The Rolex 3135 and 3235 calibres wind in both directions, at a rate of 650 to 800 turns per day.
| Rotation direction | Bidirectional |
| Turns per day | 650 to 800 |
| Power reserve 3135 | Approx. 48 hours |
| Power reserve 3235 | Approx. 70 hours |
Which watches are concerned
For three decades the 3135 powered most of Rolex's date models: Submariner Date, Datejust, Sea-Dweller, Yacht-Master. It is probably the most produced automatic movement in luxury watchmaking.
The 3235 succeeded it from 2015, with the Chronergy escapement and a power reserve increased to around seventy hours. The winder setting stays the same.
Why the power reserve changes things
With seventy hours of autonomy, a 3235 put down on Friday evening is still running on Monday morning. Many owners conclude that a winder is of no use to them, and for a watch worn every day, that is true.
The benefit appears in two specific situations. If the watch alternates with other pieces and rests for several days, it stops, and the date must be reset, which should be avoided between 10pm and 2am, when the date mechanism is engaged. And if you own a model with complications, resetting it takes considerably longer.
Should you go down to 650 turns?
Yes, if that setting is enough. The method takes three days: set it to 800, let it run, take the watch off and check that it holds its stated reserve. If it does, go down to 650 and repeat the test.
This gives you the minimum sufficient setting. It is not a question of risk (the slipping bridle makes over-winding mechanically impossible) but of slow wear over years of use.
A note on magnetism
Modern Rolex watches resist everyday magnetic fields well, but a winder is still a motorised device, running permanently close to the watch. If you place it on a desk, keep it away from speakers and wireless chargers.
Our models with anti-magnetic protection isolate the calibre from fields generated by nearby devices.
Other calibres
See our Settings by calibre page for the thirty-eight movements we document, or our watch winders with adjustable programmes.
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