A complete guide to winding your watch correctly

What is the proper method for winding a watch, who is responsible for doing so, and what else is the crown capable of? Any owner of a mechanical watch has had these questions at least once in their lifetime. Let us take a brief step back in time to find out how watch winding was done in ancient times in order to answer these questions.

Crown position

As a general rule, mechanical watches have their crown at 3 o'clock, which is at the very right corner of the dial when viewed directly. The "4 o'clock" models are less common, but they do not surprise customers, rather they enhance the product's style. By the way, such a head arrangement may cause discomfort when worn by a right-handed individual on their left hand. This particular issue has been raised by Vladimir Putin, who wears a watch on his right hand, in spite of the fact that he is right-handed. Please note that there is a watch with a "9 o'clock" clock available for left-handed individuals.

The crown is positioned at 3 p.m.

In the past, however, the crown was not always positioned in the usual location. When it comes to pocket watches, it is located at the top of the case, and in wrist watches, it is completely absent: the winding key on the case's side performs the same function. Considering this, the current position of the head is optimal from the standpoint of factory convenience.

Principles of watch winding

A mechanical watch's hands move due to the energy provided by a tightened spiral spring. As a result of the circular movement of the crown, it dissolves over time and must be twisted. Once the spring is unwound, a series of teeth and gears is used to drive the clock mechanism. In this regard, the clock will stop if the spring completely loses its energy.

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As a matter of fact, the fact that a mechanical watch stops is not problematic. It is true that there is a reduction in parts availability as a result of continuous factory shutdowns. In the case of modern mechanisms, the inconvenience consists only of periodically setting the time and winding the watch. Engineers have introduced a feature that automatically winds the watch when the spring is twisted by simply shaking the watch. However, there are classic watches that do not have automatic winding and must be wound manually. When should this be performed and how can mistakes be avoided?

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The correct way to wind your watch

Winding is required only for mechanical watches. Battery-operated quartz watches do not require winding, and the crown is purely decorative.

The quartz watch does not require winding

Watches with mechanical movements should be wound by turning the crown in a clockwise direction. In order to avoid damage to the winding mechanism, movements should be smooth and without sharp scrolling. It is necessary to "tighten" the spring until you feel stiff movement: this indicates that the spring has been fully charged. The process usually takes no more than 15-20 revolutions. A tight rotation of the head, even at the beginning of winding, can indicate a malfunction of the mechanism or lubrication problems. When this occurs, it is best to consult with a professional.

Using the crown to set the date and time

Watch crowns function differently on mechanical and quartz watches. The movement of the head to the extreme right position in quartz signals an opening of the battery (that is, the clock stops), whereas in mechanics, the same position indicates the setting of the date. If the watch has a calendar mechanism, turning the crown back (counterclockwise) may result in its failure.

A mechanical watch with a calendar function

Setting the date around 6 o'clock will ensure maximum safety for the mechanism. As the time approaches 12 o'clock, when the mechanism is about to translate the number itself, it is best to refrain from tuning, as there is a high risk of damage to the mechanism

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Last but not least, the main advice relates to the frequency of winding. There are some models that can survive on a cocked spring for two days, which is 48 hours. It is, however, desirable that the spring be close to cocked. One simple tip can assist you in achieving this goal. A mechanical watch should be wound up at about the same time every day so that it will serve you for many years without failure or breakdown.