Watch WinderBasics
Can you overwind a watch?
No, not in normal use. An automatic has a slipping clutch that stops the mainspring from being wound too far, and a hand-wound watch simply stops turning when it's full. What people call "overwinding" is usually forcing the crown past that point, or a watch that needs a service.
Automatic watches: you can't overwind them
The mainspring in an automatic isn't fixed to the barrel wall. It ends in a slipping bridle, a strip that grips the inside of the barrel by friction. When the spring is full, the bridle slips round instead of winding it tighter. You'll keep feeling the crown turn, but the extra turns do nothing.
That's also why the rotor can swing all day on your wrist, or on a winder, without harm. It's what makes an automatic safe to wind by hand whenever it has run down.
Hand-wound watches: stop at the resistance
A manual-wind mainspring is hooked to the barrel. As it fills, the crown gets steadily stiffer, then stops. That point is full, and the watch is designed for it. Winding to the stop every day is exactly what you should do.
The only way to hurt a hand-wound watch is to force the crown past that point. That can break the mainspring or strip the winding gears. Turn gently and stop as soon as it stops.
How many turns does it take?
- Hand-wound, from stopped: usually 20 to 40 turns until the crown stops. Daily top-ups take fewer.
- Automatic, from stopped: 30 to 40 turns gives most movements a good start, enough to run a day or more. Wearing it tops up the rest.
- Long-reserve movements (70 to 80 hours or more) have longer mainsprings and take more turns to fill.
Some automatics, such as the Seiko 7S26, can't be hand-wound at all. Give them a gentle shake to get the balance going, then wear them. Others, like many ETA and Sellita calibres, wind happily by hand, but their winding gears aren't designed for hundreds of turns every day. A few dozen turns to restart the watch is plenty.
So why does it feel "overwound"?
A watch that's fully wound but won't run, or runs erratically, isn't overwound. It usually has one of three problems:
- It's magnetized, and running minutes fast. How to check.
- The oils have dried up or the movement is dirty, and it needs a service.
- The mainspring or balance is damaged, often after a knock.
How to wind it properly
Take the watch off, unscrew the crown if it screws down, and turn clockwise in smooth strokes. Our step-by-step winding guide covers the details. The harder part is remembering which watch needs it. Watch Winder tracks every watch's reserve and tells you before one runs down.
FAQ
Can you overwind an automatic watch?
No. An automatic's mainspring has a slipping bridle that slides round the barrel when the spring is full, so extra turns of the crown or rotor do nothing.
Can you overwind a hand-wound watch?
Not if you stop when the crown stops. The crown gets stiffer and then stops turning when the mainspring is full. Forcing it past that point can break the mainspring.
How do I know when my watch is fully wound?
On a hand-wound watch, the crown stops turning. An automatic never stops, so wind about 30 to 40 turns from empty, or check the power-reserve indicator if it has one.
Is it bad to wind my watch every day?
No. Daily winding is how hand-wound watches are meant to be used, and it keeps the mainspring in its most even range. Morning is the best time.
Does winding an automatic by hand damage it?
Not in moderation. Hand-winding an automatic after it stops is fine. Winding hundreds of turns every day adds wear to the winding gears on some movements, so let your wrist do most of the work.
Should I wind my watch while wearing it?
Take it off first. Winding on the wrist bends the crown stem at an angle, which wears the stem and seals over time.