Do you need a watch winder? The answer is as varied as the movements it winds.
Useful but often misinterpreted, watch winders are mechanisms, usually in the shape of a box or container, intended to mimic the actions of a human wrist. By doing this, winders keep an automatic watch’s movement lubricated and functioning, as well as preserving its power reserve. The winder can also protect a watch from dust and prevent other objects from scratching or rubbing against it.
But not everyone is a fan.
If a watch is hand-wound or quartz, a winder is not necessary: it will not wind the hand-wound watch and it will not help the quartz watch’s battery.
Manufacturers say winding mechanisms are incredibly useful and largely necessary for multi-function timepieces such as perpetual calendars or other watches with major complications.
For example, Patek Philippe’s Celestial has a self-winding mechanical movement and the date is set by hand, as are the hours and minutes of mean solar time; a sky map; and, among other things, the phases and orbit of the moon. The rose gold grand complication starts at $331,180.
“You just have to keep that straight,” said Gary Getz, 67, a watch collector in Northern California. “If not, send it to a watchmaker to find out how to set it up.”
Mr. Getz said he kept five of his 30 or so earnest pieces on winders.
For example, some luxury brands, such as Audemars Piguet, offer a winder with the purchase of specific watches, such as the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, starting at $106,000.
“All automatic watches should have a watch winder,” says Sacha Sarkissian, vice president of sales at Totally Worth It, the New Jersey-based North American distributor of the winder brands SwissKubik, based in Switzerland, and Scatola del Tempo, based in Italy . . “Collectors of high-quality watches use a watch winder as a protection tool [their watch]and practice it while it is in storage.”
For a single watch, a SwissKubik Startbox costs $540 and a Scatola del Tempo Rotor One costs $615, Mr. Sarkissian said.
However, some watch enthusiasts are not convinced, saying the wear and tear that may occur with continuous movement could outweigh the benefits.
“A watch that isn’t difficult to put on a winder because someone told you so is like running a car 24/7,” says Halim Trujillo, 50, a watch collector and editor-in-chief of the website Watch Collecting Lifestyle. “It puts pressure on the mechanism. If it runs nonstop, you might as well wear it on your wrist,” said the Dallas resident Mr. Trujillo, adding that he keeps three of his 30 or so watch winders because they are perpetual calendars.
For others, part of the joy of owning a watch is the ritual of telling the time.
Scott Vogelgesang, 35, wears his Longines Master Collection Chronograph ($3,325), given to him by his bride the night before his wedding, about once or twice a month. He considered buying a winder, but then decided against it.
“I don’t find it that painful or difficult to put on the watch and set the time and date,” said Mr. Vogelgesang, an automotive product manager in Santa Barbara, California, although he added that if he “ ‘ his collection, he might reconsider buying a winder. Right now, “it’s a ritual that reminds me of my wedding day and makes me smile,” he said.
A watch owner interested in purchasing a winder should keep a few details in mind. Winders run on batteries or can be plugged into an electrical outlet, an important distinction if the winder is stored in a safe with no internal power source. The owner should also check that the winder motor is shielded so that it does not magnetize the watch, causing it to gain or lose time erratically.
The most useful winders, experts say, are those with multiple settings, allowing you to choose between speed and duration; an option for clockwise or counterclockwise movement; and a precise selection of turns per day.
“I can’t stress this enough: know your hours of operation in a day,” says Michael Jappert, global sales director of Wolf 1834, a maker of watch winders, referring to the ideal number of revolutions for a specific timepiece to work properly. The number should be available on the brand’s website or by calling customer service.
Mr. Jappert said Wolf winders count revolutions per day, a patent exclusive to the company, and each winder has up to six hours of movement every 24 hours. “It could take 30 minutes here, 15 minutes there. People don’t train every hour of the day, so neither should your watch,” he said. Wolf winders range from the entry-level Cub watch winder with lid ($349) to a Churchill 24-piece wind-up safe ($113,995). Some can be set up and monitored via Bluetooth.
At Bezel, the Los Angeles-based online and app-based watch marketplace, one of the most frequently asked questions is whether you should buy a winder, says Quaid Walker, co-founder and CEO.
“It comes down to personal opinion,” he said.
When clients ask that question, he uses it as a moment to reassure and educate.
“It’s a tool on your wrist,” said 29-year-old Mr. Walker. “Enjoy it. Insure it. If you want the tactical connection, don’t buy a winder. If you have a large collection and want to show off your watches, it’s a useful and fun accessory.”
