FAQs and Education general information for the watch enthusiast

FAQs and Education

DO YOU HAVE A SHOP WHERE I CAN CAN VIEW YOUR PRODUCTS?

We are an online based Company only and do not have a retail presence or showroom. This allows us to offer the excellent prices and extensive range of Automatic Watch Winders and other Watch Accessories.

CAN I COLLECT MY ORDER AND SAVE ON POSTAGE?

We use the local Post Office branch in Glen Waverley (open Mon -Fri 9am -5.00pm and Sat 9am - 12noon) as a pick up location for customers who prefer to collect their order. Unfortunately they are unable to accept moneys on our behalf. You will need to purchase and pay online. Checkout will provide you with an option to collect.

WHAT SHIPPING METHODS DO YOU USE?

At Checkout you can select from Australia Post Standard, Express (Insured/Signature- Domestic or International) as well as local pickup (Glen Waverley, Melbourne, Vic. 3150.

WHAT PAYMENT METHODS DO YOU ACCEPT?

PayPal, Credit cards, Bank transfer (account details provided), Cheque (Cleared between 1-3days)

WHICH WATCH WINDER IS RIGHT FOR MY WATCH?

Deciding on a watch winder is easy - just ask yourself the following questions:
1. How many watches do I need to have wound?
2. Will my winder be on display?

If it's going to be hidden away there is no need to spend extra moneys on its looks, but if you want the winder to set off the watch and also be admired for its design and craftsmanship, then we offer a large choice of watch winders to feast your eyes on. Obviously this is a very personal decision. And why would you need a watch winder anyway, you ask? Although current lubricating compounds used in mechanical watches are very stable and long lasting it is recommended that the watch movement be kept "ticking" to ensure that all moving parts are properly lubricated just as your engine oil lubricates all moving parts in your Ferrari. Also, a mechanical watch will require a service approx. once every 5 years to ensure correct time keeping and longevity. All of our watch winders are virtually noiseless and can service the heaviest and complicated of automatic chronometers and suit small as well as large diameter watch bracelets/straps. They have a gentle action and comply with Rolex, Omega, Tag, Breitling and all other exclusive brand manufacturers' TPD (turns per day) specifications. All can be set for different TPD or time-set intervals and switched to rotate clockwise, anticlockwise or alternate in both directions (with resting periods) to simulate a watch being worn on the wrist. Most are powered by an AC adapter, a few by batteries only and some can do both.

A full 12 months (24months for the BOXY range) warranty on workmanship as well motors/electronics is provided.

Any warranty claims (we have had very few in the 25 years we have been selling watch winders) are covered by our in-house repair/exchange service which is fully stocked with spare parts.

THE WATCH WINDER I PURCHASED DOES NOT KEEP MY WATCH IN TIME (OR THE WATCH STOPS AFTER ABOUT TWO DAYS)

A watch winder will maintain the "status quo" of the main spring i.e. the first time an automatic watch is placed on a watch winder it must be fully wound by hand before it is placed on the cushion. That way it will maintain the "status quo" i.e. the same condition it was in when it was placed on the watch winder. If you then take it off and wear it, your wrist movements will continue to maintain the main spring in a tensioned state so that when you replace it on the winder, the winder will keep maintaining the state of the mainspring the way it was when you took it off your wrist. Please wind your watch fully by hand the first time you place it on the winder (25-30 turns on the crown). A watch winder will not wind up a stopped watch because the resting periods will unwind the mainspring to the way it was when placed on the winder initially. There are some "service" watch winders that have a setting which will rotate the cushion for 24hrs without resting periods. Other reasons why a watch winder may not wind your watch are:The watch may require a service if it is not wound on a watch winder. This may be due to a "lagging" rotor or other internal wheels "sticking". Due to the gentle action of the watch winder the watch may not be wound but will function on the wrist as it is exposed to more "violent" movements.It will eventually also stop functioning when worn. Please have this watch serviced soon as it may become more costly with time.

WHAT TPD (TURNS PER DAY) SETTING DOES MY WATCH REQUIRE?

Please e-mail your watch brand and model to consult our extensive data base for your watch manufacturer's TPD requirements

WHAT EXACTLY IS A WATCH WINDER?

A watch winder is a device used to keep automatic (also known as self winding) watches running when not worn. Automatic watches operate on the principle of winding themselves using a moving weight inside the watch. The weight swings or rotates while the watch is worn and turns the winding mechanism inside the watch. So, fairly obviously, if the watch is not worn, then it no longer receives power this way and will run down. While virtually all automatic watches can be manually wound, this is not always convenient. So the concept of an automatic watch winder was born. A watch winder is a device which holds a watch (or often more than one) and moves it in a circular patterns to emulate the necessary parts of human motion to operate the self-winding mechanism.

CAN YOUR WATCH WINDER DAMAGE MY WATCH?

A winder cannot over wind an automatic watch, since all automatic watches are protected from being over wound by a mechanism (slipping  clutch) that disengages the winding process when the mainspring is fully wound. But using a timer-based winder is still very important to prevent excessive wear on the winding mechanism. There is no need to keep the watch in motion 24 hours a day when usually a total only 30 minutes of motion is necessary to keep it properly wound. A bad watch winder is worse than no winder. Automatic watches are designed to be worn by people. People move in a large diversity of manners, causing a fairly even distribution of motion of the watch's internal winding mechanism. A watch winder is normally limited to a very finite number of directions and types of movement -- some as little as one single motion. So a poorly designed winder (especially the one you tried to make from an old electric drill and spare auto parts when you first heard that a real winder sells for hundreds of dollars) might cause undesirable wear of the watch's mechanisms from excessive and repetitive movement. Our winders have a gentle rotation action and cannot harm your watches. They cover all manufacturers? TPD (turns per day) specifications.

DO I NEED A WINDER FOR MY QUARTZ WATCH?

Winders are totally useless for battery-operated quartz watches. A few winders do work for the special 'battery-less' quartz watches, such as the Omega-Matic, Seiko Kinetic, and similar. These automatic/quartz hybrids use the same weight/rotor principle to generate electric power to run a quartz movement.

DO I REALLY NEED A WATCH WINDER?

Well, you didn't need to buy more automatic watches than you can wear at one time, did you:-) ? But don't worry, you are far from alone! Many collectors and enthusiasts quickly get into this dilemma. Ultimately, the main function of a winder is as a convenience device. (see also next FAQ below).

DOESN'T A WINDER PROTECT MY WATCH BY KEEPING THE OILS FROM CLOTTING?

The lubricating oils used in most modern watches and properly serviced vintage watches are not very prone to clotting or coagulating. While there are technical reasons in favour of keeping a watch continuously running, there are also a few lesser reasons in favour of not placing them on a winder. If you have a large collection of automatic watches most of which you hardly wear then all you need to do is wind these "display" models occasionally by hand. Once every 3-4 months should suffice. Those that do not offer a manual wind option can be placed on a winder for a day or two.

SO HOW SHOULD I CHOOSE WHETHER TO BUY A WINDER OR NOT?

Choose a winder for your needs based on its convenience value to you. If you have a watch you almost never wear, simply wind it up every couple of weeks and let it run down. But for automatic watches you wear frequently, but not continuously, a winder is a great solution for keeping them ready to wear on a moment?s notice. If this convenience is worth the cost of a winder to you, then go for it! The single biggest advantage of a winder for seldom used watches is for those with multi-complications (Time, Day, Date, Month etc.) that may require elaborate resetting, "time" and patience after the watch has stopped.

WHY ARE SOME WATCH WINDERS SO EXPENSIVE WHEN THEY SEEM PRETTY SIMPLE IN CONCEPT?

Watch winder manufacturers and sellers emphasize the quality, the precision, and their knowledgeable design to correctly pamper your watch as the reasons. These do factor in, but only explain part of the cost of these devices. But the remaining factor in the cost is that these are specialty items manufactured in relatively low quantities. Although winder manufacturers keep their sales numbers confidential, it is safe to guess that sales are a few thousands of units per year. At this level of production, they cannot achieve the economies of mass production that make items that sell in the multi-million units (such as blenders and toasters) so affordable. So while the prices of some of the devices may be higher than you might expect, it is not viable for these manufacturers to produce them at prices comparable to mass consumer items.Our winders are extremely competitive offered and some are at bargain prices.

WHAT TYPES OF WINDERS ARE AVAILABLE?

Functional: Such winders perform the duties of winding one or more watches. Generally, these units hold the watch on the exterior of the device. As such, they tend to need to be on a tabletop or somewhat tall shelf. Some which handle more than one watch start to resemble carnival rides, with their merry-go-round or Ferris wheel configurations and multiple rotating watch holders (see our WTS4, Royal Navy and Galaxy-WTS4 models).

Elegant: These winders go beyond pure functionality and offer a nice form and exterior design and finish. Normally they are a completely enclosed box, often made of nicely finished wood or covered in leather. They are suitable for display on a desk or dresser, yet many are capable of fitting inside a drawer or safe deposit box.

Extravagant: As with many luxury items, the sky is the limit on options. Winders with heaters to keep the watch near body temperature, built-in storage drawers, and atomic-clock-synchronized time displays are some of the esoteric and beyond features available on some of the very high end winders. These start at $$$$ and can go up to $$$$$$ and are offered only by a very few select manufacturers. Within these are options of AC and Battery only powered units as well those that offer both. The battery featured models are suitable for use in a safe where no AC power is available. Some battery equipped winders are for backup short term use whereas others are designed to provide A few months of operation.

SHOULD I START WITH A SINGLE OR MULTI ROTATOR UNIT?

If you are an enthusiast watch collector looking for a winder, don't short-change yourself by skimping on a winder that can only handle one watch. If you've got the watch 'bug", it won't be long before you buy another automatic and be caught short. Consider at least one of the single-unit watch winders that have optional two-watch heads e.g. our WTA-220 models or the brilliantly designed BOXY Brick modular system that allows you to add individual brick winders as your collection grows. A timber housing and other accessories complement this system. It has been a global best seller for many years. The company has now added the FANCY BRICK range with sophisticated electronics and a large range of colours to please even the most fastidious of watch enthusiasts.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I CONSIDER?

Automatic watches are intended for fairly regular wear. So concentrate your ownership of automatic watches on those that you regularly wear e.g. once a month. Winders are a nice convenience for watches you don't wear daily.

WHICH WINDER WILL WIND MY SEIKO KINETIC WATCH?

The Seiko Kinetic watch is not a regular mechanical automatic watch. However it is similar to an Automatic in that it is wound by the wrist movement of the wearer. The difference is that the Seiko Kinetic converts the movement into electrical energy and uses it to charge the battery/capacitor. A true Automatic Watch stores the energy in the main spring. It takes much more energy to convert kinetic energy into electrical power and this is why Seiko Kinetic watches are so different & require anything from 6000 - 15000 ROCKING MOTIONS PER DAY. Most regular automatic watches are wound between 650 - 1300 TPD (TURNS PER DAY) and winders are engineered accordingly to that TPD range. These are slow gentle rotations not suitable for charging a Kinetic watch.
Seiko have discontinued their Kinetic watch charger some years ago. To address the demand for Kinetic Watch Chargers, Watch Winder Works is now offering true Kinetic Watch Chargers in single or dual model versions.
You can view the full range of our Kinetic Watch Chargers in the Kinetic Watch Chargers Category where we also display a video of their action-

click here to view our extensive range of Kinetic Chargers Kinetic Chargers


Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries regarding watch winders or the recommended TPD (turns per day) specified for your watch. Our extensive data base and free professional expertise is provided to enhance your enjoyment of owning a timepiece of micro-mechanical art.

Created For Watch Enthusiasts By Watch Enthusiasts
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