[d.kauffmann]

Can mechanical movements be "over-wound", or is that an urban myth? If a watch can be over-wound, how tightly do you wind it? I refer to those in which the spring is not readily visible.

I think I need to let you know that this is a true mechanical watch; no rotor. I have to manually wind it daily and, although it has an exhibition back, I can't see the spring to see how tight it's getting.

 

[kokuryu]

I know the solder joins on the crown can be worn out causing the crown to fall off eventually, needing the crown to be re-attached, and I have one movement that the spring "spronged" on and is unusable - but these were not Invicta watches. So I guess the answer is "yes" because I do remember winding and winding this watch until all of a sudden I could not wind anymore, and after that I had some problems winding it until a few days later the spring went "sprong".

Because of that one problem, I now use watch winders to keep my automatics wound - although I did spend a LONG time researching watch winders before finally buying one.

 

[Agent Orange]

Can mechanical movements be "over-wound", or is that an urban myth? If a watch can be over-wound, how tightly do you wind it? I refer to those in which the spring is not readily visible.

I think they can, but you ought to be able to feel how tight it is by a turn of the crown. If there's no play in the crown, then I'd say wind until you start to feel a lot of tension. Just my 2 cents.

 

[AutoMovt]

Yes it can.
Wind only until you feel the spring get tight, if you over wind you will snap the spring loose.

 

[Maz26]

Isn't there a latch that prevents the watch from overwinding?

 

[d.kauffmann]

I don't know of any latch; where would that be located? If this helps this is Invicta model 4732, mechanical chronograph with the Japanese 1902 movement.

 

[gigfy]

I have the same movement (Seagull ST19) in my Auguste Galan mechanical chronograph. When I first start winding it, the tension is almost nonexistant. After about 20-30 turns (this number is from memory and could be wrong) the tension rapidly increases, almost to infinite, and I wind no more. :001_smile:

Cheers,
gigfy