Tell me about manual wind watches
Discussion
Morning all,
Whilst at a jewellers yesterday I tried on an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, which I have desired for a long time. Everything was great, but the one thing that niggled was when he explained that a) it was manual wind, and b) it only lasted for about 42 hours. I can understand that it cannot be self winding due to zero gravity, but how come it lasts such a short time when most watches have an 8 day wind?
What is it like in general living with a watch you have to remember to keep winding? Is it a pain or do you get into a routine?
Before someone suggests it, im not that keen on the automatic version. The face is different and it is nearly £2k more expensive
Whilst at a jewellers yesterday I tried on an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, which I have desired for a long time. Everything was great, but the one thing that niggled was when he explained that a) it was manual wind, and b) it only lasted for about 42 hours. I can understand that it cannot be self winding due to zero gravity, but how come it lasts such a short time when most watches have an 8 day wind?
What is it like in general living with a watch you have to remember to keep winding? Is it a pain or do you get into a routine?
Before someone suggests it, im not that keen on the automatic version. The face is different and it is nearly £2k more expensive
ChemicalChaos said:
I can understand that it cannot be self winding due to zero gravity,
Apparently that's what NASA thought too. They were wrong.ChemicalChaos said:
but how come it lasts such a short time when most watches have an 8 day wind?
Most modern mechanical watches have a power reserve of around 36 hours. Some a bit more, some a bit less. 48 hours is pretty good.ChemicalChaos said:
What is it like in general living with a watch you have to remember to keep winding? Is it a pain or do you get into a routine?
No problem at all. Gives you a excuse to admire the watch.You should be aware though that no one here will ever attempt to talk you out of a watch purchase. Not unless you're unwittingly buying utter crud and in this case, you're not.
mikeveal said:
You should be aware though that no one here will ever attempt to talk you out of a watch purchase. Not unless you're unwittingly buying utter crud and in this case, you're not.
On that basis....I bought one around three years ago and I love the watch.
The self winding becomes a nice ritual and - at least to me - makes the watch feel more special.
You will be doing it every day but it soon becomes second nature.
Only criticisms I have are that they are (financially) a terrible buy new. Had I been less impulsive I would have bought second hand.
Also the whole watch marks very easily. I previously had a seiko that I took far less care of, but the Omega has picked up far more cosmetic damage. I expected this on the watch face, but have found the bracelet very easy to mark.
However I hardly ever remove the watch so this is probably to be expected.
Hand winding - not a problem and used to be the norm for most people until batteries came along. Far more manual wind watches used to be sold than autos. 42 hour reserve is plenty, wind each morning and you have enough reserve to take you to tea time the next day if you forget.
Hessalite / acrylic / "unbreakable" crystal - not a problem and used to be the norm from about the 1950s to the early 90s. FAR less likely to get cracked and, even if it doesm will stay in place and protect the dial rather than showering the hands, dial and movement with razor sharp fragments. Normal scratches polish out easily with Brasso (or Polywatch if you're posh) and deeper ones can usually be removed with careful use of wet dry followed by polishing.
Hessalite / acrylic / "unbreakable" crystal - not a problem and used to be the norm from about the 1950s to the early 90s. FAR less likely to get cracked and, even if it doesm will stay in place and protect the dial rather than showering the hands, dial and movement with razor sharp fragments. Normal scratches polish out easily with Brasso (or Polywatch if you're posh) and deeper ones can usually be removed with careful use of wet dry followed by polishing.
I have a couple of manual wind watches; one of these:
and a Smiths Astral:
personally I find the winding adds to the sense of occasion and since I seldom wear the same watch for more than a day or two at a time my automatics usually need to be shaken awake and then set every time I pick them up in any case.
and a Smiths Astral:
personally I find the winding adds to the sense of occasion and since I seldom wear the same watch for more than a day or two at a time my automatics usually need to be shaken awake and then set every time I pick them up in any case.
lostkiwi said:
I actually prefer manual wind. In my mind its a purer form of mechanism with less to go wrong or be damaged.
I agree and the process of winding a watch is a little pleasure in itself, it takes, what, 30 seconds?The Speedmaster Pro is a great watch. The Hesalite should be replaced when a watch is serviced (it's a dirt cheap part), but they will scratch, so you may even need to replace it between services (especially if you're not as rigorous in sticking to manufacturer's service intervals as they would like you to be!
).If you own another watch, chances are the Speedy will stop before you put it back on, but as it has no date, it's the work of seconds to set the right time and set it running again with a wind.
Most of my manual wind watches are 'vintage' (although that actually means I am too!
) and lovely things in their own way.M
I have one watch that is manual wind, lasts around 40 hours, give or take. If I was using it every day, it may start to annoy me as I would keep on forgetting to wind it, but it doesn't take much winding and as most of my watches have stopped(all but one are automatic) by the time I go to wear them again and I need to set the time again, it doesn't bother me in the slightest.
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