Inspired by the wrist
Rotorwind®
- Motion
- A gentle swinging motion inspired by the movement of your wrist.
- Settings
- Choose the winding cycle offered by your Orbita model.
Winder Basics
THE ART OF WATCH WINDING
Rotorwind® or programmable?
Two ways to keep your automatic watch wound. Explore the motion, understand the settings, then find the system for your watch.
Control the rotation
Programmable
- Motion
- The watch rotates in a cup, with winding periods separated by rest.
- Settings
- Select winding direction and turns per day for your watch.
Available systems and settings depend on your Orbita model. Check your watch’s winding requirements and your model’s operating instructions before choosing settings.
INSIDE THE MOTION
See how they wind.
The difference starts with the way the watch moves.
A swinging motion
Rotorwind® takes its cue from the motion of your wrist. Use your model’s winding cycle instructions to get started.
A controlled rotation
Programmable winding lets you match direction and turns per day to your watch. Your model’s instructions explain the controls.
FIND YOUR SETTINGS
Start with your watch.
Check your watch’s winding requirements, then follow the operating instructions for your Orbita model.
The details of watch winding
Explore how automatic watches work and the technology behind Orbita winders.
How automatic watches work
Mechanical wristwatches employ spring drives for their motive power. Typically, such watches must be hand wound every two or three days to insure continuous operation. An advanced version of the mechanical wristwatch is the “automatic” or “self-winding” mechanical watch which employs a built-in rotary pendulum mechanism to wind the spring. The rotary motion being generated is by the random wrist movement of the user as he or she engages in normal daily activities while wearing the watch. Generally, the rotary pendulum mechanism swings through an arc of 30 to 60 degrees as the wearer works or walks and swings his or her arm. As long as the watch is worn, the mainspring stays wound and the watch runs continuously. The mainspring stores sufficient energy to power the watch and keep perfect time. However, when unworn, after about forty-eight hours, the mainspring fully unwinds and the watch stops.
Why use a watch winder?
Many automatic watches not only keep time, they also provide “complications” such as day and date (the calendar watch), or, in more sophisticated automatic watches, display month, year, leap-year, lunar phase, tide time, elapsed time, world time zones, etc. Naturally, each additional complication also consumes some spring power and further reduces the operating time between windings. All such watches, when fully unwound, must be reset in order to wear them. Just resetting the time, date and a day can be annoying. As the number of complications increase, do does the task of completely resetting the watch.
Frequently, owners of automatic watches have more than one watch. They may have a stainless-steel watch which is used for sports events, swimming, diving, etc. They may use another watch for normal daytime office or business activities and yet another for evening or formal social events (frequently, a gold watch). Clearly, the task of keeping several watches continuously wound can be challenging and many multiple watch owners employ one or more watchwinders to accomplish the task.
How winding motion works
A watchwinder is a powered device designed to keep an automatic watch fully wound, eliminating the need for manual rewinding and resetting. It generally employs electric motor drives and gearboxes with one or more spindles terminating in a watch mounting arrangement of some sort; a metal spring device formed in a “C” shape over which the watch is fitted, a latex or leather cushion or some sort of screw or spring tensioning device to support the watch. The watch, when mounted, rotates in one direction or the other with the rotation axis being the center line of the watch (more or less). Therefore, the watch rotates in the same plane as the hands of the watch. Some versions also employ timers or programmable controls so that the winding action is not continuous.
Continuous rotation of an automatic watch increases wear and tear of the winding mechanism components. Typically, motion of the wearer’s wrist when walking or working is only intermittent. Obviously, some watchwinders do not replicate this human motion. Buyer beware….your expensive watch could be at risk!
Orbita winding technology
The ORBITA watchwinder employs a unique and safe design concept for watch winding. Our design employs a solid-state microprocessor which controls a DC gear motor which is battery or AC powered and which intermittently drives a rotating cup. The cup carries the cushion mounted watch and rotates for a short period of time (one or two minutes) and then “goes to sleep.” The sleep period is easily programmed by the user based on the make of the watch. Typically, the time controls turns per day (TPD) of 650, 800, 900 and 1300 TPD. This provides sufficient motion to keep the watch wound while, at the same time, eliminating any concern of over-winding.
Features designed for everyday use
In addition, ORBITA watchwinders have several unique features which differentiate them from competitive watch winding products:
- Automatic watch sizing – no adjustment required
- Simple and convenient watch placement
- Easy watch removal from winder
- Natural winding action
- Extremely quiet operation
- Safety – Watch cannot fall off cushion
- Safety – No metal to metal contact
For watchmakers or multi-watch collectors, ORBITA watchwinder with several independent motors and mandrels can also be supplied. Generally, each station has its own separate control. Please request further technical information from our factory.