Watchlords

Lots of my favourite VCMs, and lots of other vintage pieces, as well, don't have quick set dates, and many watches are just a pain to wind anyways because of the crown size compared to human fingers.

Well, my days of not wearing a watch because the date is too far off to bother with, or the crown is just too finicky are over. Behold: crown winders! I shoulda got these long ago.

Note: the 6mm works for almost all my VCMs, but I bought larger and smaller because...well, why not; I'm not called a "collector" for nuthin'. Still, for most folks, I'd suggest the 6mm as a starting point--works for my Komandirskies and Amphibia(n)s, too :-).

The grabber part is metal (I'm pretty sure) on my inexpensive versions, and I see that some Bergeon models have elastomer tips, so if you think your crown is plated, maybe go for a better quality one, but I can't see careful use of the ones I have causing much damage at all. They don't slip on the crowns I tested with, which is what would worry me.

Photos, because a thread without photos is boring, even if it's useful :-)

I never knew these even existed. All these years I've suffered.

Now that’s a great idea. At 51 I am already having some issues due to arthritis.

Will have to find some.

I got all mine on Ebay, from this seller:

zhibinoppa

Seems OK to me.

AT, I'm going to have to stop saying bad things about you for awhile..thanx!!..

biglove wrote: ↑

December 16th 2019, 3:29pm

Now that’s a great idea. At 51 I am already having some issues due to arthritis. Will have to find some.

:-)

foghorn wrote: ↑

December 16th 2019, 3:14pm

I never knew these even existed. All these years I've suffered.

I only thought of these about 6 months ago. I was thinking "there's gotta be something..." And there was!! :-)

Thunder1 wrote: ↑

December 16th 2019, 3:56pm

AT, I'm going to have to stop saying bad things about you for awhile..thanx!!..

You're very welcome, and..."As you were...:...

When I saw 'crown winders' I thought of manual wind watches.

Interesting find, AlbertaTime.

No concern about bending or snapping a stem if the tool is misaligned or mishandled?

Racer-X wrote: ↑

December 16th 2019, 5:39pm

No concern about bending or snapping a stem if the tool is misaligned or mishandled?

I guess that's possible, and I wouldn't say "no concern," but I'd say it's unlikely--and maybe not as likely than the damage that could be caused by trying to wind while a watch is on your wrist, or by just grabbing the crown wrong manually.

Now that I know about them, I see they're easily found on watch repair sites like Esslinger and other watch tool sites, so I think it's a usual tool for watch repair folks, for example.

Ordered all but a 2.5 from AliExpress seller. Looks like same ones sold on eBay. Paid $17 for seven sizes.

Props to A-T for the info.

That's what those are for! I found one in an old toolbox my dad bought at a garage sale and thought they were for pulling your nostril hairs. FYI, it doesn't work well for that use.

artman wrote: ↑

December 16th 2019, 8:19pm

pulling your nostril hairs (?!?!?!?!?)

Emphasis mine.

Ah, thanks a lot for reminding me. I knew they exist, searched for them a couple of years ago. Only found an electric programmable version that did cost a couple of hundreds, and gave up, then forgot I still desperately need one.

I've had a couple of those for ten years of so. They are very useful on several of my watches. AT has proven here that you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Just in case someone should ask, what You want for Christmas:

AlbertaTime wrote: ↑

December 16th 2019, 8:41pm

artman wrote: ↑

December 16th 2019, 8:19pm

pulling your nostril hairs (?!?!?!?!?)

Emphasis mine.

I thought that's what long nose pliers were for.
The clue is in the name!

Thanks for the link AT.

.
Crap, I thought these were wider known about.


I only have one watch that would benefit, crown is so small and recessed that it is difficult to even get a finger nail under it just to pull the stem up.

bobbee wrote: ↑

December 17th 2019, 3:47am

I thought that's what long nose pliers were for. The clue is in the name!

Mark1 wrote: ↑

December 16th 2019, 11:34pm

AT has proven here that you can teach an old dog new tricks.

:-)

...and gerdson's beautiful machine is a marvel.

Have you tried them on a smooth crown? I have a couple of watches where it's just really hard to get a good grip due to the fact that there is no knurling on the crown.

Budman

Budman2k wrote: ↑

December 17th 2019, 5:52am

Have you tried them on a smooth crown? I have a couple of watches where it's just really hard to get a good grip due to the fact that there is no knurling on the crown.

Budman

I haven't. They *might* work.