watch winders for Rolex

[nick h]

your advice please

firstly are watch winders a good or bad idea?

i now have three Rolex watches that get rotated quite frequently - sometimes twice daily/sometimes several days between change

i quite often find the less used watch/s have stopped - so thought a watch winder would be the answer?

if i buy a winder is there really much different between a cheaper one at say £60 and ones approaching £1000?

thank you

[MonBK]

Please stand by for Peters advice.

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by nick h

your advice please

firstly are watch winders a good or bad idea?

i now have three Rolex watches that get rotated quite frequently - sometimes twice daily/sometimes several days between change

i quite often find the less used watch/s have stopped - so thought a watch winder would be the answer?

if i buy a winder is there really much different between a cheaper one at say £60 and ones approaching £1000?

thank you

A cheap watch winder will have no anti magnetising properties so it could be a costly mistake if your watch is affected.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

A cheap watch winder will have no anti magnetising properties so it could be a costly mistake if your watch is affected.

Are you saying the OP needs to spend a thousand pounds to avoid magnetizing his watches?

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Are you saying the OP needs to spend a thousand pounds to avoid magnetizing his watches?

No certainly not, but Wolf & Orbita winders for example have anti-magnetising motors.

My point is, say a £40 winder may well be false economy in the long run.

Here is a very old TRF thread on it:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=113267

[Xenophon]

Rolex sells their own winders. If you do a search in the FS section you'll see them

[MonBK]

Whywouldyouspendalotofmoneyonawinderwhenyouhavetwo perfectlyshapedwindersattachedtoyourbody?
Theyarecalledwristsandworkperfectly.

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Whywouldyouspendalotofmoneyonawinderwhenyouhavetwo perfectlyshapedwindersattachedtoyourbody?
Theyarecalledwristsandworkperfectly.

PADI, can you add some spaces please?

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

PADI, can you add some spaces please?

Ooops.

[Racerdj]

Stay with Wolf Designs or similar and you will be fine.

[Glidelock]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

A cheap watch winder will have no anti magnetising properties so it could be a costly mistake if your watch is affected.

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Are you saying the OP needs to spend a thousand pounds to avoid magnetizing his watches?

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

No certainly not, but Wolf & Orbita winders for example have anti-magnetising motors.

My point is, say a £40 winder may well be false economy in the long run.

Here is a very old TRF thread on it:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=113267

The 2 cheapest watch wonders I have (cause they were free) are completely anti-magnetic and really do a pretty great job! I will admit I have a slight preference for the one connected to my left arm over the right...but that's just Symantecs!

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

A cheap watch winder will have no anti magnetising properties so it could be a costly mistake if your watch is affected.

I would think the newer motors wouldn't be a problem. And there's usually enough displacement that the watch would be unaffected. You shouldn't have to spend very much to avoid this problem.

The features (programming, appearance, etc.) would definitely cost more.

Originally Posted by Glidelock

The 2 cheapest watch wonders I have (cause they were free) are completely anti-magnetic and really do a pretty great job! I will admit I have a slight preference for the one connected to my left arm over the right...but that's just Symantecs!

How many watches do you wear at once?

[1William]

I have owned several winders over the years and have owned both expensive, just under $1000.00, and less. Sub $300. In the end they all wear out and need to be replaced. I am using an 8 watch winder now from Brookstone and it has been flawless. The price was great. Visually the case is good and the winder portion works without issue. My true advice would be to buy one with more capacity than what you need as if you are bitten by the watch bug you may need more space.

[jfoord27]

Any reason to use a winder rather than resetting the time? Does the winder just wear out the watch quicker and lead to the watch needing to be serviced earlier?

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by jfoord27

Any reason to use a winder rather than resetting the time? Does the winder just wear out the watch quicker and lead to the watch needing to be serviced earlier?

Watches with a lot of complications that are a PITA to set work well with a winder. Time and date, not so much.

Several watchmakers have commented that winders just add wear to your watch.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Are you saying the OP needs to spend a thousand pounds to avoid magnetizing his watches?

No the OP has to spend nothing as he has two perfect watch-winders attached to his arms called wrists after all that what the watch was designed for and not sat on some inanimate machine.Unless you have a watch with many complications which no Rolex has then a machine is not needed just let watch stop and rest rewind set and go must take all of 30 seconds to do..

[nick h]

bloody hell i seem to have opened the gates to hell with my question

my apologies

i did not realise that winders were such a contentious issue

thanks for all comments

[natosub]

Whether or not to use a winder is strictly an individual decision. I've seen no concrete evidence for or against them. Don't be frightened by the propaganda! There are members on here that have used winders for 20+ years and never had an issue.

I personally do not use one, but if I were regularly rotating a bunch of watches such that they were always stopping I likely would. From what I've seen Wolf or Orbita are the way to go. The important things are antimagnetic properties and fully programmable. Rolexes are very efficient, and need only 650 TPD to stay wound. You do not want you winder constantly over winding you watch which can cause premature wear. Other than that find what you like and enjoy!

[Glidelock]

Originally Posted by Glidelock

The 2 cheapest watch wonders I have (cause they were free) are completely anti-magnetic and really do a pretty great job! I will admit I have a slight preference for the one connected to my left arm over the right...but that's just Symantecs!

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

How many watches do you wear at once?

Counting the ones on my ankles...or just my wrists?

[RRGHOST1]

I am with padi on this and always will be. As padi says, how long does it take to get a Rolex going ? Watch winders for Rolex......I don't think so !

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by padi56

No the OP has to spend nothing as he has two perfect watch-winders attached to his arms called wrists after all that what the watch was designed for and not sat on some inanimate machine.Unless you have a watch with many complications which no Rolex has then a machine is not needed just let watch stop and rest rewind set and go must take all of 30 seconds to do..

I couldn't have said it better!

[Mick P]

[QUOTE=nick h;7382690]bloody hell i seem to have opened the gates to hell with my question

my apologies

i did not realise that winders were such a contentious issue

thanks for all comments[/QUOTE

Hi Nick

I think the problem talking about watch winders is that it makes watch enthusiasts look a bit strange. I mean, what normal person will buy a little gadget to get a watch permanently wound up.

Ok, it's a free world and you can spend your money on whatever you want but it does come across as a bit nerdy and makes us the butt of jokes.

It's like the daft old question of "is it safe to wear my SeaDweller in the shower". If just knocks our credibility.

The simple and best advice is to buy the watch, wear it normally and don't let it take over your life.

Regards

Mick

[eterna]

I have tried many brands of winders.....Eilux, Wolf Design, Orbita Sparta, Boxy, Sharper Image. Some are good (Eilux, Boxy, Wolf), some are not recommended (Sharper Image), some are real expensive (Orbita)
Not sure about the anti-magnetising motors mentioned in Wolf or Orbita. But I opened up an old faulty Wolf winder before and it's just a Japanese Mabuchi motor used on many similar watch winders like Boxy or Eilux.
BTW, I have been using "Boxy" brand of winders for years. Never had any issues with my watches. They are very affordable too. I noticed Boxy winders comes in many other different branding like Brookstone, Heiden, etc.

[Arclight]

In my opinion watch winders are a waste of money. For me half the fun of having a watch is interacting with it.

[eterna]

Originally Posted by Arclight

In my opinion watch winders are a waste of money. For me half the fun of having a watch is interacting with it.

Not if you have watches with complication. Resetting it is a pain.

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by eterna

Not if you have watches with complication. Resetting it is a pain.

If I had a VC 57260 I might consider one, but as it is my most complicated watch has date, day, month and moon. I wear it rarely but when I do, I enjoy setting it.

[rebel_1]

I have a few Orbita Sparta winders. They work well. I will agree that unless you have an annual calendar or a moon phase watch, it is pretty easy to just set the date on a Rolex and set the watch. I usually have to set a watch after it's been on a winder anyway.

[droptopman]

Been using winders for 20+ years. Just a personal choice.
I have tried winders from the 300$ - 1000+$ range and honestly did not find much difference.
Currently using an 8 watch off brand winder that replaced a Wolf 8 watch winder at about half the cost. No noticeable difference other than the price.
The Wolf lasted about 10 years.

[RichM]

If you have to have one, I'd recommend Wolf. Great quality, choices and customer service.

[blue16613]

Originally Posted by nick h

bloody hell i seem to have opened the gates to hell with my question

my apologies

i did not realise that winders were such a contentious issue

thanks for all comments

Nick:

There is a contingent here who are strongly opposed to them. There are others of us here who use them and are strong proponents. You are better "educated" as a result of seeing the discrepancy of opinions. I assume that's why you came here!!

I fall into the "use them" camp. And, if you do, purchase a quality device so as to not risk magnetizing your watch. I have Scatola, Orbita and Wolf winders. They are all wonderful and have performed magnificently.

Good luck!