These Frequently-Asked Questions Apply to the Eilux Brand Automatic Watch Winders

Question:  What do the terms "mechanical", "self-winding" and "automatic" mean when they apply to a watch?
Answer:  A "mechanical" watch is a timepiece that derives its power from a tightly coiled main spring housed in a drum or barrel inside the watchcase.  As this spring unwinds, it releases the energy to power the gear train escapement, balance wheel and other parts of the mechanical movement.  The term "self-winding" is really a misnomer.  This is because a mechanical watch cannot wind itself; it must be worn, wound by hand or placed on a watch winder in order to operate continuously.  An "automatic" watch is a mechanical timepiece that is wound as a result of the wearer's wrist or body movements.  Through the slightest motion a rotor inside the watchcase will rotate or oscillate and wind the mainspring.

Question: What is the purpose of a watch winder?
Answer:  As a precision mechanical instrument, automatic watch movements are designed to be in constant motion.  To leave a mechanical watch unused in a drawer for long periods of time causes lubricants in these complex mechanisms to dry up from critical areas of the movement. This drying up process creates accelerated wear on the movement parts when the watch is occasionally worn thereby affecting accuracy and, in some cases, causing unnecessary damage to the fine mechanics.  In order to "exercise" your automatic watch when not being worn, you would require a watch winder.  A well-designed watch winder helps maintain proper lubrication and constant running of your fine timepiece.  It also minimizes the resetting or adjusting of the watch when left unworn, a convenience especially when it comes to automatic watches with various complications such as perpetual calendars and moon phases.

Question:  What is the meaning of "cycle" in the winding modes?
Answer:  Our watch winder is equipped with 3-hour and 4-hour cycle winding modes. Let's assume your particular watch needs 600 TPD to keep it fully wound.  A low quality watch winder will simply rotate continuously for several hours and turn off for the rest of the day.  However, our superior winder operates for 24 minutes per cycle in every 4-hour program, and repeat the same cycle all day long.  Both watch winders will keep your automatic watch fully wound but not ours is proven to be better for maintaining watch accuracy.  This is due to the mainspring attaining its greatest torque when fully wound.  As it slowly unwinds over the day, torque decreases and this torque reduction has a negative effect on the running accuracy of the watch.  So, periodic rewinding all day long translates into more constant torque, a constant running rate, and therefore, a more accurate watch.

Question:  How long does an automatic watch run when left unworn?
Answer:  Depending on the watch movement, most automatic timepieces have a power reserve of 42 to 60 hours when fully wound.  Automatics with complications such as chronographs tend to remain autonomous for slightly shorter periods when these special functions are activated for the duration of its power reserve.

Question: Can automatic watches be damage by the magnetic motor inside a watch winder?
Answer:  No, automatic watches and their movements are not affected by the magnetic fields generated by the watch winder motor.  This magnetic field is so small that it has no bearing on the watch and its movement.  Furthermore, all modern automatic watches are made up of non-magnetic material such as titanium, brass, stainless steel, etc.  Consequently, they are non-magnetic and unaffected by close proximity to magnetic fields.
 
Question:  Can an automatic watch ever be over wound?
Answer:  No, automatic watches can never be over wound since automatic movements have a built-in slipping mechanism that prevents over winding.  However, this safety device should not be overstressed, simply becasue such device will eventually set in as with all mechanical instruments.  Thus, all high-quality watch winders come equipped with a time control program to regulate the actual winding time cycles of various automatic movements.  Here is the discussion that is presented by ROLEX in a booklet that accompanies with their Rolex Oyster watches.
"The perpetual rotor is an innovation...patented by Rolex in 1931... a semi-circular rotor... winds the main spring.  Once the optimum tension is reached, a special slip clutch prevents over winding... and has been generally adopted throughout the watch making industry."

Question:  How much winding time is right for my watch?
Answer:  With reference to using a watch winder, proper winding time for your automatic can be referred to as Turns Per Day or TPD.  TPD is the number of turns required daily of the automatic's rotor to keep the watch properly wound.  Most automatic watches need between 500 to 800 TPD.  For example, Rolex movements require about 650 TPD.  Now, Rolex watches and many other brands have movements designed to wind bi-directionally or in both directions.  However, some watches wind uni-directionally or in one direction only, either clockwise or counterclockwise.  For example, many Patek Phillips watches only wind counterclockwise while some IWC chronographs have movements that wind clockwise only.  Thus to accommodate the various winding directions of all automatics, the best-engineered watch winders are programmable for dual-rotation directions with separate programs for clockwise or counterclockwise applications. 

Question: Why does my watch does not work properly even when being wound by the watch winder?
Answer:  For automatic watches to operate properly when using a watchwinder, it is important to always ensure that the watch is fully wound prior to placing the watch on the winder for winding.  This is because watch winders are programmed to operate most efficiently, with the most regulated results, when the watch is containing at least 50% of power reserve prior to being placed on the winder.  This is similar to watch manufacturers recommending you to manually wind daily-worm mechanical watches before wearing it as this gives the mainspring its maximum torgue for highest precision.
 
Question:  Why do our watch winders rely on batteries rather than AC/DC wall outlets to operate?
Answer:  One advantage of the battery-powered watch winder is its portability, safety, and ease of use.  This means expensive automatic watches maintained on winders can be easily stored in safes or drawers without the hazards associated with electrical outlets.  Furthermore, your expensive and luxury timepieces can be stored wisely in a battery-operated watch winder in a bank safety-deposit box as well... To power your watch winder better we recommend using alkaline batteries for the best performance.  Battery life is generally good for 10 to 12 months.  Of course, for convenient usage or desired, a D/C (battery powered) winder can also operate on A/C by using an AC/DC adapter, which plugs into a wall outlet.