In my opinion there is no benefit in periodically winding watches that are in storage.
All of the many watches that are kept as safe queens, ( although maybe not actually in a safe ), how often do people show them the light of day and wind them up.
Is it better not to wind them up, or good to let them run periodically.
In my opinion there is no benefit in periodically winding watches that are in storage.
In my opinion there is no benefit in watches that are in storage.
Why do you ask?
I have no safe queens (all my watches, including Pateks, have battle scars from daily wear). I only wind my watches when I'm going to wear them, and I let them stop in-between times.
I have my grandads old Date just in the safe its not been wound in 20 years , a recent thread where the op had a mismatched day and date wheel has encouraged me to perhaps get it out and wear it a bit
Before this goes off track, I asked the question purely because when I had my Breitling Navi world serviced last year the guy that serviced it mentioned that sometimes any lubrication inside can dry up over a period of time and potentially cause problems.
Whether this is the case I don't know, hence the question. The only time my safe queens come out is when I wear them, which is very seldom, one has never been worn and still has the stickers on etc.
I know some would say what is the point of that but this particular watch just took my fancy, ( it's breitlng military issue ), so I just bought it and it's been in the safe ever since.
Apologies for the diversion. I'd probably wind it occasionally as it gives whatever lubricant remains a chance to do its job. I'm sure someone with more technical expertise will be along shortly though!
What job are you expecting the lubricant to perform whilst the watch isn’t running?
The tiny amount of lubricant involved sits where it’s supposed to, there’s absolutely no benefit in running the watch periodically.
I have an extensive collection if watches, its not unusual for one of of mine to spend several months without being used. I’ve yet to see ana example where a watch has suffered from not being used, I put tgemon the timegrapher and they run exactly as I would expect.
I don’t wind my watches that are not being worn, although I can understand the benefits of winding regularly.
This question has come into my mind, as I've started to build up a collection again after I promised I wouldn't...oops. Everyting I've come across so far has been anecdotal.
Given how sophisticated and precise manufacturing both movements and oils has gotten though, and his experience, I'd be inclined to listen to Paul on this one. I don't think there can be much in it, by winding a watch daily. It boils down to the same logic of "should I keep my chronograph running when I'm not using it to keep it healthy". Generally, that answer is no.
Always best to show the watch daylight occasionally so the lume doesn't degrade from any 'memory effect'.
Last edited by Kingstepper; 12th May 2022 at 12:37.
As most watches of the types we are discussing are 'hermetically' sealed surely the question of oils drying out over time is irrelevant?
I have a lot of watches in my collection and generally check the non wearers over every six months to a year, mainly to see if the quartzes need new batteries but I do give the mechanicals a shake/wind at the same time.
Cheers,
Neil.