The internet is split. Half the forums say watch winders are fine to use. The other half scream "avoid at all costs." So who’s right?
Let’s be honest: most people arguing against watch winders probably don't even own luxury timepieces. Or if they do, they wear the same one every day and think "putting it in a drawer" is care and the pinnacle of the luxury watch ownership experience. It’s not.
1. Your Watch Was Built to Move — Period.
Automatic watches are designed with one assumption: daily rotation.
Letting them sit still isn’t neutral — it’s neglect. Over time:
- Lubricants dry or pool
- Accuracy drops
- Frequent manual resetting causes wear and tear
Most automatic watches have screw-down crowns, which are made to protect against water. But twisting and turning them every day puts pressure on the crown and the rubber gasket inside. Eventually, this can wear them out, making it easier for moisture to sneak into your watch without you knowing — which can be a very expensive fix.
A good stop-start watch winder keeps things flowing — without overwinding.
Overwinding is a myth. It is for unprofessional watch winders that do not feature stop-start rotation. Many angled watch winders do not even produce sufficient torque for proper winding, and only vertical ones can properly wind your watches. Rest assured, our angled watch winders, such as the Cyclops Watch Winder, Carina Watch Winder or Atlas Watch Winder, have been tested in-house and proven to keep your watches on time.
Want further proof watch winders are 100% safe for modern automatic watches? Omega sells watch winders (premium pricing) on their website, and they even have a guide for which winding direction you should use for each movement.
2. More Than Laziness — It's About Showroom Value.
They are mechanical pieces of art. A well-made, premium watch winder has showroom value in itself. It doesn't simply serve the function of keeping your watch running, but brings aesthetic value to wherever you put it.
You wouldn’t let a treasured trophy sit in the dark, would you? Your academic certificates are on your wall, and your golf tournament trophies sit proudly in your tall glass window cabinet. Bottles of wine and whisky often share the same space.
Watches are priced from thousands to 100's of thousands, and very often, they represent a meaning, a memory, a cherished relationship or a personal achievement. Yet you wouldn't put them in a beautiful, well-lit throne like the Taurus Watch Winder?
As always, there is no reason to prevent yourself from doing what is best for you. Especially if the reason is because some internet person said, "No, you might wear out the oils in it trust me".
3. Who said that if you had one, you have to keep it in the winder for the rest of eternity?
Nobody, including us, recommends leaving any watch in a watch winder for many continuous months.
We understand watches are meant to be worn. We recommend using the winder when you're swapping between watches on certain days, or leaving it in there on days you don't wear it.
Furthermore, you could even NOT turn it on and use it as a stand if you are that worried. There is no obligation to leave it turned on for months in a row.
Final Word:
If you’ve spent $2K, $5K, or $30K on a timepiece, but you're "not sure if a $300 winder is worth it" — you're not protecting or treating the very thing you value the way it deserves.
It’s not just about keeping time. It's about respecting what you treasure.
2 comments
I always wanted to get one but my hubby keeps saying it’s bad :((( hoping this article might get him over to the other side :) your collection is actually so nice and not too expensive
Not bad, I didn’t know Omega sold them as well