The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have taken all my watchwinders upmarket, so not really sure that I can recommend a value model, Driver8 seems to have had good results with Official Time and it's one of the few cheaper brands that don't seem to have a spotty (at best) reputation.

The other option is to buy the cheap Chinese ones off eBay and treat them like consumables replacing them every year or so.

The one thing that I would say is that I would never use a cheap watch winder that has two watches on one motor head. The cheap motors (whether Chinese, European or North American) use plastic parts and if you have two watches on a head then the weight will be off balance and the motor won't run perfectly smoothly. with plastic parts that will quickly cause wear and permanent damage.

They are not programmable to the extent of specifying the number of rotations per hour, but you can specify clockwise, anticlockwise or alternating, and crucially they have a decent rest period in the cycle. Additionally the rotation is reasonably gentle so I've been very happy with mine.

Ultimately a lot depends on what you want from a winder. I'm happy with a low to mid-range model that doesn't cost the earth, which means that if something goes wrong it doesn't bug me too much. I've had bad experiences with more expensive ones so I'm less inclined these days to spend big bucks on them. The OT models are programmable enough for my needs, have one watch per cup, and have remained pretty quite, so I have no complaints. I'm well away they are made in Hong Kong, and no doubt have chinese motors, but they are nicely made, and are gentle enough on my watches to make this a goog buy in my opinion. Incidentally I'd never buy something that might damage my watches no matter what the cost was.

Having said that, when I pick up my Ploprof I'm also going to pick up an Orbita Sparta Deluxe as I really do rate them as slightly more expensive winders.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I've been eying one of the Steinhausen winders for my SA. Does anybody know if these or any other brands have fitment problems? Thanks in advance.

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UN Maxi Marine Ti
B01, BEB
SOH
Aerospace Ti
Chrono SO
Omega 300 Master Co-Axial Chro
Omega PO Chrono.
AP ROO Diver
Titan Black Rolex DSOD Honeycomb Dial

I had a Steinhausen a number of years ago and it was a piece of junk. It was made nicely enough, but it was not programmable and rotated way too fast. I could've fitted some blades to the cup and used it as a fan!

I should point out this was a long time ago, so I can only assume they've improved since then, but the same rule of thumb in terms of programmability/rest periods still holds irrespective of the brand.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks for the info, the search is back on.

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UN Maxi Marine Ti
B01, BEB
SOH
Aerospace Ti
Chrono SO
Omega 300 Master Co-Axial Chro
Omega PO Chrono.
AP ROO Diver
Titan Black Rolex DSOD Honeycomb Dial

I've got a couple of questions, this thread seems like an appropriate place to ask them:

1. I got a cheap Chinese winder from ebay (one of the plastic tower things that holds two watches, one above the other). I haven't used it for a long time because I'm worried about the magnet that holds the door closed, I'm not sure I want a magnet that close to my watches. Am I right to be worried about this?

2. Driver, do you use your OT winder with batteries or running on mains power? If you use batteries, how much life do you get from them?

Thanks

Magnetic fields weaken pretty quickly away from the source - how close is the watch to the magnet? If more than 3 or 4 inches then you are probably OK - but it is an odd design.

I've never used the battery option Otto as it's kept close enough to a mains socket. Sorry mate.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Re Otto. I would say that I have the same "cheap" winder you have. I researched winders a bit and decided on what I regard as a cheap "disposable" one so If it breaks I am not to worried and will just get another one. The one I decided on had the most options of all with regard time setting/rest periods. another factor was that it will never be seen by any one way it is located. I also had a issue with the risk associated with the door magnets been located so close to the watches but I took a chance with it and to date it has not been a issue. By the way mine is set to C/W on a timer for 12 hours on, 12 hours off and set to 1 hour turning, 3 off, which seems to keep a Caliber 13 movement wound perfect.
Hope this helps.
Breanach78.

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

My theory exactly.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Driver8,
as Otto was wondering, would you have any issue with the door magnets been so close to the watch? I would estimate the they are probably 5mm Dia and 2mm Th. and about 30mm - 40mm at the closest point to the watch. They are only to give a slight stay/close on the door.
Regards from Ireland.
Breanach78

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

As they're probably very small, and I'm guess not very strong then I guess they'll be fine, but I'd be especially careful not to get your watch too close to them when you take them in and out of the winder!

Personally I try to avoid getting my watches too close to any magnets if I can help it. Paranoid? Maybe a little, but I'd rather that than have to get it demagnetised.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks guys. The magnet is definitely much closer to the watches than 3 or 4 inches - more like 1.5 inches. It's not the world's strongest magnet but it is strong enough to give the door a definite "snap" when it closes.

It still makes me a bit uneasy, so maybe I'll give the Official Time models a go. They do look quite good for the money.

Just so you don't blame me if it all goes horribly wrong with OT, Otto drop Stefan Tapp a PM for a second opinion as he uses an OT Van Gogh like me.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Don't worry, D8, I've done my homework with the search function . I believe dhalem also speaks well of them.

The way I see it, I'd rather pay a few hundred bucks for a winder and risk having it quit early than put my watches at risk.