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Winding vintage Connie by swinging it from side to side?

Stas
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I wound my Constellation Pie Pan 14900 from 1961 with the crown yesterday, and it was still running today, despite just sitting in a box (nice). I planned to finally give it some wrist time tonight, so I wanted to wind it a bit more, but my hands were slippery, making it less fun than yesterday. With all my respect for Genta’s crown design, I quickly gave up and automatically did this (blame my vintage Seiko habit):
Screen-Shot-2023-10-25-at-13-00-57.png

A moderate move, not swinging too hard, but not super soft, as if it were a feather. So I got caught by the OCD commissar. What am I doing here? Could it put some wear on the edges of the dial if they touch the crystal ring while moving from one direction to another? And so on…

Is it 100% safe to wind the Connie this way?
I would appreciate knowledgeable input.

IMG-0754.jpg
 
malilis
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If to do that movement creates a problem, it means that a service is in order to straightened out the rotor .. it's not a bumper ..
 
sgk
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Stas Stas
I wound my Constellation Pie Pan 14900 from 1961 with the crown yesterday, and it was still running today, despite just sitting in a box (nice). I planned to finally give it some wrist time tonight, so I wanted to wind it a bit more, but my hands were slippery, making it less fun than yesterday. With all my respect for Genta’s crown design, I quickly gave up and automatically did this (blame my vintage Seiko habit):
Screen-Shot-2023-10-25-at-13-00-57.png

A moderate move, not swinging too hard, but not super soft, as if it were a feather. So I got caught by the OCD commissar. What am I doing here? Could it put some wear on the edges of the dial if they touch the crystal ring while moving from one direction to another? And so on…

Is it 100% safe to wind the Connie this way?
I would appreciate knowledgeable input.

IMG-0754.jpg
Just wanted to say that's a spectacular Connie!
 
gbesq
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Ah, first world problems. Solution below. $10.00 or so at Amazon.
IMG_5709.jpeg IMG_5711.jpeg
 
Stas
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malilis malilis
If to do that movement creates a problem, it means that a service is in order to straightened out the rotor .. it's not a bumper ..
Thanks for the reply. The rotor doesn't make any problem and the watch is recently serviced...
 
Stas
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sgk sgk
Just wanted to say that's a spectacular Connie!
Thank you very much
 
Stas
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gbesq gbesq
Ah, first world problems. Solution below. $10.00 or so at Amazon.
IMG_5709.jpeg IMG_5711.jpeg
Interesting! I only wish the collet was made of some nylon to avoid leaving marks on the crown.
 
nanjingcigaretes
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1. Admirable Connie 👍👍👍
2. Try to wind it with your finger tips, it should work.::rimshot::
 
Bruce235
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Mine says hello.
I usually give it a few winds, a dozen shakes and strap it on. No problem.
20230713_082746.jpg
 
gbesq
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Stas Stas
Interesting! I only wish the collet was made of some nylon to avoid leaving marks on the crown.
The collet is made of a softer plastic that expands to fit around the crown when you push down on the tip at the opposite end of the tool and then tightens around the crown when you stop pressing down at the other end. I've been using it for years on several watches with decagonal crowns and none have sustained any marks or damage that I can see.
 
Stas
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nanjingcigaretes nanjingcigaretes
1. Admirable Connie 👍👍👍
2. Try to wind it with your finger tips, it should work.::rimshot::
Double thanks!! 😀
 
Stas
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Bruce235 Bruce235
Mine says hello.
I usually give it a few winds, a dozen shakes and strap it on. No problem.
20230713_082746.jpg
Great to hear that shaking doesn't make a problem! Very nice and sharp example is yours.
 
Stas
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gbesq gbesq
The collet is made of a softer plastic that expands to fit around the crown when you push down on the tip at the opposite end of the tool and then tightens around the crown when you stop pressing down at the other end. I've been using it for years on several watches with decagonal crowns and none have sustained any marks or damage that I can see.
Thanks for the explanation! Now is sounds awesome.
 
Dan S
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Stas Stas
Could it put some wear on the edges of the dial if they touch the crystal ring while moving from one direction to another? And so on…
Huh?
 
Pahawi
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Here's my rubber "wonder winder" 😁. No idea where it comes from, but it works perfectly. I’ve considered doing an injection mold for something similar, but not sure it’s worth it…😀

Wonder winder.JPG
 
Peemacgee
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@Stas - I definitely think you may be over-thinking the whole winding thing.

These Omega movements are automatics - they are designed to constantly wind when you move the watch.

They wind every time you:
pick up your pint/glass of wine for a sup and then put it down
put your hand in your pocket to get your keys and then put them in the lock or ignition
wipe your backside (always the left hand in Arabia of course....)

No-one is suggesting that you should shake your watch like you've just won the Monaco Grand Prix to get it going but gently swaying it from side to side is not going to do any damage to your watch.

Lots of us do what @Bruce235 suggested - give the watch a few winds and then put it on - normal everyday motion will do the rest for you.

Moral of the story - Less thinking - more wearing.
 
gbesq
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Will it wind itself while the wearer mows the lawn? 😁
 
Peemacgee
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gbesq gbesq
Will it wind itself while the wearer mows the lawn? 😁

well,
if 'sit-on' and electric start - only when steering.
if a normal petrol mower with manual start - then definitely when pulling the starter cord.
using a scythe would of course be the most efficacious.....

However, anyone wearing a vintage Constellation while cutting the grass should be beaten to death with said watch (which would probably wind the watch quite well too......)
 
gbesq
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
well,
if 'sit-on' and electric start - only when steering.
if a normal petrol mower with manual start - then definitely when pulling the starter cord.
using a scythe would of course be the most efficacious.....

However, anyone wearing a vintage Constellation while cutting the grass should be beaten to death with said watch (which would probably wind the watch quite well too......)
It was just an academic question. I only wear my Speedmaster while doing yard work as per previously posted OF approved advice.
 
Stas
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Pahawi Pahawi
Here's my rubber "wonder winder" 😁. No idea where it comes from, but it works perfectly. I’ve considered doing an injection mold for something similar, but not sure it’s worth it…😀

Absolutely!

1. Make injection mold with some little tweaks
2. Produce a ton of them
3. Make a nice branding and talk directly to Royal Oak audience via SM ads
4. Become reach instantly

😁
 
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