How to Wind a Sellita SW220-1

[Generation]

Today, I ordered a watch with a Sellita SW220-1 movement.

How would you recommend winding the watch when I get it? Should I turn the crown or wind it automatically? For other watches I've owned, I've heard turning the crown puts unneeded stress on the gears.

[Tools]

The crown exists solely to wind the watch and set the hands.

[Generation]

Thanks, Tools.

What do you think about this poster said in another forum:

Nope. Advice often stated is to just give enough of an initial wind so the movement starts, then let the rotor do its thing. There is usually plenty of motion to charge it to full. Or even rock it enough, gently, to get it started. I don't like the latter because that leaves the mainspring almost completely unwound, and that's very commonly when the rate is particularly bad.

This was in reference to the Sellita SW200. Would you say it's best to only turn the crown until the movement starts?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Generation

. . .
This was in reference to the Sellita SW200. Would you say it's best to only turn the crown until the movement starts?

The Sellita SW200 is practically identical to the ETA 2824-2, a very much used movement in the worlds watches. There have been some folks over the years who feel that the hand-winding mechanism is a weak area.

Perhaps that is true, but winding the watch fully once in a while has not been known to result in catastrophic failure. This movement may have issues with the reverser wheels that, if not clean and properly oiled, will drag when hand-wound. That is not an issue with the crown, it is an issue with the reverser wheels.

In my view, if it needs winding - wind it. If it needs cleaning - clean it. If it breaks - fix it. If you have to baby it because it is a fragile flower then perhaps a different watch would be a better purchase.

[Generation]

Thank you so much, Tools. Your expertise and insights are always much appreciated in this forum.

By the way, if you're interested, I ordered the Mondaine Classic Automatic (A132.30359.16SBB). This is Mondaine's only automatic with a sapphire crystal in their current lineup.