Watch Winders and Storage: Do You Need One, and How to Store Your Collection

An automatic watch winds itself from the motion of your wrist. When you take it off, it runs until its power reserve is used up, typically about two days, and then stops. A watch winder is a small motorised cradle that rotates the watch gently so it stays wound and running. It is a popular accessory, but whether you need one depends on the watch.

The strongest case for a winder is a complicated watch that is annoying to reset, particularly a perpetual calendar or a moon phase. Setting those can be fiddly, and in some designs changing the date during certain hours can harm the mechanism, so keeping the watch running saves effort. For a simple three-hand watch, resetting the time and date takes seconds, and a winder is a convenience rather than a necessity.

Winders are not harmless. Constant turning means constant wear, and a watch that is wound but not worn does not need to run all the time. If you use a winder, choose one with adjustable turns per day and a rest cycle, and set it to the figure your watch maker recommends. Overwinding is not a concern in modern automatics because the mainspring is protected by a slipping clutch, but extra movement still adds wear. Avoid cheap winders that include strong magnets near the watch.

Many collectors skip winders altogether and rotate their watches, wearing a different one each day. A watch that has stopped is not damaged. It simply needs winding by hand through the crown and a time reset when you wear it again. Some lubricants settle over very long periods of inactivity, so it is good to run each watch occasionally.

Good storage matters more than winding. Keep watches in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, which can fade dials and straps, and away from strong magnets such as speakers, tablet covers and magnetic clasps. Store each watch separately in a box, pouch or watch roll so that crystals and bracelets do not scratch each other.

Humidity is the quiet threat. A damp environment can cause corrosion and spoil leather straps, so avoid bathrooms and consider silica gel packs in a closed box. Hang or lay leather straps flat rather than bending them tightly, and keep the bracelet clasp closed for steel watches to avoid stretching.

For a larger collection, a lockable watch cabinet or safe adds security and protection. Record your serial numbers, keep your documents and consider insurance, which our collection tracker can help you organise.

Quartz watches that you do not wear for long periods should have their batteries checked, as a dead battery left inside can leak and damage the movement.