Watches requiring winding are generally mechanical and come in two types: manual and automatic. For manual mechanical watches, i

Watches requiring winding are generally mechanical and come in two types: manual and automatic. For manual mechanical watches, it’s recommended to wind them regularly, preferably at the same time each day, by turning the crown clockwise. The key to “properly” winding lies in avoiding overwinding, which could potentially damage the mainspring. A typical manual watch with a 40-hour power reserve needs about 25 turns initially; there’s no need to continue winding once you’ve reached this point. The sign that the mainspring is fully wound is when the crown no longer moves in a clockwise direction. However, some might mistake this resistance for a jam and continue winding, risking the mainspring breaking if it suddenly gives way again. Therefore, for watches with standard power reserves, 25 daily turns are sufficient and safer for the mechanism. Watches with longer power reserves may require 40 or more turns, but the golden rule is: if it won’t turn, don’t force it.

Automatic mechanical watches evolve from their manual counterparts, hence they share basic principles. If you find the automatic winding too slow through arm movement, manually winding the crown 25 times clockwise is also effective. Additionally, because the automatic mechanism is not as controllable as manual winding, automatic watches feature a slip function to prevent overwinding. This means that no matter how many times you wind the crown, the mainspring won’t break. Instead, you might hear a slight clicking sound as excess energy is released (a subtle sound often overlooked and completely inaudible after consuming alcohol).