watch winders operate by gently rotating your automatic watch on a sideways turntable within a special case or device, eliminating the need for manual winding. As the winder turns, the rotor inside the watch spins, gradually winding the mainspring.
Custom watch winders come in various sizes. Some basic models can hold and wind one watch at a time, making them a great choice for beginners entering the world of automatic watch winders.
For collectors with multiple automatic watches they want to keep wound continuously, there are automatic watch winders designed to hold several watches simultaneously, keeping each one spinning on its own turntable. These are pricier than the simpler single-watch winders, but they're quite convenient for seasoned collectors who prefer not to wind the mainspring and set the time whenever they switch to a different watch.
While watch winders aren't essential, they can be valuable tools in a watch enthusiast's toolkit.