Wearing a mechanical watch has a unique allure. Feeling the precise gears and springs driving the hands on your wrist is a testament to timeless craftsmanship. Whether you own a classic Wishdoit watch or are adding one to your collection, understanding how to care for it is crucial to ensuring its longevity and accuracy.
Proper winding and anti-magnetic properties are two common issues that plague watch owners. Let's uncover their secrets!
Part 1: Finding the Proper Winding Direction - Which Way Should I Turn the Crown?
For both manual-winding and automatic watches, the fundamental question is: Which way should I turn the crown to wind it?
For most mechanical watches, the golden rule is simple: turn the crown clockwise.
Imagine you are looking directly at the crown on the side of your watch. Turn it towards 12 o'clock. You should feel a steady, clockwise resistance with each rotation. This is the mainspring being tightened, storing energy to power your watch.
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For Manual-Wind Watches: Turn the crown clockwise until you feel a firm stop. Never force it once it's fully wound.
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For Automatic Watches: The same clockwise direction applies. If your watch has stopped, 20-30 turns of the crown should give it enough initial power to start. After that, the motion of your wrist will keep it wound.
Why Clockwise? This direction is engineered to engage the winding mechanism while disengaging the setting mechanism, preventing damage. Turning it counterclockwise typically does nothing but spin freely.
So, remember: Clockwise to power up, always.
Part 2: Is Your Watch Running Fast? A Simple Demagnetizing Hack.
Have you noticed your reliable Watch suddenly gaining tens of minutes per day? Before you panic, it might just be magnetized.
Modern life is full of magnetic fields: laptop speakers, smartphone cases, refrigerator doors, and even handbag clasps can expose your watch to magnetism. This can cause the hairspring—the watch's "heartbeat"—to stick together, making the watch run significantly faster.
The Easy Demagnetizing Trick:
While professional demagnetizers are available, there's a surprisingly effective household method using a item you probably already own.
What you'll need: A simple AC (Alternating Current) demagnetizer, which can be purchased online very affordably, is the best tool. However, for a quick fix, some have had success with a degaussing coil or even the speaker from an old laptop or stereo.
The Step-by-Step Guide with a Demagnetizer:
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Power On: Plug in the demagnetizer and hold the button to activate it.
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Slow Pass: Insert the degausser and press and hold the button to activate it.
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Slow Retreat: While the demagnetizer is still active, slowly move the watch away from the device in a straight line to at least two feet away.
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Release: Once the watch is at a safe distance, release the button to turn off the demagnetizer.
This process creates a decaying alternating magnetic field that neutralizes the magnetic charge within your watch's movement.
Important Note: While the "home speaker" method is effective, it's less reliable. Using a dedicated, inexpensive demagnetizer is the safest and most effective way to maintain your watch without causing further damage.
Keep Your Wishdoit Watch Ticking Perfectly
Taking the time to properly wind your watch and understanding the signs of magnetization will keep your mechanical timepiece running smoothly for years to come. A well-maintained watch is more than just a tool for telling time; it's a reliable companion on your adventures.
Take good care of your watch, and it will reward you with a lifetime of precision and elegance.
Explore our watch collection to find your ideal mechanical companion and complete your journey.
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