe someone could check my math but it seems the total time spent rotating is not different on either setting 1 or 2. so the total time resting isn't different on either setting. But, setting two just rests longer. If I use a winder I want to find the setting that allows the fewest rotations for the watch to stay on time. In your case you really can't adjust the number of rotations with either setting so you maybe over winding the watch, or you may be underwinding the watch. My suggestion is let the watch run completely out of power then use setting 2. See if the watch keeps accurate time. If you wear the watch all day, then put the watch on the winder to prevent over winding you would need a winder that lets you program start time several hours later not immediately. Without such a feature I would let the watch run for 24hours then put it on the winder.

DoctorEvil · Feb 21, 2021

Archer
Generally, it’s not true. Winding your watch every couple of weeks when you decide to wear it, isn’t going to cause any issues.

Thanks for your reply. That's good to know.

DoctorEvil · Feb 21, 2021

Wetworks
I run mine for about 4-6 hours a day, that's plenty to keep my autos running. I only have one watch that I am concerned with keeping wound, that's my 1969 Seamaster day/date; keeping it on the winder is (to me) better than playing catch up with the quickset crown function as it is a bit nerve-racking to use (those of you with cal 750/751/752 movements know what I mean).

Know what you mean there. My Dad gifted me a Seamaster Calendar from the late 1950s with that type of "quickset" date function.

Which Watch Winder Setting is Best?

DoctorEvil

Gruesome

Gav1967

DoctorEvil

DoctorEvil

Gav1967

Larry S

Archer

Wetworks

SkunkPrince

Rado63

DoctorEvil

DoctorEvil

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