Q&A for How to Wind a Watch

To revive a dormant watch, start by gently turning the crown clockwise, about 50 times. This action gradually energizes the mainspring, propelling the watch into motion. The initial winds serve to kickstart the mechanism, but it's around the 50th wind that the mainspring reaches its optimal tension for accurate timekeeping. Once you've completed the winding process, the watch should be ready to wear. As you go about your day, the automatic movement system will do its job. Simply wearing the watch and engaging in everyday activities, such as talking with expressive hand gestures or walking, will naturally keep the watch wound. It's akin to regularly refueling a tank, ensuring the watch remains powered and precise.

For my watch, the time doesn't change. I turn the crown without pulling it out. I can hear it click as it winds up.

Go to a watchmaker, because you can't do this yourself.

You should only wind the stem of the watch in one direction. Clockwise, or forward is the proper direction that winds the watch. It doesn't effect the mechanics if you wind the stem in the opposite direction.

Yes. Just make sure to only move the hands clockwise.

No. As long as your crown is in the "wind up" mode, you can turn it in either direction without harming the watch. But only turning it clockwise will actually wind up the watch. However, do not move the time function backwards. Moving the hands backwards can damage the movement.

If your watch is a mechanical watch, as covered by this article, you need to wind the watch everyday. One full wind should last a little over 24 hours. If you have provided a full wind and it still isn't working, bring the watch into a clock specialist.

It depends on the watch movement. A good quality watch such as an Omega can normally be unwound by turning the crown counter-clockwise, you will hear clicks as it unwinds. Otherwise you will have to remove the back, find the "click," release it while holding the crown, and slowly turn the crown counter-clockwise to wind down the spring.

Most likely, this happened when an ill-experienced person changed the battery. It would be best to take it to a professional, experienced watchmaker to get it fixed properly, but if you intend to do it yourself, then you should start by removing the watch crown and stem. Remove the mechanism with the face out of the case, reinstall the stem, and move the hands to an appropriate position. Remove all center hands and reinstall them at the 12:00 position, making sure they do not touch the dial, each other, the number markers, or the crystal. Then, reinstall the watch mechanism back into the case in the reverse order of removal mentioned above.

Once every three years. If it's expensive, then even more frequently. This should be sufficient to keep it in good condition.

I have a Timex Marlin. It is wound with the crown in the position next to the watch. Pulling the crown out allows me to set the time. This is the opposite of what is described above, so these things vary from watch maker to watch maker.

Self-winding watches are commonly called automatic watches. Try a search for "automatic watch." An excellent source for a non-quartz watch is your local jeweler or watchmaker, since they can service the brands they sell. Self-winding watches don't require a yearly battery change, but do require service, which can be inconvenient and/or expensive. For that reason, cheap mechanical watches (under, say $100), are practically speaking, disposable.