Which Watch Winder is best for my Rolex SeaMaster?
Well, I do not know exactly, probably 650 Turns Per Day, but maybe more. You will have to do some trial and error. We do not have data on that watch, but it is a $6,000 plus watch so you do want to take care of it and not over stress it, or over wind it.
Technically your not "supposed" to be able to "over wind" a modern automatic watch. The Rolex SeaMaster I believe has the same internal movement as the Rolex SubMariner... http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/357389...
(We do not guarantee the validity of the information found on the answer bag web page, and it could have been altered from when we read it, however at the time it was valid. It just makes our argument in different words. Basically the questioner asks about his SubMariner gaining time in the watch winder and lists watches that do not gain time in the same winder, the watches he lists tend to have high Turns Per Day needs and therefore the conclusion one can probably infer is the Submariner or SeaMaster requires a minimum number of Turns Per Day to wind optimally. All automatics are prone to inaccurate time keeping and need frequent service. So it is usually on a watch winder that this shows up since a watch winder is a stable environment it is a control in an experiment so to speak...Finding the optimal setting for every automatic watch is really trial and error, though we usually can get our customers started on the right track when they purchase from watchcases.com.)
Let me broaden this question to which watch winder is best for my Rolex Watch?
The other day I got this question from a caller and it turns out his Rolex was a fake and he purchased it knowing it was a fake and my answer to him was "it does not
matter which Watch Winder you buy, you do not have a Rolex watch!" He bought the most inexpensive watch winder I sell, and for him this made sense.
For you it does not make sense in fact buying anything less than the
Orbita Siena Watch Winder is a serious mistake for an expensive Rolex watch. The
Orbita Avanti Watch Winder might be the better choice even for your Rolex SeaMaster or SubMariner Automatic Watch.The name on the face does not a Rolex make! It is the insides that count! The movement makes a watch a Rolex, not the 5 letters combined to spell the word. So please do not call me and tell my you have a Rolex Watch if you have a fake or even suspect it is a
fake automatic watch, just tell me it is an inexpensive automatic watch and you need an inexpensive watch winder. Rolex is a brand, but it is a brand that still means something!
Rolex uses a variety of watch movements to power their watches and the majority of Rolex Watches require 650 Turns Per Day wound bi-directionally. Meaning
the vast majority of Watch Winders out there will "over-work" your Rolex Watch!
Notice I say "over-work", not "over wind". In reality I should not bother, since for the layman, the result is the same. A broken watch. If you over work the watch, that is wind it day in and day out more than you should you are overworking it, and as we know from sports this is bad. This is why Athletes are called old in most sports that require repetitive movements under stress are an issue. Like tennis.
So what is the difference between "over-working" and "over winding"? Well, technically you can not over wind a modern mechanical automatic or self winding watch.
They are built with a slip mechanism to prevent "over winding" it says so in your owners manual.
What you did not get an owners manual?
Hmmm,....Are you sure it is real?
What did you pay for it?
$100? Fake.
$500? Fake.
$1,000? Fake.
$3,000? Probably real.
$6,000 Real.
$10,000 + Real.
If you bought a real automatic watch you need to face the reality of purchasing a real automatic watch. Their are a ton of wannabees out there! Are you a real Doctor or do you just play one on TV? ;-) OK kidding aside, let me explain....
Most Watch Winders simply over work your watch and do not technically "over wind" the watch. Over winding is when you wind the watch to the point that the main spring snaps! This slip mechanism prevents this from happening, however this slip mechanism should not be put under constant stress 24x7 which is what happens when the watch is placed in an inferior cheap watch winder. Now if you bought a fake watch or cheap
television sale watch
So, to prevent your valuable Rolex watch from wearing out too soon like say Venus Williams or Roger Federer, or even Tiger Woods, maybe you should cut it some slack and buy a watch winder with a programmable setting which allows you to minimize the winding it endures. Don't put it into a watch winder tournament to see how much stress it can stand! Repetitive same motion movements are the culprit for wearing out knees, shoulders, elbows and Automatic Watch Movements! Less stress is best.
Pretty much the only truly programmable watch winder at an "affordable" price is the Orbita Watch Winder. Most watch winders on the market are programmable for directional turns. But most cheap watch winders do not allow flexible turns per day programming. The important thing is to minimize wear and tear on the watch, less is more! Less wear and tear more care of your watch.
But the thing is most watches do not list in the owners manual the proper or minimal turns per day needed for it to keep running but not be over used. Why?
Well in the words of 99% of Watch Manufacturers when called...
(Imagine them saying this in a snooty and judgemental voice)...
"Humpf, why sir, our watches are not made to be placed in watch winders our watches are made to be worn on your wrist!"
Instead of the better answer of "I am sorry sir, I do not know call WatchCases.com".
Well we do not know the answer for every watch, though after customers buy from us we leave no rock unturned in helping them figure it out. But it does get old answering questions and giving good advice only to have people buy from someone else. Doctors do not mind second opinions, but they do mind price shoppers, because the information and knowledge they possess is valuable and worth every penny! We think our time is valuable too, so I am attempting to answer this all to oft asked question in writing and if you read this argument and it makes sense, please reward us with your purchase.
Thanks.
Summary:
Rolex Movements: You should not over wind your watch if at all possible you should not exceed these recommended turns per day. Increase the Turns Per Day only if the watch does not stay wound at the lower setting.
Most Roles watches require 650 Turns Per Day Bi-Directional Winding.
But the Rolex Daytona requires Clockwise winding rotation of 800 to 950 Turns Per Day, so you see the need for an adaptable and programmable watch winder?
Sure you could get a watch winder that turns your watch 1,300 Turns Per Day, but it would be over stressing the watch by twice its needs and theoretically cutting its life span in half, or at least the service free time span. Automatic Watch Service is not cheap, I think the going rate now a days in major cities is $250 and hour. But they do not quote automatic watch service like that on an hourly basis, so, your guess is as good as mine. I just pay the bill, they never tell me how long they work on the thing. But the bill is usually a couple hundred each visit....
So you need a programmable watch winder that allows you to turn down the turns per day to a minimal level which will maintain the watch.....
Next question is well then if over winding is a problem what do I need a winder for?
Well aside from the convenience factor and the time savings, because mechanical things are made to be used. What happens to the human body if it is under used?
Well, Tiger is having knee issues from over use, but the average American is going to die way to young from under use. A mechanical watch has internal lubrication and the parts need to be lubricated through movement, so less is more, but none is death and too much is bad...simple equation.
You know this argument makes sense so now all you need to do is remind yourself that
spending money on quality is never a mistake and buying something because it is cheap always has a price to pay far worse than the savings on the front end!
Do not risk your expensive Rolex Automatic watch by placing it on a cheap watch winder.
Donald
Owner, WatchCases.com
Labels: Donald, Orbita Winders, Rolex, Siena Winder
by: WatchCases
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