Is it bad to wind an automatic watch by hand?

I think there are many people who regularly wear automatic watches. Many people also wind their automatic watches by hand before going to work or during their morning coffee break so that they keep accurate time all day, but is this actually a bad idea?
No, it's not a complete no-no! There's nothing wrong with rolling it up a little.
So, I will explain the "complicated movement" that can occur with any luxury watch.
What is "co-winding" of a wristwatch? If you wind your automatic watch until it stops winding every day like a hand-wound watch, be careful.
Have you ever had the rotor turn when you were winding your automatic watch?

First, let me briefly explain the power sources of automatic and manual winding watches.

[Hand-wound watch]
Since they are designed to be wound by hand, the power source called the "barrel" is wound from the center of the multiple gear train and stores energy. The "barrel" of a hand-wound watch has a limited amount of winding. This is because it is not an automatic winding, so the rotor does not automatically store energy. Therefore, the spring inside the "barrel" will stop winding, and there is a limit to how much it can be wound. The structure of a hand-wound watch is simple, and most hand-wound watches are made up of 4-12 parts from the crown to the power transmission to the "barrel".

[Automatic winding watch]
The power for winding is basically obtained from a rotor or micro rotor on the back. Since a hand-wound watch has a rotor, it can be wound automatically. Therefore, most models can also be wound manually. Automatic winding basically uses energy stored in the "barrel" as a power source, just like hand-wound watches.

Now, let's get to the main topic, "Is it bad to wind an automatic watch by hand?". Automatic watches were invented in the early 1900s, and in modern terms, it was as revolutionary as the evolution from unicycles to automobiles. For that reason, the latest advanced technology was used at the time, and the number of parts has increased several times to move the watch using only the centrifugal force of the arm. Automatic winding uses cutting-edge technology. In other words, because there are many parts from the crown to the "barrel", winding an automatic watch by hand will move many gear trains. For that reason, winding an automatic watch every day can cause the oil inside to solidify or run out of oil, which can cause the watch to "whirler".
However, if you store your watch without moving it at all, it can cause the oil to harden.
So how do you wind an automatic watch by hand? In today's world where people are moving less, automatic watches can stop working.

Some people may think that smartwatches that run on electricity are more advanced, but there are many things that run on electricity, from light bulbs to automobiles. Quartz watches are also convenient. However, both hand-wound and automatic watches have a similar feel to manual cars and are quite enjoyable. At least, I am a collector of hand-wound and automatic watches, so I use them regularly.

Some automatic watch collectors may think that it is a hassle to maintain, but the latest movements can store energy efficiently, just like a living organism, if you lightly wind them by hand and wear them on your wrist. Movements with anti-magnetic functions have also been developed. In addition, there are many ratchet movements and micro-rotors that began to be made in the 1980s that have rotors for automatic winding as auxiliary functions for manual winding. So, while quartz, LED, Spring Drive, and smartwatches are great, the feeling of an old-fashioned mechanical "adorable machine" that does not use electricity or magnetism at all can also be said to be one of the joys of owning a watch.

I forgot the main topic, but I would like to introduce a watch winder just in case. Please feel free to try out how to use it, as it is on display at Comptoine. Our boutique staff will be happy to provide you with detailed instructions.