topic Re: Question About Automatic Watch in Jewelry

Question About Automatic Watch

beach-mom — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 02:23:20 GMT

I bought DH the Seiko SNKN02 for Christmas. It's automatic. The SA said the watch would stay charged because the movement of his arm would charge it. So far, so good. He loves the watch. But it does NOT stay charged unless he wears it constantly. Every time he has gone to wear it he has had to reset. He is thinking about exchanging it, but on one of the websites we found out about a "watch winder." This holder would keep it charged when he wasn't wearing it.

This is the first time he or I have heard about a "watch winder." Can anyone tell us something about them? They seem expensive. Would getting one be a good idea? TIA!

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Lavenderjunkie — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:45:45 GMT

OK, here is the story.... an automatic watch does not have a battery, but will stay running, if it is worn. If it is not worn, it will keep running for a period of time (usually 24 - 36 hours) and then it will stop. The amount of time it will keep running after being put down varies with the type of movement and also assumes the watch main spring is fully wound when the watch is put down. Just putting the watch on and wearing it all day will not fully wind the main spring.

So, the best way to handle an automatic is to set the time and then wind the crown to get the watch going. Wind the crown gently about 30 times. Then wear the watch. Normal movement should then keep the watch running all day and over night if it's taken off then. The next morning it should have the correct time if put back on.

But if you don't wind the watch to start the process, then it won't run as long once you take it off.

Hope this helps. Try it before investing in a watch winder.

I should also add that there are some people who are very inactive and their normal movement won't keep an automatic watch running. But these people are few and far between.

Re: watch winders... if you get one be sure it has a rest cycle and is not one that runs continuously. A watch winder is handy if you have several automatic watches with lots of complications (day, date, etc) and don't want to have to bother resetting everything. But there are some who feel that continuous running on a watch winder will shorten the life of an automatic movement. That is why it's important to get a programmable winder with a rest cycle. Also the winder should allow you to choose the # of revolutions needed by the watch and also clockwise vs. counter-clockwise rotor winding.

Most watch collectors don't use watch winders.

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

JazzyVR — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:49:46 GMT

One tip on wearing an automatic watch is to wind it by hand before putting it on to wear. If the watch has mainly wound down, just wearing it doesn't give it much running time once it's taken off.

Some people use watch winders to keep automatic watches running. There are all levels of price range, and the cheaper ones don't last that long. The better ones have controls that allow changing the direction it turns (some automatics only wind in one direction and some can be wound either way; there may be arrows on the rotor on the back of the watch which indicate that) and changing the number of rotations per day (some need higher rotations to keep running on the winder).

There are winders for one watch or for multiples. I have a one watch winder and a 6 watch winder. Unfortunately on the 6 watch one, some of the slots no longer turn and a couple of the ones that do sound like a freight train (common complaints), and it cost about $300. I keep it in a spare room due to the noise. The one watch winder is doing ok so far, and was about $40. Some of the online discount watch stores have sales on winders at times.

So I now just usually reset my automatics when I wear them (I have 12 or more automatics). It's a bit of a pain, but I've pretty much given up on watch winders. I do wind them all once a month just to lubricate the movements, whether I'm wearing them or not.

Hope this helps!

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

circles — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:51:11 GMT

wow...those watches and watch winders sound very complicated....I will keep that in mind if I ever think I want to purchase one....lol....

Lavender....you do a great job describing....

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Lavenderjunkie — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:57:42 GMT

circles: my pleasure. It's taken me quite few years to learn this stuff. I'm happy to share. Others were generous with their knowledge, so I'm just passing it on. It's not really complicated, but like anything, it helps to have some info. Lots of people prefer quartz (battery watches) because they are much simpler. But there are advantages to automatic watches (never needs a battery) and for a watch collector, the automatics have a certain allure.

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Lavenderjunkie — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:09:24 GMT

I just remembered one other thing about Watch Winders: I was told they don't actually wind up the watch, but rather maintain what ever level the watch is at when it's placed on the winder. I guess that would vary depending upon the type of winder.

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Blahblahvampemer — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 05:34:15 GMT

On 1/5/2015 Lavenderjunkie said:
I just remembered one other thing about Watch Winders: I was told they don't actually wind up the watch, but rather maintain what ever level the watch is at when it's placed on the winder. I guess that would vary depending upon the type of winder.

If that were true, would you be able to revive a dead watch?

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Lavenderjunkie — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 05:41:49 GMT

blah: if by dead you mean an automatic watch where the mainspring has wound down and the watch has stopped.... then I don't think a winder alone would be the best thing. From what I have been told, the best way to start an automatic watch that has stopped is to wind the watch using the stem, then set the time and put the watch on to keep it running. So, if you weren't going to put the watch on, I'd wind it and then put it on the watch winder to keep the watch running.

An automatic watch will run if the main spring isn't fully wound, but they are calibrated to keep time with a fully wound main spring.

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

violann — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 22:18:54 GMT

God made us with "watch winders". Some people refer to them as pointer finger and thumb. I have a very nice mechanical that I received a few Christmases ago. When I put it on each day, I set the time from a clock and swing the watch back and forth holding the strap on both sdes of the face. It keeps perfect time.

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Lavenderjunkie — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 02:27:51 GMT

Newnick: if you watch is a mechanical, it has to be wound with the crown. If it's an automatic (which is a mechanical with a rotor) it can be energized with movement. I'm glad your watch keeps time and your method works for you. It sounds like your watch keeps time during the day, but stops each night. If you wound the watch with the crown before putting it on, then the daily movement of your wrist might keep it wound overnight when you take it off (assuming it's an automatic). Then you might not need to reset it each day.

My prior posts were to relate the information I have gathered from watch manufacturers and those with a lot of experience and knowledge about watches.

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Andreatoo — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 06:45:35 GMT

thanks for the winding tip. I too am new to the automatic watch but I plan to get many more :-)

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

esmeraldagooch — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 10:30:15 GMT

Great response LJ. DH used to have a automatic and loved it. I was considering buying him another. You are a great resource on the boards..

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

violann — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 18:30:25 GMT

Hi Lavender- Please don't think I was being at all sarcastic about your excellent response. Truthfully I feel a little wistful about the fact that old OLD watches like the ones I received as gifts in my childhood can no longer be easily repaired becauseof the proliferation of battery powered watches. Nothing so useless as a battery watch with a dead battery, but the old tickers could often be coaxed back into service. Your comments were as always, knowledgeable and apt.

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Krimpette — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:01:22 GMT

I have two Citizen Eco Drive watches. They only need motion or light to keep them running. My "dress" watch is worn infrequently, but never loses the time. I keep it where it gets some light from my mirror lights. My "everyday" watch gets plenty of arm motion and daylight. I've had both of them for a couple of years now and only have to reset them when the time changes No more batteries!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Lavenderjunkie — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:20:58 GMT

Krumpette: from what I understand, the Citizen Eco Drive watches operate on a completely different system than mechanical or automatic watches. My brother had one. Every few months he would give it to me for a light treatment. The power cell wasnt' getting enough light in his daily use, so I put it in a sunny window for a week to recharge it. Then he was good to go for a while. The Eco Drive is a great watch, but like all complicated pieces of machinery it has it's 'requirements' to operate properly. I'm glad yours fits into your routine well.

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Lavenderjunkie — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:24:08 GMT

Newnick: there are very few skilled watchmakers around these days. I'm lucky to have one about 30 miles from where I live. But repairing old mechanical movements can get expensive and parts are sometimes difficult to get. It's always a trade off... love of the watch vs. cost to repair/maintain. In the last year I've scrapped one and repaired one.

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

ECBG — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:35:43 GMT

On 1/8/2015 Lavenderjunkie said:
Krumpette: from what I understand, the Citizen Eco Drive watches operate on a completely different system than mechanical or automatic watches. My brother had one. Every few months he would give it to me for a light treatment. The power cell wasnt' getting enough light in his daily use, so I put it in a sunny window for a week to recharge it. Then he was good to go for a while. The Eco Drive is a great watch, but like all complicated pieces of machinery it has it's 'requirements' to operate properly. I'm glad yours fits into your routine well.

Eco Drive or Solar (Seiko) are permanent batteries charged from any type of light. They are not to be kept in the dark for that reason. They last, on the average 14-16 years! Your brother could get a watch box with a clear top and keep it on the dresser.

Re: Question About Automatic Watch

Lavenderjunkie — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 22:33:00 GMT

ECBG: I've told him to leave the watch out and not put it in the drawer. Do you think he listens? Watches are not his thing.