The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Driver,

You hit the nail on the head. Those things are terrible
rip-off. My own particular watch winder is the old fashioned kind --
you know, it resides at the end of my wrist; it's called a
hand.

When I need to wind one of my watches, I simply hold
the piece in the palm of my hand and gently move my hand
back and forth, back and forth (I'm doing it now) for a couple
minutes. It's not rocket science and it works just as well
as one of those overpriced contraptions you wrote about.
But each to his own.

Steve

but do you have multiple watches that you wear on a reg basis?

I think a winder is necessary if you have multiple pieces. I get hand cramps from winding my manual Pam's. I couldn't imagine having to wind my automatics also.

I have a bit of a knob question here. What are the negative effects, if any, when you let your automatic watches go past their power reserve and stop ticking? Is this something that over time can effect how well your watch will work? Basically, if your watch continually is starting and stopping, starting and stopping, will this cause damage? Sorry if this is a silly question.

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- Nathan
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Breitling Avenger Skyland (Black)

Not a silly question at all. Stopping and starting your watch is unlikely to cause any problem at all. At the end of the day, an auto is basically as manual wind watch with an internal winding device bolted on.... and there is no other way of winding a manual wind other than on a daily basis. Some may say that stopping and starting a mechanical device puts a slight extra strain on the workings and the crown and the gaskets, while others will say that leaving a watch running the whole time causes slightly more wear. The jury is out on both schools of thought, and either way we are talking VERY minor differences. In short, if you run ANY mechanical device where moving parts are in contact with each other, wear WILL occur over time - there's nothing you can do about it.

Best to just to enjoy your watch - wind it when it needs winding, and service it when it needs servicing, look after it and I have no doubt it could potentially out-live your lifetime!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I forgot to mention, my Underwood(s) doesn't need that ugly cord. Runs a year on a single AA battery.

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