(Another) winding question.

[second time]

Now that my GMT IIc has entered a 2 watch rotation, I am needing to wind it regularly in order to keep it going. The rotation is not particularly regular so I'm probably winding it more than absolutely necessary, but I don't want it to stop as it's set precisely and I want to avoid too much setting. If it's not being worn I generally wind it every 24 to 36 hours.

My question is this…when I start winding, the crown turns as smooth as silk. At some stage this feeling suddenly becomes a little coarser. I'm wondering if this coarseness is the mechanism to stop overwinding coming into play or just the feeling of increasing mainspring tension?

[Tools]

As you wind any watch the mainspring becomes tighter and it takes more torque to continue.. You eventually end with it completely wound and it begins to rotate within the barrel, and that takes additional torque.. You probably couldn't tell from feel exactly when it is fully wound or almost fully wound.

However, you are not doing yourself favors.. As your watch winds down it will begin to run faster because the amplitude (swing of the hairspring) is reduced. It relies on an impulse from the pallet lever tail to kick it around to full amplitude and that is optimum at the upper third (or so) of mainspring wind..

You are a perfect example of somebody who should be using a winder.. The winder keeps your watch at the same state of wind as when you put it on the winder.. and, therefore, more consistent timing.

[Vanessa CW21]

If you're winding it every 24 hours, you only need to wind the crown about 20 full turns. If it's getting harder to wind it's because the mainspring is fully wound and you do not need to turn more. A winder would be a good option like Larry said.

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[second time]

Thanks Larry and Vanessa, yes I think the current situation is not ideal. I'll look into getting a watch winder. Thanks for your input!

[Andad]

IMO a winder will wind it up to fully wound Just like your wrist will.
This depends on your winder settings.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by second time

Now that my GMT IIc has entered a 2 watch rotation, I am needing to wind it regularly in order to keep it going. The rotation is not particularly regular so I'm probably winding it more than absolutely necessary, but I don't want it to stop as it's set precisely and I want to avoid too much setting. If it's not being worn I generally wind it every 24 to 36 hours.

My question is this…when I start winding, the crown turns as smooth as silk. At some stage this feeling suddenly becomes a little coarser. I'm wondering if this coarseness is the mechanism to stop overwinding coming into play or just the feeling of increasing mainspring tension?

Cannot understand why you don't let the watch just stop,then just wind reset and away you go must take all of 30 seconds to do. IMHO winders are not needed with any watch unless they have many complications which Rolex watches do not have

[MatthewInSeattle]

Originally Posted by padi56

Cannot understand why you don't let the watch just stop,then just wind reset and away you go must take all of 30 seconds to do. IMHO winders are not needed with any watch unless they have many complications which Rolex watches do not have

+1

Unless you've got something like a perpetual calendar, or a moon phase that you actually use and rely on, then there's little need for a winder.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by second time

Now that my GMT IIc has entered a 2 watch rotation, I am needing to wind it regularly in order to keep it going. The rotation is not particularly regular so I'm probably winding it more than absolutely necessary, but I don't want it to stop as it's set precisely and I want to avoid too much setting. If it's not being worn I generally wind it every 24 to 36 hours.

My question is this…when I start winding, the crown turns as smooth as silk. At some stage this feeling suddenly becomes a little coarser. I'm wondering if this coarseness is the mechanism to stop overwinding coming into play or just the feeling of increasing mainspring tension?

Honestly, I don't see anything in your post that calls for a winder. It is in a two watch rotation so the power reserve is going down (winding every 24-36 hours) but you said it keeps perfect time with this routine.

So it seems a winder comes down to convenience for you, not accuracy. You didn't say it was an inconvenience to wind your watch so what's the point? Now, if you did experience reduced accuracy as the watch was low on power, and winding it was an inconvenience, then a winder might make sense. But you didn't say that accuracy was an issue when not fully wound. However, to continue that thought, with your wearing habits (sounds like every other day) you wouldn't be incurring any additional wear since your watch is never stopped anyway whether it was in a drawer or on a winder. But again, even in this case it comes down to convenience - you could always wind it rather than put it on a winder.

I'm not into winders as they just serve no practical purpose for my wearing habits and I don't like to leave my good watches on display. If I did have a winder it would be inside a safe. YMMV.

As for your question about winding it regularly, no it won't hurt anything. You can wind it every day, 24-36 hours is not a problem. And you can't over wind a Rolex. What you are feeling as the watch gets wound is all normal.

[second time]

Thankyou everyone, this is why this forum is so great! Thinking about it, a winder is not practical for me as I go away every week for work, anything up to 5 to 7 days at a time, and I take both watches…the GMT for work and the Damasko for the pub.

I'll just wind them once a day if not wearing them…sound reasonable?

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by directioneng

IMO a winder will wind it up to fully wound Just like your wrist will.
This depends on your winder settings.

Not always; it depends on your level of activity.