# Watch winders

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-winders/399903>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 13, 2007, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-winders/399903 "2007-04-13T02:51:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-winders/399903/1 "2007-04-13T02:51:16Z")

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I just bought a new watch (Stauer 1922 Automatic, gold), which I plan to wear only occasionally. The instructions recommend a watch winder, to keep it functioning. Do I really need this? Couldn’t I just wind it, and reset it if necessary, when I use it?

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**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-winders/399903/2 "2007-04-13T04:16:58Z")

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[QUOTE=panache45]  
Couldn’t I just wind it, and reset it if necessary, when I use it?  
[/QUOTE]

Absolutely. Some automatic watches have a host of “complications” that take a long time to reset, so if they’re to be worn infrequently a winder can be useful. Very high end watch companies sometimes recommend a winder also, so I’d guess this company is trying to put themselves in that category. You have absolutely no need of a watch winder.

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**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-winders/399903/3 "2007-04-14T01:56:33Z")

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Is your automatic watch hand windable by turning the crown, or does it have to be swung around to start it when the mainspring has completely run down?

I have a number of Seiko autos with the 7S26 and 7S36 movements which cannot be hand wound; I keep them on winders as it is a pain to charge the mainspring before wearing. On the other hand, the Citizen watches that I have with 82XX auto movements can be hand wound, so they are not kept on winders, as I simply pick them up, wind them and wear them.

Also, if you wear your watch everyday, your wrist motion should keep the watch wound without resorting to a winder.

I collect watches…and have way too many…or is that possible?

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-winders/399903/4 "2007-04-14T02:22:24Z")

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[QUOTE=sunstone]  
I have a number of Seiko autos with the 7S26 and 7S36 movements which cannot be hand wound…  
[/QUOTE]

I have three Seiko Bell-Matics, all identical. (One was dad’s, one I wear, and the other one just sort of happened.) Dad’s was made in April 1974. Would you happen to know the number of the movement?

And yes, they’re a PITA to reset. Which I will have to do eventually, because I never plugged up my watch winder when I moved home last month.