The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I've just read another post on here about watch winders, and had a question about winders from another member on here, so I thought I'd start a new thread.....

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but the whole watch-winder world seems like an absolute rip off of the highest proportions.

I've owned a few myself - a Steinhausen that was frankly rubbish due to the speed of rotation (way too fast) so I sold it ; a Rapport that started off OK, then became incredibly noisy before it stopped working and went in for repairs, worked again for a while and then became noisy once more, so I sold it ; and now an Official Time.

My OT has been really good, although it is starting to get a little noisy now, but there are a couple of reports from other owners on different sites saying that while they're nicely finished the motors aren't that great.

It seems to me that if you dip your toe into the watch-winder world, it's a total step into the unknown - you either pay the same price as you would for a new family car to wind a single watch (and from what I've read, no exceptional guarantees of reliability either), or you pay something slightly more reasonable and expect it to last no longer than a few weeks..... if you're lucky.

It simply won't do!

Anyone with any decent (or otherwise) watch-winder experiences?

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I've dipped my toes into that world recently.

I looked at some megabuck winders first. OK, not really megabuck but pretty damn expensive for what they were (I thought). Nice wood and everything, but I didn't want to take the risk of spending so much money on a winder and then finding out it was too loud to have it in the bedroom.

So I bought one on ebay - same as the one Damian posted about a while ago. Can't complain about the price ($40!). Exciting when it turned up, but I'm just a little jaded now because it seems to be struggling with bigger watches, especially the Carlos Coste (and, to a lesser extent, the Planet Ocean). The thing that holds the watch doesn't seem to sit in the hole tightly enough, so with every rotation there is a clunk as it moves. It is enough to make me switch it off when I'm sleeping. Then I dash out the door for work the next day and forget to turn it on, and my watches all run out of gas.

When I have a chance I'll see if I can do some modifications on it. At $40 I can afford to be a bit experimental.

I bought a watch winder recently on Ebay and find that it serves it purpose, below is link for the item which I bought and the seller. Hope it helps!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ka003-r-Silent-Automatic-Mechanical-Watch-Winder-Box_W0QQitemZ280252038160QQihZ018QQcategoryZ98629QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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Breitling Skyracer S/S with white dial

There seems to be a huge amount of money charged for nice wooden boxes in the watchwinder world. It's just a shame that no money goes into the motor.

The problem with many winders, even expensive ones, is that the motor is chinese. Less strict tolerances, less quality control, etc - they tend to get noisy quickly and when they go wrong, they're dead.

I'm currently looking for one or two and I've decided this time to go with the most cost effective non chinese motor I can find. I have a woodshop in my basement cand can make a pretty box myself if I want.

Which brand that points me too - I have no idea.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: watch winders are bullshit.

OK, maybe if you have 10+ automatic pieces, then sure, a couple of watch winders would be worth considering.

You go into any watch store and you will see the vast majority of automatic watches idle. There is no doubt that any mechanical watch needs regular movement – I would suggest no less than 12 hours every week. But to suggest that automatic watches must be constantly running is moronic.

You want long term? Think of a 1970 Lambo. Do you want one that has been driven every day – or one that has been serviced and driven when required? Mechanics = wear.

A watch winder is a robotic barbarian banging your woman when you’re not around! Honestly, if you have an ‘average’ collection of say four watches, what is the hassle in winding them ……or even wearing them …. once in a while?

If I’m wrong, let’s launch a class action against watch retailers the world over for abusing mechanical watches!

"a robotic barbarian banging your woman when you’re not around"

Hahahahaaaa.... still laughing....

I have considered buying a winder though, but the quality issues that you can read on every watchforum around makes me hesitate, so keep up this great thread!

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Blue Baton Super Avenger
Black Avenger Seawolf

That is indeed the problem.

One of the other guys on here was talking about making his own and I for one am starting to think that's not a bad route to go. I'm pretty handy with wood-working and DIY myself, so I'm personally thinking out buying a nice piece of oak furniture (I know a guy who produces very reasonably priced solid oak stuff), and the building into it a nice custom winder set-up.

For me, the function of the winder, and keeping my watches away from potential prying eyes is far more important than a nicely lacquered box with a load cheap junk inside.

But getting hold of the parts could prove problematic. Anyone with an electrical engineering degree out there fancing putting together a parts list for us?

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I have only good things to say about my winders. I use Underwood winders, have never had any problems, they are very silent and do the job as intended. No problem at all to fit a Legende or a 6.75 to the winder.

Sure, they are noit the cheapest ones (I paid $660/winder for them) but remember this is also expensive Sweden. The model I've gone with completely lacks the fancy wooden outer shell, so I hope that at least some of the money goes into the motor system.

Easy to use too - just one on/off switch, never have to think of which direction the watch should be wound...

Here's the link, if someone's interested:
http://www.underwood-london.com/rotobox ... tobox.html

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

Amusing!

From my own perspective, I just like the convenience of a winder. If I'm rushing out the door to work in the morning (which I usually am!) I will wear whichever watch is running, and a winder just means I have a choice. I certainly do "rest" my watches quite regularly, and I tend to turn my winder off overnight anyway, so I don't hammer them too much.

Personally I just think that a "robotic barbarian" is worth having... PROVIDING it's a good quality one!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Agreed - I don't want the inconvenience of having to reset my watches all the time - especially when the 19 arrives, but I also make use of a 42 hour power reserve - plenty of time for the winder to be turned off and let some of the tension off the mainspring.

As far as making one is concerned - I don't think it needs to be any more difficult than a simple motor with a reduction gear and a timer. I'm no electrical engineer either, but let's face it - they are fundamentally simple devices.

I've experimented with a couple of different winders in my day.

At first, I over paid for a nice one that ended up dying and left me with nothing more than pretty watch box that has an ugly cord coming out the back.

For the past two years or so I've been purchasing cheap winders on Ebay. I converted a gun safe I purchased from my local classified ads into a watch safe with built in winders. It was a a weekend project that I'm quite proud of.

I've got 4 of the cheap Ebay winders installed in it. Whenever they crap out, I buy a new one for $30 bucks. In my experience they get the job done just as well as the more expensive ones and can be easily replaced.

I keep promising pictures, but as soon as I get a chance I'll take a snapshot of it to show off with my collection.

Nice idea too. Pics would be great when you get the chance, mboverst.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

i find them to be pretty convenient. i have 2 automatic watches and a winder is essential. otherwise it'll be constant changing of date and time... and the fact that you're not supposed to change the time/date between 8pm-3am or whatever is another important

i got a black wolf 2.0 on ebay for 170$ incl tax and shipping

very quiet and a nice display case

any recommendations on some good and inexpensive winders out there?

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Breitling for Bentley Motors
Breitling Navitimer World
Breitling Super Avenger Black Steel LE 3000
Breitling for Bentley GMT Midnight Carbon Black Steel LE 1000
Hublot Big Bang Aero Bang Steel
"You gotta pay to play..."

Yeah, Rey is building a couple of them for me. Chrome and Carbon Fiber... maybe we can talk him into making a few more

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