Common Winding Problems If you are trying to wind your watch and can't, there could be several reasons. You may need one key to wind the watch and another to set the watch, or you may just need a single key if the winding square and the setting arbor are the same size. We also stock single keys in select sizes. We have full sets of winding keys available on our page. Bartlett key-wind watch in coin-silver case Lost or Missing Pocket Watch Winding Keys If you have a keywind watch and you don't have a winding key for it, or if you've lost the winding key for your antique pocket watch, there are replacement keys available. If you just encounter resistance, or if it feels like something is slipping, then you're probably trying to turn the wrong direction. If it turns easily against the spring tension and you hear or feel the ratchet clicking, then you're turning the correct direction. Start by trying to turn the key gently in the clockwise direction. Key-wind direction can be either clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on the watch, but is usually clockwise. Turning the key then winds the mainspring. The key is cut with a square hole in the end, which fits over a square winding arbor in the watch. Left: Hamilton stem-wind watch Right: Waltham 'side-winder' stem-wind watch Key-wind Watch On a key-wind watch, you wind the mainspring by turning a key which usually fits through a hole in the back inner-lid of the watch case (see photo). Best bet is to have the watch looked at because continued forced winding is almost guaranteed to cause damage. There are several wheels and gears involved in winding the watch, and damage to any one of them can cause rough winding. This means that something in the winding mechanism is not engaging properly and the watch needs to be professionally serviced. If you turn the winding knob and feel or hear any kind of grinding noise then STOP WINDING. The forward stroke of your thumb is the winding stroke. If you are right-handed, you hold the watch in your left hand and wind with the right. The winding wheel is usually equipped with a ratcheting mechanism, so the watch only winds in one direction the other direction is just 'ratcheting back' to make it easier to wind. Stem-wind Watch On a stem-wind watch, the watch is wound by turning the winding crown, almost always in a clockwise direction. When you wind a watch, what you are really doing is winding up the mainspring, which sits inside the mainspring barrel (a little metal 'can' that keeps the mainspring from exploding like a tangled-up slinky). Pocketwatch 101 ℠ – Learn about Vintage and Antique Pocket Watches How to Wind a Vintage Pocket Watch How much / how often should I wind my vintage watch? Pocket watches are typically either stem-wound or key-wound.
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May 2023
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