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Winding feel of the SMPc?

M
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Hi all,

my first posting here but been watching for quite a while now.

I have a question linked to my Omega SMPc, ref 212.30.41.20.01.003. It's approx 2 years old and I've had it since new. A while back the "feel" when winding it drastically changed. From being super smooth to where I now clearly feel the cogs working with each other, a more grinding feel. I can hear the grinding also when close to the watch. The crown also "returns" slightly when I release it after winding.

This change worries me a bit and I'd like to hear your opinion on it. How is your SMPc's behaving/feeling when winding them?

Sent it in to Swatch group who returned it after a few days with a note saying they found no problem with the watch. Same grinding feel still remains though...

Thanks for your inputs, experience and thoughts around this!
 
M
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Update: sent it back to Swatch Group again and this time it came back feeling like normal. Smooth as silk and I'm a happy SMP owner again! 😀
 
Canuck
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There is bound to be a difference in the sensation of manually winding your watch from fully run down, compared to the feeling you sense when winding the watch when it is fully wound. If you continue to manually wind the watch when it is fully wound, the device that prevents damage to your watch from over-winding will begin to slip. This is a form of braking clutch on the outer end of the mainspring called a “bridle”. It slips at precisely the rate of the continued winding, and on occasion, there may be a sensation that is not there, earlier in the hand winding cycle.

You say the watch doesn’t give that sensation now, since it was returned to you. Chances are the sensation may still be there if you continue to manually wind the watch after it is fully wound. It is a mechanical watch, and some characteristics peculiar to mechanical watches may just have to be tolerated.
 
M
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michael22 michael22
So, did they do anything to it?

Yes, they changed a reversing wheel (not sure which one, understand there are several) and now it's smooth as ever again!
 
M
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Canuck Canuck
There is bound to be a difference in the sensation of manually winding your watch from fully run down, compared to the feeling you sense when winding the watch when it is fully wound. If you continue to manually wind the watch when it is fully wound, the device that prevents damage to your watch from over-winding will begin to slip. This is a form of braking clutch on the outer end of the mainspring called a “bridle”. It slips at precisely the rate of the continued winding, and on occasion, there may be a sensation that is not there, earlier in the hand winding cycle.

You say the watch doesn’t give that sensation now, since it was returned to you. Chances are the sensation may still be there if you continue to manually wind the watch after it is fully wound. It is a mechanical watch, and some characteristics peculiar to mechanical watches may just have to be tolerated.

I understand what you mean, but this wasn't really the case for me. Took it out of a drawer after a few weeks wearing other watches and I felt the change immediately once I started to manually wind it.
 
Archer
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M mikael.mj
Yes, they changed a reversing wheel (not sure which one, understand there are several) and now it's smooth as ever again!

There's only one part called "reversing wheel" in this movement. Part number is 722112032037.



Cheers, Al
 
M
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@Archer Thanks for the info and the picture!

Not sure what happened to the reversing wheel, damaged, misaligned etc, or how this part could affect the feeling when manually winding, maybe you could shed some light over it? 😀 Changing it obviously made the trick!
 
Archer
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The reversing wheel is two wheels in one, with a ratchet and pawl system between them. They are very hard working parts, and if there is any wear, or dirt, or even too much lubrication, they can act up. It's a commonly replaced part.
 
S
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This has happened to my 2019 model seamaster been back twice also I also have a letter from omega saying it's fine. 😀
 
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