Watch Winder
A watch winder is a motorised box that gently rotates an automatic watch to keep it wound and running while you are not wearing it. It is handy for a watch with a date, a perpetual calendar that is slow to reset, or a collection in rotation. Hand-wound and quartz watches do not need one, so for most owners it is largely a convenience rather than a requirement.
At a glance
- Made for
- Automatic watches
- Not needed for
- Hand-wound and quartz
- Purpose
- Convenience, not a requirement
An automatic watch draws its energy from the motion of your wrist. The moment it comes off, that motion stops and the watch slowly unwinds until it eventually halts. A winder mimics that movement, turning the watch it holds at regular intervals to keep it wound.
What it actually does
The box has one job: keeping a watch you are not wearing alive and running. That convenience shows up in a couple of situations:
- Watches with a date: it spares you resetting the date every time you come back to them
- A collection: it keeps several watches in rotation ready to wear
The argument is strongest with a complicated watch such as a perpetual calendar, where setting the calendar again by hand is slow and fiddly. Keeping such a movement running is a real saving of effort, and on some movements steady running also keeps the oils evenly distributed, a minor secondary point.
To see how that motion translates into running time, it helps to read up on the automatic watch and its power reserve.
Who does not need one
Hand-wound and quartz watches gain nothing from a winder, because neither draws power from wrist motion. The box does no work for them. That is why, for most owners, it is best seen as a convenience rather than a requirement.
If you are new to automatics, our guide to the best automatic watches under £500 is a sensible starting point.
Examples
Keeps a date-displaying automatic such as the Orient Mako 3 wound on the days you do not wear it, so you skip resetting the date each time you return to it.
View this watchHolds a small collection of automatics that you rotate through, keeping each one running and ready to wear.
Comparison
There are two ways to keep a watch ready to wear.
| Option A | Option B | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Watch winder | Rewinding it by hand | The winder turns the watch automatically and the date stays set; by hand you reset the time and date yourself each time. |
Related terms
Watches that show this
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a watch winder for an automatic watch?
No, it is a convenience rather than a requirement. It keeps the watch wound on days you do not wear it, so you avoid resetting the time and date each time. It is most useful with a date watch or a collection in rotation.
Does a watch winder help a quartz or hand-wound watch?
No. Quartz and hand-wound watches do not draw power from wrist motion, so they gain nothing from being rotated. A winder only makes sense for automatic watches, which wind from movement.