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This ready to construct automatic watch winder system for two watches contains everything needed to put it to immediate use

An acrylic twist-on dome protects your time piece from dust and allows a clear view of the display

A single AC Adapter powers the  brick modules. The system can be expanded up to a 12 modules unit using our optional Power Extension Board-4, Base Station@4+6 or Timber housing

Four electrical contacts on top and bottom of each Brick Automatic Watch Winder allow the power to be transmitted to each Brick module  of the system.

You can add extra Brick modules as your collection grows; one AC Adapter will power up to twelve bricks!

Watch Winders Guide

What exactly is a watch winder?

A watch winder is a device used to keep automatic (also known as self-winding) watches running when not worn. Automatic watches operate on the principle of winding themselves using a moving weight inside the watch. The weight swings or rotates while the watch is worn and turns the winding mechanism inside the watch. So, fairly obviously, if the watch is not worn, then it no longer receives power this way and will run down. While virtually all automatic watches can be manually wound, this is not always convenient. So the concept of an automatic watch winder was born.

A watch winder is a device which holds a watch (or often more than one) and moves it in a circular pattern to emulate the necessary parts of human motion to operate the self-winding mechanism.

A winder cannot over wind an automatic watch, since all automatic watches are protected from being over wound by a mechanism (slipping clutch) that disengages the winding process when the mainspring is fully wound. But using a timer-based winder is still very important to prevent excessive wear on the winding mechanism. There is no need to keep the watch in motion 24 hours a day when usually a total only 30 minutes of motion is necessary to keep it properly wound.

Winders are totally useless for battery-operated quartz watches. A few winders do work for the special 'battery-less' quartz watches, such as the Omega-Matic, Seiko Kinetic, and similar. These automatic/quartz hybrids use the same weight/rotor principal to generate electric power to run a quartz movement.

Do I need a watch winder?

Well, you didn't need to buy more automatic watches than you can wear at one time, did you? But don't worry, you are far from alone! Many collectors and enthusiasts quickly get into this dilemma. Ultimately, the main function of a winder is as a convenience device.

Doesn't a winder protect my watch by keeping the oils from clotting?

The lubricating oils used in most modern watches and properly serviced vintage watches are not very prone to clotting or coagulating. While there are technical reasons in favour of keeping a watch continuously running, there are also reasons in favour of not unnecessarily overusing a watch.

So how should I choose whether to get a winder or not?

Choose a winder for your needs based on its convenience value to you. If you have a watch you almost never wear, simply wind it up every couple of weeks and let it run down. But for automatic watches you wear frequently, but not continuously, a winder is a great solution for keeping them ready to wear on a moment's notice. If this convenience is worth the cost of a winder to you, then go for it!

The single biggest advantage of a winder for seldom used watches is for those with multi-complications (Time, Day, Date, Month etc.) that may require elaborate resetting, "time" and patience after the watch has stopped.

Why are some watch winders so expensive when they seem pretty simple in concept?

Watch winder manufacturers and sellers emphasize the quality, the precision, and their knowledgeable design to correctly pamper your watch as the reasons. These do factor in, but only explain part of the cost of these devices.

But the remaining factor in the cost is that these are specialty items manufactured in relatively low quantities. Although winder manufacturers keep their sales numbers confidential, it is safe to guess that sales are a few thousands of units per year. At this level of production, they cannot achieve the economies of mass production that make items that sell in the multi-million units (such as blenders and toasters) so affordable.

So while the prices of some of the devices may be higher than you might expect, it is not viable for these manufacturers to produce them at prices comparable to mass consumer items.

Our winders are extremely competitive offered at bargain prices.

What types of winders are available?

Functional: Such winders perform the duties of winding one or more watches. Generally, these units hold the watch on the exterior of the device. As such, they tend to need to be on a tabletop or somewhat tall shelf. Some which handle more than one watch start to resemble carnival rides, with their merry-go-round or Ferris wheel configurations and multiple rotating watch holders (see our WTS4, Royal Navy and Galaxy-WTS4 models).

Elegant: These winders go beyond pure functionality and offer a nice form and exterior design and finish. Normally they are a completely enclosed box, often made of nicely finished wood or covered in leather. They are suitable for display on a desk or dresser, yet many are capable of fitting inside a drawer or safe deposit box.

Extravagant: As with many luxury items, the sky is the limit on options. Winders with heaters to keep the watch near body temperature, built-in storage drawers, and atomic-clock-synchronized time displays are some of the esoteric and beyond features available on some of the very high end winders. These start at $ and can go up to $ and are offered only by a very few select manufacturers.

Within these are options of AC and Battery only powered units as well those that offer both. The battery featured models are suitable for use in a safe where no AC power is available. Some battery equipped winders are for backup short term use whereas others are designed to provide a few months of operation.

 Should I start with a single rotator unit or go for a multi rotator unit?

If you are an enthusiast watch collector looking for a winder, don't short-change yourself by skimping on a winder that can only handle one watch. If you've got the watch 'bug,' it won't be long before you buy another automatic and be caught short. Consider at least one of the single-unit watch winders that have optional two-watch heads e.g. our WTA-220 models or the brilliantly designed  BOXY Brick modular system that allows you to add individual brick winders as your collection grows. A timber housing and other accessories complement this system. It has been a global best seller for many years.

What else should I consider?

Automatic watches are intended for fairly regular wear. So concentrate your ownership of automatic watches on those that you regularly wear e.g. Once a month. Winders are a nice convenience for watches you don't wear daily.

A bad watch winder is worse than no winder. Automatic watches are designed to be worn by people. People move in a large diversity of manners, causing a fairly even distribution of motion of the watch's internal winding mechanism. A watch winder is normally limited to a very finite number of directions and types of movement -- some as little as one single motion. So a poorly designed winder (especially the one you tried to make from an old electric drill and spare auto parts when you first heard that a real winder sells for hundreds of dollars) might cause undesirable wear of the watch's mechanisms from excessive and repetitive movement. Our winders have a gentle rotation action and cannot harm your watches. They cover all manufacturers' TPD (turns per day) specifications.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries regarding watch winders or the recommended TPD (turns per day) specified for your watch. Our extensive data base and professional expertise is offered to you to enhance your enjoyment of owning a timepiece of micro-mechanical art.

Enjoy

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