Mechanical watch movements are made up of many parts, and winding them is essential to ensure their proper functioning and accuracy. In this article, discover our tips for ensuring the durability and accuracy of your favorite watches.
How a mechanical watch works.
Whether it is a manual or automatic watch, all mechanical watches work in the same way. When you wind them, the barrel compresses a spiral spring (sometimes visible on skeleton watches) to store energy. This energy will then be gradually delivered to the gears that will make the watch work. In order to ensure optimal precision, be sure to wind your watch as much as possible, until the spring is compressed to the maximum, thus allowing the parts of the movement to function properly (however, be careful not to force it when the crown becomes difficult to turn, this means that the spring is stretched to the maximum and continuing to turn the crown could damage it).
To wind your watch, simply turn the crown about thirty times, you will then feel a slight resistance, a sign that the barrel is compressing the spiral spring. There is no need to pull the crown, just turn it. Indeed, pulling or unscrewing the crown to the right will simply set the time indicated by the hands, but will not wind your watch.
Unlike quartz watches, mechanical watches require careful maintenance to ensure their precision and longevity. As genuine pieces prized by all watch enthusiasts, it is therefore essential to take care of them by carrying out simple actions. It is important to always turn the hands clockwise when setting the time, because the mechanism of a watch has been designed to turn the hands in this direction.
Also store your watch in a watch case or winder, like this one, to keep it as little exposed to dust as possible. Remember to clean your watch every month to remove dust and/or dead skin that may settle on the case.
You can use a polishing cloth (provided with our Maison MORFIN watches) and/or a soft-bristled toothbrush for this.
By following these simple tips, you can preserve the precision and durability of your favorite mechanical watches, whether they are hand-wound or automatic. At Maison MORFIN, we believe in the timeless value of mechanical watches and are committed to providing quality timepieces that will accompany you elegantly over time.