[1911]

for all the watch aficionados here...i was looking for some recs for a watch winder..preferable a 2 watch winder..if it makes any difference the watches are an omega and rolex(one web site stated the rolex liked 460 revolutions a day)...just looking to keep the watches moving as my wife rarely wears her rolex and that is death for an automatic watch..if anyone has suggestions or websites thanks in advance..

 

[GAD]

Good ones are not cheap. There's an argument for only using good ones, but it escapes me at the moment.

Check out timezone.com for more detail, but the ones I've seen recommended there again and again are the Orbita and Wolf.

You need to decide if you want pure function or something decorative as well, as decorative two-watch winders can easily exceed $1000.

GAD

 

[randerson3024]

I ordered one for my Rolex, but I guess it got beat up in shipping, it doesn't work at all (battery powered), and the damn thing cost over $200.

 

[kwkarth]

I've got a few different brands, Orbita, Wolf, even sharper image. My favorite is Wolf FWIW. I've had problems with the Orbita...had to have it repaired once after barely a year's worth of use.

For bang for the buck, the Sharper Image single watch winder has not been bad. It's rather crude, but clever by comparison to the Orbita and Wolf designs, but it gets the job done, although not as gently as the other two. I think they're on sale right now for about 60 bux each. I've had mine for as long as they've been on the market, at least a couple of years. It runs 24/7 and I change the batteries in it once a year or so, whether it needs it or not.

The Wolf winder came with a Maurice Lacroix watch that I bought and has performed flawlessly since day one. It is more programmable than my others WRT duty cycle and direction as well. It's also the most quiet since it's completely enclosed with a display front. Check out the Wolf brand.

Here's a brief review of some options:
http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Review-o...nders&id=65323
Watch winder site

I've been tempted to try a Steinhausen, but haven't bitten yet. I have a lot more automatic watches than I have winders, so currently, I rotate them periodically. Good luck!

 

[warpdriver]

I use the Orbita Sparta. Works well although very noisy now (has gotten more noisy as it's gotten older)

I sort of don't like the idea of keeping a watch on a winder. So I rotate the watches I don't wear often. (let them sit for a few weeks, and them put them on a winder for a week)

 

[Jahn]

1911, if your wife doesn't wear it, give it to one of your lovely daughters during supervised playtime and I'm sure that It'll get a decent winding.

 

[kugino]

my automatics just sit in their boxes in the closet...i do need to get some proper winders one of these days. i'll look into the wolfs and the orbitas...

 

[usc goose]

bump as i'm in 1911's position on watch winders at the moment. anyone else have any more ideas?

 

[tyrion]

Go to ebay and do a search for Official Time. They have some reasonably priced winders that some of the guys on a watch forum I visit seem to like.

 

[velogreg]

I have owned a James Friedman watch winder for six years without any problems. It is silent and rotates clockwise for ten revolutions then reverses direction. Some feel this more closely matches human movement and doesn't over wind the watches. BTW I think the Rolex 460 revolution thing is overkill. I asked a Rolex zealot friend of mine and he stated that that was pure bunk.

http://www.watchwinders.com/fourhead.html#about

 

[bhd812]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwkarth /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've got a few different brands, Orbita, Wolf, even sharper image. My favorite is Wolf FWIW. I've had problems with the Orbita...had to have it repaired once after barely a year's worth of use. For bang for the buck, the Sharper Image single watch winder has not been bad. It's rather crude, but clever by comparison to the Orbita and Wolf designs, but it gets the job done, although not as gently as the other two. I think they're on sale right now for about 60 bux each. I've had mine for as long as they've been on the market, at least a couple of years. It runs 24/7 and I change the batteries in it once a year or so, whether it needs it or not. The Wolf winder came with a Maurice Lacroix watch that I bought and has performed flawlessly since day one. It is more programmable than my others WRT duty cycle and direction as well. It's also the most quiet since it's completely enclosed with a display front. Check out the Wolf brand. Here's a brief review of some options: http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Review-o...nders&id=65323 Watch winder site I've been tempted to try a Steinhausen, but haven't bitten yet. I have a lot more automatic watches than I have winders, so currently, I rotate them periodically. Good luck!

I have a dual Steinhausen as I thought it was a good cheaper choice because all the jewelry stores by me sell them. ebay is pretty cheap on them.

I had a few issues with it like the motors slowly down or not winding the watch enough and it dies. then all of a sudden the winder works perfect again. not sure whats up but I am not spending big money a winder..no thanks patty cakes. when i bought my Breitling Navitimer it would not wrap completely around the fake leather thingy that holds the watch cause i have small wrists. so i rigged the thingy with a center bag thingy that came with one of my tissots...yeah i have to ghetto rig the winder for a $5500 watch..nice huh?

its not that noisy to me but i have it mounted rite above my bed so i can hear it wind..kind of like it like that. i really need another double watch winder but instead i am trying to sell me Raymond weil on ebay now so i can cut the collection down a bit..

 

[kwkarth]

A Web based store has just opened a brick & mortar instance here in the Northwest and I have purchased a number of watch bands, Watch boxes and now a watch winder from them. The operational quality seems very, very good and the quality of construction first rate.

The Watch Prince: thewatchprince.com

This is the three watch winder I just bought:
Abest 3 watch winder For $245.00 you can't beat it with a stick! It's supposed to be a factory irregular, but for the life of me, I can't find the flaw.

Their customer service is top notch as is their merchandise. I can highly recommend them. BTW, they have many oversized watch bands that work well with large watches.

 

[plainsong]

I've got a couple Eilux winders that are cheap but seem to get the job done. All my watches come out of it with the power reserve they should have. They've gotten noisier as they've gotten older, so as for longevity, time will tell.

 

[mrarroyo]

I have had a Cyclomatic Doe by Vobrograf for about 8 years w/o any issue. I runs of A/C or 4 C batteries.

http://www.timezone.com/library/itsa...78004898352948

 

[ericj]

Steinhausen? Chinese junk. Manufactured by MillionSmart, from the look of things. I prefer the chintzy crap made by Guangzhou XinXin when I'm slumming. I admit I'm not sure who made the absurd panerai homage on my wrist right now - but it was cheap!

It's not that i have a problem with chinese watches - i just have a problem with paying more than about $50 for 'em.

As for winders - the value of keeping a modern automatic with modern lubricants wound is generally considered to be low to negative. The lubricants used in any watch made in the last 15 years or so will be good for 20 years or more, moving or not. Keeping it wound will only slowly wear out the parts.

Edit: Oh, if you have expensive watches that you consider to be investments, you should have them serviced by a qualified watchmaker who will actually take it apart and clean it properly (and not just perform the dreaded dunk&lube) every 5 to 8 years. If, however, you're wearing a $50 Seiko 5 (and congratulations if you are - they're keen!) - just keep wearing it until it dies, which will be 10 to 20 years.