What's the verdict?: Automatic Watch Winders

MaverickFerg

I'm far from a collector, but I've just purchased my second automatic Bond watch (damn all of you for getting me into this expensive hobby)! Obviously, I can't wear both of them at the same time, so I'm wondering what the consensus is on watch winders for storing your good watches.

I've done some limited research online and the results seem to be all over the board - from 'Yes, they're critical for maintaining the longevity of your expensive timepiece;' to 'Meh, they are an unnecessary luxury;' to 'No, they will shorten the lifespan of your watch, stay away.'

Just wondering what everyone here thinks. If 'yes' - what brands/models do you recommend?

Hopefully I haven't opened Pandora's Box (and Papers)!

Asp9mm

Bad things. Don’t even consider it.

0073

I once heard a legend of a Scottish manufacturer of the milling machines used to grind malted barley to grist. They made such good mills, that they only sold once to each individual client, and since their machines never broke down, nobody needed another one.
That company, according the legend, went bankrupt a 100 years ago. Their mills are still at use in the Scottish Whisky distilleries.

This is the only time I know of, and even that is a legend, that any mechanical construction does not suffer from continuous uninterrupted use.

To put it in another way: would you keep your hand cranked watch wound all the time, even when not in use?

MaverickFerg

Thanks for the advice guys - sounds like I'll be skipping the winder!

JTM

What’s your time worth? I’ve always found it crazy that someone would invest potentially thousands in a winder to do something that takes less than a minute to do by hand, when required.

welshboy78

Setting the watch is half the pleasure for me

Higgins

You‘ve obviously never owned a Perpetual Calendar, Welshie