Watch Winders

Yes, if you own two or more automatic watches and wear them in turn: each one is running, set and ready when you pick it up. It saves the most time on watches with a date, a moon phase or a second time zone. If you wear one automatic every day, you do not need one.

Both are fine for a healthy movement. A winder keeps the oils moving and the date correct; letting a watch stop does no harm either. A winder is about convenience, and it is most useful for complications that take a long time to reset.

No. An automatic movement has a slipping clutch that stops the mainspring from winding too tight. With the right turns per day, the winder only tops up what the watch uses.

A little extra wear on the rotor if the turns per day are set far too high, and a winder needs power. Use the lowest setting that keeps your watch running and the wear stays tiny.

Most automatic watches need 650 to 800 turns a day. Use the helper above, or the number in your watch's manual.

One rotor for every automatic watch you wear in turn, plus one for the next watch. Winders with several rotors let each rotor run its own setting. For a large collection, a watch winder safe keeps the watches locked away as well.