Dumb Questions About Automatics

[Chiboy]

Do Rolexes self-wind due to arm movement in both directions or just one way?

Also, how does the winding mechanism compare to winding the crown? In other words, if I manipulate my watch near my ear, I can hear the self-winding mechanism turning. But as I visualize it swinging around and around, I am curious as to how many times (roughly) around would equate to a single wind of the crown?

Thanks for any insight. I'd kinda like to know a little more about these little instruments we all like so much.

[Dsmith1974]

A bidirectional rotor works by stacked click wheels that lock or unlock depending on the direction of the rotor movement.

I recommend The Wristwatch Handbook by Ryan Schmidt. It’s a brilliant book.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

. . .
Also, how does the winding mechanism compare to winding the crown? In other words, if I manipulate my watch near my ear, I can hear the self-winding mechanism turning. But as I visualize it swinging around and around, I am curious as to how many times (roughly) around would equate to a single wind of the crown?

. . .

Rolex famous purple gears that are visible are "reversing" wheels, in that whichever way the auto-weight turns, the reverse wheels move into position to wind your watch - so, both directions.

The auto-wind is geared dramatically different from the crown. The crown will fully wind, to a 48 hr power reserve, most Rolex movements with 40 complete turns.

The auto-wind mechanism needs 650 complete turns just to keep your watch at the same amount of wind in 24 hours, so it would need ~1,300 "turns" to fully wind your watch from a dead stop.

[Dirt]

Great stuff
This should be a sticky.

[Nikrnic]

Not a dumb question at all. I knew I liked these marvelous mechanical masterpieces for more than just looks.

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[DTap]

Good question

[chriswang0130]

Actually a great question.. also wondering
Not dumb at all

[whattimeyougot]

Great question and thanks for asking. I was always curious about this as well. A refreshing topic vs all the supply and grey dealer threads.


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[TempoKing]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex famous purple gears that are visible are "reversing" wheels, in that whichever way the auto-weight turns, the reverse wheels move into position to wind your watch - so, both directions.

The auto-wind is geared dramatically different from the crown. The crown will fully wind, to a 48 hr power reserve, most Rolex movements with 40 complete turns.

The auto-wind mechanism needs 650 complete turns just to keep your watch at the same amount of wind in 24 hours, so it would need ~1,300 "turns" to fully wind your watch from a dead stop.

1300..turns...?....I learn a new thing everyday

[CalSRQ1]

Learned something new today- good question OP and thanks for the info Tools!

[Chiboy]

Thank you for the great, informative responses and the lack of derision about my question!

I used to see a lot more of these "how does it work?" posts than the current "how does the waitlist work?" and "how does this affect desirability and value retention?" posts of recent times.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex famous purple gears that are visible are "reversing" wheels, in that whichever way the auto-weight turns, the reverse wheels move into position to wind your watch - so, both directions.

The auto-wind is geared dramatically different from the crown. The crown will fully wind, to a 48 hr power reserve, most Rolex movements with 40 complete turns.

The auto-wind mechanism needs 650 complete turns just to keep your watch at the same amount of wind in 24 hours, so it would need ~1,300 "turns" to fully wind your watch from a dead stop.

Mind. Blown.

Didn’t know that.

[maxymax]

Thanks, OP. Great thread! Just when I thought that TRF was going the Pinterest, instagram, Snapchat etc. way with the threads like ‘your cars & watches’,’steering wheels & watches’,’your drink & watches’,’your speedos & watches’

[Oldfellow]

OP, thanks for asking this question.
Tools, thanks for your informative response.
This sort of thread is what I enjoy on the Forum.

[Camel]

Very informative, thank you.

[jimcameron]

Excellent question and great responses. This forum use to be more focused on horology and much less focused on fashion and $$. Thanks.

[padi56]

In normal wearing its doubtful that many would wind there watches to peak full mainspring power.As most today are not very active so before wearing a stopped watch always manually wind first.Same for these so called programmed winding machines, most will only put back to whatever power-reserve they had to start with.So if you must use one of these machines, always manual wind before putting on machine winder,yes a machine will keep them ticking but thats about all they do.When and if the mainspring gets fully wound up its just slips in the spring-barrel so you cannot over-wind.

[SearChart]

Even though the Rolex automatic modules are very efficient, they are designed to keep a watch wound up, not to wind it up from a dead stop.

40turns of the crown, set the time and let the automatic module keep it wound up as long as you wear it

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex famous purple gears that are visible are "reversing" wheels, in that whichever way the auto-weight turns, the reverse wheels move into position to wind your watch - so, both directions.

The auto-wind is geared dramatically different from the crown. The crown will fully wind, to a 48 hr power reserve, most Rolex movements with 40 complete turns.

The auto-wind mechanism needs 650 complete turns just to keep your watch at the same amount of wind in 24 hours, so it would need ~1,300 "turns" to fully wind your watch from a dead stop.

^ ^ ^

[bp1000]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex famous purple gears that are visible are "reversing" wheels, in that whichever way the auto-weight turns, the reverse wheels move into position to wind your watch - so, both directions.

The auto-wind is geared dramatically different from the crown. The crown will fully wind, to a 48 hr power reserve, most Rolex movements with 40 complete turns.

The auto-wind mechanism needs 650 complete turns just to keep your watch at the same amount of wind in 24 hours, so it would need ~1,300 "turns" to fully wind your watch from a dead stop.

This is why I signed up to this forum a few years back

Not much of this anymore these days

[Bladeshot]

Great post! Thanks to all who contribute!

[Pw92676]

Originally Posted by Bladeshot

Great post! Thanks to all who contribute!

Agree, lots of good teaching here.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex famous purple gears that are visible are "reversing" wheels, in that whichever way the auto-weight turns, the reverse wheels move into position to wind your watch - so, both directions.

The auto-wind is geared dramatically different from the crown. The crown will fully wind, to a 48 hr power reserve, most Rolex movements with 40 complete turns.

The auto-wind mechanism needs 650 complete turns just to keep your watch at the same amount of wind in 24 hours, so it would need ~1,300 "turns" to fully wind your watch from a dead stop.

[JR16]

Great stuff, thanks OP for asking, and to the forum experts for their replies. Refreshing.


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[Ksporty]

I did not know a lot of this stuff. Thanks for the question and responses.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Tools

The auto-wind mechanism needs 650 complete turns just to keep your watch at the same amount of wind in 24 hours, so it would need ~1,300 "turns" to fully wind your watch from a dead stop.

Very interesting. I always wondered how many turns were required of the auto-wind feature to fully charge the watch.

[Brew]

Originally Posted by Tools

The auto-wind mechanism needs 650 complete turns just to keep your watch at the same amount of wind in 24 hours, so it would need ~1,300 "turns" to fully wind your watch from a dead stop.

Finally! Thank you for this info. I've been wondering how much I have to swim in order to fully wind my watch. Since I do about 8 strokes/turns per lap, I would need to do about 163 laps, or 2.3 miles.

.... I will settle for keeping status quo instead.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex famous purple gears that are visible are "reversing" wheels, in that whichever way the auto-weight turns, the reverse wheels move into position to wind your watch - so, both directions.

The auto-wind is geared dramatically different from the crown. The crown will fully wind, to a 48 hr power reserve, most Rolex movements with 40 complete turns.

The auto-wind mechanism needs 650 complete turns just to keep your watch at the same amount of wind in 24 hours, so it would need ~1,300 "turns" to fully wind your watch from a dead stop.

Excellent post

Makes you understand how sitting most of the day will not keep your automatic wound or be very good for your health either!

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Excellent post

Makes you understand how sitting most of the day will not keep your automatic wound or be very good for your health either!

TRF: the silent killer

[Tavira Lancer]

Thanks for that post, learnt something new other than wait lists and how do we get on wait lists, and do wait lists exist?

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