Gear guide
Best watch winders for automatic watches
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Top picks at a glance
Compare all picks
Closest match for the job
Barrington Single: 5 TPD settings, 3 directions
Five TPD settings per the listing, the widest range in this guide.
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Most for the money on paper
Heiden Double in walnut: 2 watches, battery or AC
Each winder has its own motor and settings, per the listing, so two different watches can run at once.
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Most complete listing
Barrington Double: fingerprint lock and remote
Fingerprint lock must approve a scan before opening, per the listing.
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A watch winder keeps an automatic running while it sits off your wrist, so you do not have to reset the time, date or complications every time you pick it up. A good winder lets you set turns per day (TPD) and rotation direction to match your movement, because different calibers wind in one direction or both. A quiet motor matters if the winder lives in a bedroom, and the power source decides where you can put it: mains only, batteries, or both. This guide compares eight winders priced from about $160 to about $1,000 by how many watches they wind, TPD settings, directions, power and motor, using only what each listing states. Check your watch maker's recommended TPD and direction before you buy, then match it to a winder that offers that setting.
Compare the picks
- Barrington Single: 5 TPD settings, 3 directions
- Watches wound
- 1
- TPD settings
- 650, 750, 850, 1,000, 1,950
- Directions
- Clockwise, counter-clockwise, bi-directional
- Power
- Mains adapter (UK, EU, US plugs)
- Barrington Double: fingerprint lock and remote
- Watches wound
- 2
- TPD settings
- 650, 750, 850, 1,000, 1,950
- Directions
- Clockwise, counterclockwise, alternating
- Power
- Mains with international adapter
- Heiden Double in walnut: 2 watches, battery or AC
- Watches wound
- 2
- TPD settings
- 650, 950, 1,250, 1,850
- Directions
- Clockwise, counter-clockwise, both
- Power
- 2 D batteries or AC adapter
Rothwell Double: 2 watches, 5 TPD speeds each- Watches wound
- 2
- TPD settings
- 650, 750, 850, 1,000, 1,950
- Directions
- Clockwise, counter-clockwise, both
- Power
- Not stated
Orbita Sparta 1: Rotorwind, battery up to 5 years- Watches wound
- 1
- TPD settings
- 800 to 900 or 1,200 to 1,300
- Directions
- Swings back and forth (Rotorwind)
- Power
- Lithium batteries, up to 5 years
Wolf Axis Single: counts turns, 300 to 1,200 TPD- Watches wound
- 1
- TPD settings
- 300 to 1,200 (doubles in bi-directional)
- Directions
- Clockwise, anticlockwise, bi-directional
- Power
- Universal adapter included
Heiden Monaco Single: 12 programs, battery or AC- Watches wound
- 1
- TPD settings
- 12 program settings (per title)
- Directions
- Not stated
- Power
- 2 D batteries or AC adapter
Watch Winder Smith Bamboo: 10 to 20 dB, 26 to 56 mm- Watches wound
- 1
- TPD settings
- 4 modes
- Directions
- Not stated
- Power
- Not stated
| Pick | Watches wound | TPD settings | Directions | Power | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrington Single: 5 TPD settings, 3 directions | 1 | 650, 750, 850, 1,000, 1,950 | Clockwise, counter-clockwise, bi-directional | Mains adapter (UK, EU, US plugs) | - | Amazon |
| Barrington Double: fingerprint lock and remote | 2 | 650, 750, 850, 1,000, 1,950 | Clockwise, counterclockwise, alternating | Mains with international adapter | - | Amazon |
| Heiden Double in walnut: 2 watches, battery or AC | 2 | 650, 950, 1,250, 1,850 | Clockwise, counter-clockwise, both | 2 D batteries or AC adapter | - | Amazon |
| Rothwell Double: 2 watches, 5 TPD speeds each | 2 | 650, 750, 850, 1,000, 1,950 | Clockwise, counter-clockwise, both | Not stated | - | Amazon |
| Orbita Sparta 1: Rotorwind, battery up to 5 years | 1 | 800 to 900 or 1,200 to 1,300 | Swings back and forth (Rotorwind) | Lithium batteries, up to 5 years | - | Amazon |
| Wolf Axis Single: counts turns, 300 to 1,200 TPD | 1 | 300 to 1,200 (doubles in bi-directional) | Clockwise, anticlockwise, bi-directional | Universal adapter included | - | Amazon |
| Heiden Monaco Single: 12 programs, battery or AC | 1 | 12 program settings (per title) | Not stated | 2 D batteries or AC adapter | - | Amazon |
| Watch Winder Smith Bamboo: 10 to 20 dB, 26 to 56 mm | 1 | 4 modes | Not stated | Not stated | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · BARRINGTON
Barrington Single: 5 TPD settings, 3 directions
See price on AmazonA compact single winder with five TPD choices. The listing states three rotation directions, Japanese motors that run 12 hours and rest 12, a front on/off switch and a protective cover.
What the listing offers
- Five TPD settings per the listing, the widest range in this guide.
- The listing states a 12 hours on, 12 hours off cycle with quiet Japanese motors.
- The Omni cushion adjusts for 6.5 to 8.5 inch wrists, per the listing.
Limits to know
- The listing says smaller wrists need a separate Micro cushion.
- At $475 it costs more than the Orbita and Heiden options.
Pick 2 · BARRINGTON
Barrington Double: fingerprint lock and remote
See price on AmazonA double winder with a Japanese Mabuchi motor, LED display, remote control and fingerprint lock. The pick when security matters as much as winding.
What the listing offers
- Fingerprint lock must approve a scan before opening, per the listing.
- Five TPD modes and three rotation directions with a remote.
- Ultra silent Japanese Mabuchi motor, which suits a bedroom or office.
Limits to know
- The fingerprint lock only works while the unit is plugged in, the listing says.
- The listing does not describe how the cushions grip the watch.
Pick 3 · Heiden
Heiden Double in walnut: 2 watches, battery or AC
See price on AmazonA walnut veneer double winder with a separate motor and settings for each watch. It runs on D batteries or mains, which makes it easy to place anywhere, at about $200.
What the listing offers
- Each winder has its own motor and settings, per the listing, so two different watches can run at once.
- The listing states battery or AC power, with batteries lasting 1 to 3 months.
- Four TPD settings and three directions give 12 combinations, according to the listing.
Limits to know
- Battery life of 1 to 3 months means regular battery changes if you skip the adapter.
- The listing notes it is not compatible with some watches, so check the current listing before ordering.
Pick 4 · ROTHWELL
Rothwell Double: 2 watches, 5 TPD speeds each
See price on AmazonA PU leather wrapped wooden double winder with micro suede lining and independent settings for each watch. Five TPD speeds per position at about $210 make it a strong value double.
What the listing offers
- Five TPD speeds and three rotation modes are stated, set separately for each watch.
- Adjustable holders fit bands from 7 to 9 inches, according to the listing.
- A 12 month warranty and satisfaction guarantee are stated on the listing.
Limits to know
- The listing does not state whether it runs on batteries, mains or both.
- The motor is only described as quiet, with no maker named.
Pick 5 · Orbita
Orbita Sparta 1: Rotorwind, battery up to 5 years
See price on AmazonA compact battery winder with Orbita's Rotorwind swing motion. The listing states two cycles, lithium batteries rated up to 5 years, a 4.2 x 5.7 x 5.8 inch size and a 2-year warranty.
What the listing offers
- Battery power rated up to 5 years per the listing means no cord, so it fits inside a safe.
- The open-face design per the listing fits any size automatic watch.
- The listing states a 2-year manufacturer's warranty.
Limits to know
- Only two TPD cycles are stated, with no direction choice.
- No cover per the listing, so the watch is exposed to dust.
Pick 6 · Wolf Designs
Wolf Axis Single: counts turns, 300 to 1,200 TPD
See price on AmazonA copper-plated perforated steel single winder with a glass cover. The listing states 300 to 1200 TPD in three directions and a lock-in cuff with three size settings.
What the listing offers
- A 300 to 1200 TPD range and three directions are stated.
- The listing describes a copper-plated, laser-cut perforated steel case.
- Counts actual turns per day, per the listing.
Limits to know
- At $839 it is the most expensive single winder here.
- The listing does not state cuff measurements or a delay timer.
Pick 7 · Heiden
Heiden Monaco Single: 12 programs, battery or AC
See price on AmazonA leather-covered single winder with a linen interior. The listing states 12 program settings, a Japanese Mabuchi motor, zero magnetization and either D batteries or the included AC adapter.
What the listing offers
- Battery or AC power per the listing; batteries last 1 to 3 months depending on setting.
- The listing states a 1 year warranty and a quiet Japanese Mabuchi motor.
- The lowest price name-brand winder here at $179.99.
Limits to know
- The listing does not state actual TPD numbers or directions for its 12 programs.
- The listing notes an incompatibility with some watches. Read it before buying.
Pick 8 · Watch Winder Smith
Watch Winder Smith Bamboo: 10 to 20 dB, 26 to 56 mm
See price on AmazonA bamboo single winder with a Japanese motor rated at 10 to 20 dB. The listing states four modes, a 12 o'clock vertical stop and a cup that holds watches from 26 mm to 56 mm.
What the listing offers
- The 26 to 56 mm fit range per the listing is the widest stated here.
- A 12 o'clock vertical stop is stated, so the watch rests upright for display.
- The listing states a near-silent 10 to 20 dB motor for bedside use.
Limits to know
- The listing does not state TPD figures, directions or power source.
- The listing does not mention a cover, so check photos for dust protection.
Read before you buy
- Watch winder TPD settings by brand and movementHow to choose turns per day and rotation direction on a watch winder, where to find your movement's figure, and the TPD settings popular winders offer.
- Watch winder not turning: fixesWatch winder not turning? Check power, batteries, mode, rest cycles, lid sensors and the cushion before you assume the motor is dead or buy a new winder.
- Magnetized watch: how to tell and fix itHow to tell if your automatic watch is magnetized with a simple compass test, how to use a demagnetizer safely, and how to keep it from happening again.
- How to wind an automatic watchHow to hand wind an automatic watch, how many crown turns it takes, whether to wind it every day, and why you cannot overwind an automatic. Seiko 7S26 notes too.
- How to use a watch winderHow to use a watch winder step by step: pre-wind the watch, fit the cuff, set turns per day and direction, then check it after a day. Plus how a winder works.
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Lume & Bezel chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.