IWC makes two very different kinds of watches, and that is exactly what makes the winder question interesting. On one side are the in-house movements with Pellaton winding and seven days of power reserve, found in large cases such as the Big Pilot. On the other side are the pilot's chronographs with a bought-in movement base, which prefer a completely different direction of rotation. We have classified six devices from our stock for these two cases and noted which turn values are actually documented for IWC calibres and which are not.
The recommendations at a glance
| Model | Slots/type | Key feature | Price range | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| botta Cube | 1 position per module | 9 programmes from 600 to 1,800, approx. 14 decibels | upper mid-range | 4,2/5 |
| WOLF Heritage Single | 1 position plus storage compartment | Lock-in Cuff up to 52 mm, 3 directions | Premium class | 4,0/5 |
| Beco Technic Boxy Carbon Single 1 | 1 position, modular | Belt drive, 3 programmes, 3 directions | Mid-range | 4,4/5 |
| Swiss Kubik Velour Windsor | 1 slot | certified noise values, battery operation only | Premium | 4,3/5 |
| ROTHWELL double watch winder | 2 slots | 5 settings and 3 directions per slot | Mid-range | 4,2/5 |
| Barrington Single Watch Winder | 1 slot | 5 documented speed settings, battery operation | Mid-range | 4,2/5 |
The highest overall rating in the field goes to the Beco Technic Boxy, because drive, build quality and expandability fit together best in it. For IWC, however, we still put the botta Cube in first place, as its nine programmes from 600 to 1,800 turns cover the window of 650 to 800 and can therefore be set cleanly to the calibre in question. The WOLF Heritage follows directly behind it as soon as your case becomes large and heavy and the holder becomes the real issue.
The devices in detail
botta Cube
- Nine programmes from 600 to 1,800 turns fully cover the window of 650 to 800 that is relevant for IWC, and all three directions of rotation, including bidirectional, are selectable
- The direct drive without a gearbox runs at around 14 decibels, almost inaudible, so the module can stand next to the bed without the winding of the watch disturbing you at night
- USB or battery operation with a runtime of around four months makes the aluminium module usable in a safe as well, and it can later be stacked up to nine positions
- Each additional module costs the full module price; if you want to look after three or four IWCs straight away, a ready-made multi-watch cabinet works out cheaper
WOLF Heritage Single Winder
- The patented lock-in holder snaps into the drum and, according to the manufacturer, carries cases up to 52 millimetres, so even a Big Pilot of over 46 millimetres sits securely
- The direction of rotation is selectable between clockwise, anticlockwise and bidirectional; for the Pellaton calibres you simply set the alternating mode, for an old 79320 chronograph the clockwise mode
- Operation via the supplied universal adapter or AA batteries, plus a storage compartment for a spare strap or second watch and a glass cover against dust
- The speed is fixed at 900 turns per direction and is therefore above the documented 800 for IWC; not critical thanks to the slip clutch, but not finely adjustable
Beco Technic Boxy Carbon Single 1 Classic
- The interval motor with belt drive does without a rattling gear train and, according to specialist retailers, offers three fixed programmes and all three directions of rotation
- Ready to use straight away as a complete device and at the same time the starting point of a system: if a Portugieser later joins the Mark XX, you simply stack another Boxy module
- The plastic case with acrylic glass dome stays under one kilogram, which makes it easier to move and to carry into the cabinet
- Beco Technic does not give the exact turns per programme in figures; if you want to set the documented 800 for a Pellaton movement exactly, you are better served by the botta Cube
Swiss Kubik Velour Windsor
- Swiss Kubik is the only brand in the niche to state independently certified noise values, which is a real argument for the bedroom wardrobe in an industry full of advertising words
- Pure battery operation makes the device suitable for safes, because a retrofitted power feed-through destroys the safe's certification and often the insurance cover with it
- The run cycles can be programmed, so you deliberately set the 650 to 800 turns per day that suit IWC instead of guessing them
- Manufacturer pricing for a single position; if you want to look after two or three IWCs, you pay a very significant amount extra here
ROTHWELL double watch winder
- Five speed settings and three directions of rotation can be set separately for each position, so a Portugieser runs in alternating mode next to a 79320 pilot's chronograph in clockwise mode
- This very combination is common with IWC, because many collections consist of a three-hand watch and a chronograph, and it cannot be handled cleanly with a single device
- The wooden frame with PU leather cover and the red interior give an appearance that goes beyond the plain plastic class
- There is no battery compartment; the device needs a permanent power socket and is therefore ruled out for a closed safe
Barrington Single Watch Winder
- Five clearly documented speed settings at 650, 750, 850, 1,000 and 1,950 turns per day, plus clockwise, anticlockwise and alternating rotation instead of vague mode descriptions
- For a calibre of the 32000 family you set the 650 setting in alternating mode; for the Pellaton movements the 750 or 850 setting is close to the documented 800
- Runs on the supplied power adapter or on two AA batteries; according to the manufacturer, one set lasts almost two months in intermittent operation, so even the safe is an option
- The standard cushion easily holds a Mark XX or Portofino; for a Big Pilot on a heavy strap, a clamping bracket like the one from WOLF would be the more robust solution
Turns per day for IWC calibres
IWC itself does not publish any turn recommendations for watch winders. Two sources are therefore reliable: the setting databases of the winder manufacturers and the documented technical properties of the movements, above all the winding direction. In the watch-winder.store database, several older IWC calibres are listed with concrete figures, whereas the current in-house movements of the 52000 and 32000 families are not. We state this openly in the table instead of inventing figures.
| Calibre | Typical models | Recommended turns per day | Rotation direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| IWC 52010 and 52011 (Pellaton) | Portugieser Automatic, Big Pilot | no own entry: 650 to 800 | bidirectional (Pellaton winds in both directions) |
| IWC 51010 and 51011 (Pellaton, predecessor family) | older Portugieser and Big Pilot | 800 | bidirectional |
| IWC 32110 and 32111 | Pilot's Watch Automatic 41, Mark XX, Ingenieur | no own entry: 650 to 800 | bidirectional (bidirectional pawl winding) |
| IWC 69355 | Portugieser Chronograph | no own entry: 650 to 800 | bidirectional (bidirectional pawl winding) |
| IWC 89361 | Portugieser Chronograph Classic, Da Vinci | 800 | bidirectional |
| IWC 79320 and 79350 (ETA/Valjoux 7750 base) | older pilot's chronographs, Portofino Chronograph | 800 | clockwise only |
| IWC 80110 | Ingenieur and Aquatimer of the 2000s | 650 | bidirectional |
| IWC 80111 | Ingenieur models with shock protection | 500 to 950 | bidirectional |
| IWC 30110 | older automatic models with an ETA base | 650 | bidirectional |
| IWC 35111 (Sellita SW300-1 base) | Pilot's Watch 36, Portofino Automatic | no separate entry: 650 to 800 as for the SW300-1 | bidirectional |
The most important point for you: all current IWC in-house calibres wind in both directions, whether with Pellaton pawls or with the more compact pawl winding of the 32000 family. Bidirectional mode is therefore correct in every case, and the number of turns may be in the range of 650 to 800. Where a database value is missing, this proven standard is the safe choice, as it keeps practically every modern automatic movement fully wound. All values for ETA, Sellita, Seiko, Miyota and other manufacturers are in the full table of turns per day.
The Pellaton winding and what it means for the winder
The Pellaton winding is the technical signature of IWC and dates from the 1940s. Instead of a classic reversing gear, a cam transmits the rotor movement to the winding wheel via two pawls, and because one of the two pawls is always pulling while the other slides back, the system works in both directions of rotation. IWC explicitly describes the 52000 family as winding bidirectionally with two mainspring barrels and 168 hours of power reserve, i.e. seven full days.
A very simple rule follows for the winder. You set the alternating mode and let the device work; every turn in either direction benefits the winding. A single direction of rotation would not be wrong, but it would only deliver half of the possible winding work and would therefore take longer. Also noteworthy in the current version are the pawls and the winding wheel made of black ceramic and the rotor bearing made of white ceramic, both components intended to avoid wear.
The second in-house family, the 32000 series around calibre 32110, takes a different approach. It uses a more compact bidirectional pawl winding following the principle known from Japanese magic lever designs, and works with silicon components. Here too: bidirectional winding, so alternating mode on the winder. The power reserve is 72 hours for the 32110 and 120 hours for the 32111, so a weekend in the drawer is not a problem anyway.
What matters in a watch winder for IWC
After the direction of rotation, the holder is the key purchasing point, and with IWC there is a very specific reason for that. The Big Pilot measures over 46 millimetres in diameter, older versions of the Large Pilot's Watch go even beyond that, and even the more compact models such as the Mark XX or Pilot's Watch 41 sit well above the average for a classic three-hand watch. This weight acts as a lever on the mount with every rotation, and a loose cushion can slip or tip under it. Systems with a clamping cuff, such as the WOLF Heritage, grip the case actively and solve the problem by design.
With the smaller models the situation eases considerably. A Portofino Automatic on a leather strap or a Pilot's Watch 36 weighs so little that a well-adjustable cushion is entirely sufficient, as supplied by Barrington, Beco Technic and the botta Cube. If in doubt, check two manufacturer specifications: the maximum case diameter and the opening width of the holder, because a wide deployant strap needs more room than a narrow pin-buckle strap. If you want to look after a whole collection, you will find larger designs in our overview Watch winders for 2 to 4 watches.
The third point is the location. A device in the bedroom should run quietly, and we have a separate overview of the quiet watch winder for that. If the winder is going into the safe, you need battery operation, because a cable duct drilled in afterwards voids the safe's certification, more on this in the comparison Watch safe with watch winder. And because a Pellaton movement lasts seven days, a device is purely a convenience if you wear the watch daily, which the article Power reserve explained puts into context in more detail.
Which unit for whom
If you want to operate your IWC as precisely as possible while having a quiet device in your living space, the botta Cube is the first choice. Its nine programmes cover the entire relevant range, and at around 14 decibels it is practically unnoticeable. If, on the other hand, you mainly wear a Big Pilot or another large pilot's watch on a heavy strap, the WOLF Heritage with its locking cuff is the better answer, because the security of the holder comes above all else there. Our watch winder buying guide gives the overall picture of all designs, and you will find more individual devices under Watch winders for 1 watch.
If you simply want the most well-rounded device and plan to expand later, go for the Beco Technic Boxy, which has the best overall rating in this selection. If the watch is to go into a closed safe and run as quietly as possible, there is hardly any way around the Swiss Kubik Velour Windsor, and the comparison Premium watch winders shows more devices in this class. If a pilot's chronograph with 79320 joins your automatic watch, you need two separately adjustable positions, and that is exactly what the ROTHWELL Doppel provides. If you want an entry point with clearly documented figures, take the Barrington Single.
If you are interested in a particular provider, you will find the ranges gathered in the brand overview, for example at WOLF, Swiss Kubik or Barrington. The complete data sheets are in our overview of the data checks. If you wear other brands besides IWC, the sister pages Watch winders for Rolex, for Panerai, for Omega and for Breitling will help you further.
Editorial verdict
With IWC the technology is refreshingly clear: the Pellaton winding and the pawl winding both work bidirectionally, so the bidirectional mode is a given, and 650 to 800 turns per day cover every current calibre. Only the older pilot's chronographs based on the ETA/Valjoux 7750 are the exception and want clockwise-only rotation at 800 turns. The real purchasing decision is therefore made on the holder and the number of positions, not on the electronics.
Our recommendation is the botta Cube for the most precise and quietest setting, the WOLF Heritage for large and heavy cases, the Beco Technic Boxy as the best-rated all-rounder, the Swiss Kubik Velour Windsor for the safe, the ROTHWELL Doppel for an automatic and a chronograph side by side, and the Barrington Single for anyone who wants clear figures instead of mode names. You need not fear too many turns, because the slipping clutch in the barrel prevents the mainspring from being overwound. A slightly too high setting costs only electricity and nothing else, which is why the 900 turns of the WOLF are harmless for an IWC.
Whether a device is worth it for you at all is answered in a few minutes by our basics article Does my watch need a watch winder?. With seven days of power reserve, the honest answer for many wearers is: you do not need one, you may want one. And to be clear: none of the devices presented here is recommended, licensed or certified by IWC, we assess only the technical suitability.
Buying guides for other watch brands
The Pellaton winding is a special feature that hardly any other manufacturer implements this way. For the other brands these values apply: Panerai, Omega, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Rolex, Tudor, Breitling, TAG Heuer, Longines, Oris, Seiko, Cartier, Zenith, Hamilton, Tissot, Certina, Mido, Grand Seiko, Bell and Ross, Sinn, Glashütte Original, Nomos, Rado, Maurice Lacroix, Frederique Constant, Junghans. All documented values per calibre are collected in our table of turns per day.
Because pilot's watches are large and heavy, devices from WOLF and Beco Technic fit best. The brand overview gives the overview of all manufacturers.
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