Self-Winding Question

[Norton]

I've always wondered: Does my Rolex self-winding movement ever wind the watch fully? I realize that the mechanism winds continuously throughout the day as it's being worn, but it's also winding down simultaneously as the watch runs. After 8 hours of normal wear, it it fully wound? When I say "fully wound," I mean as if I manually wound the watch with 25-30 turns of the crown.

I hope this is not a silly question, but since the self-winding action is virtually undetectable to the wearer, it's somewhat mysterious!

[sakuraba]

After 40 winds, it should be fully wound.

Your movement, depending on how active, will top off the watch's power reserve.

As you become less active, I would imagine the watch would run down. What has bothered me in the past is having the watch always topped off (on a winder). I can imagine the mainspring would have a "flat spot" (like in a parked car in the same position for a long time) if it's always in the same expansion range.

Sorry if this added to the confusion.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by Norton

I've always wondered: Does my Rolex self-winding movement ever wind the watch fully? I realize that the mechanism winds continuously throughout the day as it's being worn, but it's also winding down simultaneously as the watch runs. After 8 hours of normal wear, it it fully wound? When I say "fully wound," I mean as if I manually wound the watch with 25-30 turns of the crown.

I hope this is not a silly question, but since the self-winding action is virtually undetectable to the wearer, it's somewhat mysterious!

I don't think it does, otherwise there would not be the need to occasionally wind it by hand.

Maybe if you attached it to a carnival ride like The Zipper...

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Norton

I've always wondered: Does my Rolex self-winding movement ever wind the watch fully? I realize that the mechanism winds continuously throughout the day as it's being worn, but it's also winding down simultaneously as the watch runs. After 8 hours of normal wear, it it fully wound? When I say "fully wound," I mean as if I manually wound the watch with 25-30 turns of the crown.

I hope this is not a silly question, but since the self-winding action is virtually undetectable to the wearer, it's somewhat mysterious!

Well first you cannot overwind a Rolex watch if a watch is fully wound say 40 full crown turns clockwise the mainspring would be fully wound.Now by wearing a watch for say 8 hours will only top up the power reserve but not always return it to the fully wound state.Myself recommend a manual wind once or twice a week especially if you have a desk job with not much activity.

[DRAWTOOL]

From a dead start my EXP-II (3185) will wind fully after about 30 full winds, then you can discern (feel) the clutch slipping. During the night I leave it crown down for regulation, the next day manual winding after wearing about one hour produces immediate slipping, indicating a fully wound system. So I would say yes from my experience.