Short answer: yes, a watch winder is strongly recommended for a perpetual calendar watch you do not wear every day. Perpetual calendars do not need a winder to stay healthy, but once one stops, getting it back to the correct date can take lengthy corrections, or even a trip to the watchmaker. If the watch also shows a moon phase, the winder saves you from having to reset that too.
Why is a perpetual calendar different?
A stopped three-hand watch can be reset in a few seconds. A perpetual calendar displays the day, date, month and often the leap year, all linked together. Once it stops, each indication has to be advanced in the right order, often using recessed correctors in the case band, and never during the date-change window.
What if the watch also has a moon phase?
The moon phase advances by roughly one step a day. To reset it, you need to know the date of the last full moon and count the corrections. It is doable, but tedious if the watch stops often. To understand this complication in detail, read Moon phase watch explained: how it works and how to set it.
How to set a watch winder for a perpetual calendar
- Use the turns per day and direction specified for the calibre. Our watch winder settings by brand table gives the usual settings, and our settings by calibre page covers individual movements.
- If you keep several different watches on it, choose a winder whose rotors can each be set separately.
- Check the watch after a few days: it should still show the right time and date.
Our watch winders let you choose both the turns per day and the rotation direction.
What to avoid with a perpetual calendar
- Correcting the date between 9 pm and 3 am (here is why).
- Using a sharp metal object on the correctors: a wooden or plastic tool is preferable.
- Forcing a corrector that resists.
FAQ
Is a stopped perpetual calendar damaged?
No, it is simply out of sync. The problem is the time and care needed to bring it back to the correct date.
Do perpetual calendars need a high-end watch winder?
Not necessarily, but a reliable motor and the correct direction setting are essential.
What about a dual time zone (GMT) watch?
A winder is still convenient, but resetting a GMT is generally far simpler than resetting a perpetual calendar.