All modern Rolex watches are automatic, or self-winding, which means that the wearer’s motion should be enough to keep the watch movement going indefinitely if worn continuously. If a Rolex has been sitting long enough to have stopped, many users report that it will “restart itself” almost immediately upon being picked up. So, often they’ll set the time and go about their day, without ever thinking of winding it. But really, mechanical watches perform better with a full power reserve, so the best practice is to fully manually wind your stopped Rolex before putting it on. Let’s go over how to wind a Rolex watch.
![Rolex Day-Date](https://www.luxurybazaar.com/grey-market/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Rolex1-1024x683.jpg)
How to Manually Wind a Rolex
When the crown is screwed down, that’s called “position 0.” When you unscrew the crown a few times, you should eventually feel the crown gently pop out to the winding position–that’s “position 1.” From position 1, you can safely rotate the crown forward with your fingertips to wind your Rolex. 20 seconds of winding should be plenty to fill the power reserve. Then you can either screw the crown back down or use your fingernails to pull the crown out to position 2 (date-setting position) or position 3 (time-setting position) if the time and date need to be adjusted. If your watch has no date, then position 2 will set the time.
![How to Wind a Rolex Submariner](https://www.luxurybazaar.com/grey-market/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Winding-Rolex-Submariner-V2-1024x683.jpg)
How Many Times To Wind a Rolex
40 winds is sufficient to fill a Rolex’s power reserve, according to Rolex documentation.
What if I Wind it Too Much?
Don’t worry; you can’t overwind a Rolex (or any automatic watch). You might notice some clicking, and it might feel slightly different when you wind an already-fully-wound-Rolex, but it’s nothing to worry about. Although you might hear the mechanism responsible for this referred to as some sort of “clutch,” that’s not exactly accurate.
There is no clutch; that is just the mainspring slipping in the barrel when fully wound. The mainspring has a small bit of extra spring on the end that creates friction with the barrel wall and its grooves when fully wound; that is the audible clicking. The automatic module does not get decoupled when fully wound.
SearChart, rolexforums.com user and certified Rolex watchmaker
Can I Just Shake it Around Instead?
Honestly, yes, you could just shake your Rolex around for a bit, set it, put it on and go about your day with no issues. In fact, Seiko fans lovingly call this form of watch winding “the Seiko shuffle,” because of the numerous automatic Seikos that lack manual winding. But that’s not really how to wind a Rolex properly; it may not fully top off your power reserve. So, if you want the full benefit of your Rolex’s power reserve, it’s best to give it a few dozen manual winds when it’s stopped.
Is it Bad to Let My Rolex Stop?
No, it’s perfectly fine to let your Rolex sit and eventually stop running. That does not harm the watch in any way. If you only wear your watch rarely, though, it’s a good idea to fully wind it at least every couple months, just to keep the oils evenly distributed. But with the wonders of modern synthetic oils, it really isn’t a huge deal; watches have been known to sit for years and function fine.
![Rolex Daytona](https://www.luxurybazaar.com/grey-market/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Rolex3-1024x683.jpg)
Can I Manually Wind Any Rolex?
Yes, you can manually wind any Rolex watch–except for a quartz Rolex, of course.
Are All Rolex Watches Automatic?
All current Rolex watches are indeed automatic. Quartz and manual-wind Rolex Cellini models were still in the Rolex catalog as recently as 2011, though.
That should cover everything you need to know about how to wind a Rolex. Whether you have a vintage Oyster Perpetual or a brand new Sky-Dweller, the manual winding process is essentially the same.
More on Rolex:
Rolex Oysterflex: A Collector’s Guide
Best Alternatives to the Rolex Daytona
Collector’s Guide to Rolex Company Logo Dials
What is the Rolex Batman?
Rolex and Nickel Allergies: What’s the Deal?
1 Comment
The device you’re talking about the prevents over winding is technically called a “slipping bridle”