The correct maintenance of a
watch starts by knowing how it works and cleaning it regularly. Moreover, it is essential to now
how to wind it,
a daily ritual that will stay with us our entire lives. It is a romantic and relaxing habit that will ensure the timepiece lasts for longer, as well as
keeping the mechanism ticking.
Discover how to wind your watch to enjoy its magic and sophistication.
How to wind hand-wound watches
The first step is to identify what kind of timepiece it is we want to wind. In the case of
hand-wound watches,
it’s important to carry out this task with
gentleness and care in order not to damage the timepiece’s mechanism or structure. The process begins by checking
if the crown moves freely or if it is screwed down into the case.
• Regular crown. Starting at whatever position it is, with the dial of the watch looking up, we will start turning the crown with our index finger and thumb, moving it clockwise. Around this moment,
we will hear the sound of the mechanism activating.
• Screw-down crown. We can unscrew the crown twisting it back, until the inner crown spring raises it, placing it in such a way that we can wind the timepiece following the same process we described above for regular crowns.
When the crown begins to offer light resistance, it’s because it’s almost wound.
Once we feel this, we should stop so as not to damage the mechanism. If your watch has a screw-down crown, press it back into the case and,
twisting forward, screw it back to ensure the
watch’s water resistance.
How to wind an automatic watch
Automatic watches are
mechanical models that do not require manual winding, since the wrist and arm’s
movement is enough to power the timepiece’s functioning
If an automatic watch has stopped and the design does not allow winding, what we should do is take it off and hold it in our hand, on a flat position. Next, we will move it gently left to right for at least a minute.
This way, the timepiece will accumulate enough power reserve to, once back on our wrist, begin to charge on its own without stopping after a short while.
Most automatic watch models do allow winding to get the watch working. In these instances, we will follow the same procedure as we did with hand-wound watches, checking which kind of crown they have first.
The difference between winding a hound-wound watch and an automatic timepiece is that the latter does not have a limit to warn us when the mechanism is reaching its end. Therefore, we will merely twist the
crown approximately 20 times to give the watch enough power reserve so that, when it’s on your wrist, it continues charging itself.
Tips to wind a watch
- It is better not to manipulate the watch while wearing it. The crown’s position makes it difficult to access and it could result in damage to the mechanism. This is why it is advised to take the timepiece off before winding it
and making any necessary adjustments.
- Some automatic watches
keep their power reserve up to one or two days, even if they are not being used. However, to get them working again after they’ve run out of power, we have to wind them again or move them gently.
A
watch winder box will help you store and protect your timepiece while you are not wearing it.
- It is advisable to wind watches
every day at the same time. You can turn it into a daily habit, enjoying the relaxing motion and taking the time to
clean and care for your timepiece regularly.
- Generally speaking, you should always follow the instructions, the user manual and the brand’s recommendations for each model. However, if you have any questions you can get in touch with Relojería Alemana’s experts. We are here to help!
At our
Relojería Alemana shops we can advise you, and help you choose the
watch that best adapts to your personality and lifestyle (remember our shop at Colón
is closed for refurbishment until next spring). Our wide selection of fine watchmaking pieces and exclusive designs will be waiting for you so that you may find exactly what you are looking for.
