Am I the only one who gets a bit nervous about screw-down crowns? I mean, I love the idea of additional water resistance, but when you own a ton of mechanical watches you can't wear every day, setting and winding is a regular event. My first "nice" watch was a Hamilton diver, which I ended up cross-threading. Had to get it repaired...and I have been skittish about it ever since.

Anyway, I bought a Loco this week with the intention of wearing it frequently. Worried about the setting and winding given the crown is screw-down and it's a manual wind! Needless to say, I won't be swimming with it, so I think I'd prefer just a pull-out... Thoughts?

I get worked up every single time I unscrew the crown of my watches….EVERY. SINGLE. TIME! So, it’s not just you.

I think skittishness will be your guardian. Make a mistake, learn by it. Never wind your mechanical watch whilst jumping from an aeroplane or cliff diving in Acapulco.

I understand the concern with the threaded crown. Fortunately I have never had a problem with cross threading. My local jeweler noted he’s only repaired cross threading a handful of times in his 35-plus year career. Having an awareness of the potential helps ensure you avoid the problem. I’ve had mechanical watches with threaded crowns since about 1980-1 and it has not been a problem I’ve encountered.

I agree. Especially relevant for a hand wound watch.
In any event, I much prefer the smooth wind of a manual movement .

nightMD wrote: ↑Sat Apr 26, 2025 9:39 pm Am I the only one who gets a bit nervous about screw-down crowns?

Rest assured you are not. Cross-threading and the possible resulting damage have been mentioned a few times. Here’s a tip (apologies if you knew this anyway).

Obviously it’s important that the screw-in mechanism is seated properly in the thread. A lot of people, myself included, have found that it’s best to keep a little pressure with the thumb and first finger on the crown (towards the case) while turning it gently backwards (anticlockwise); you often feel a distinct click which means that the mechanism is seated properly. Then, keeping the pressure on as the threads engage, gently begin to wind clockwise until the crown feels finger tight.

If it doesn’t feel like the threads are engaging properly, don’t force it; rather, turn it anticlockwise until the crown pops open (if you can locate the winding position it’s open) and try again. I can’t speak for the Loco, but certainly with other watches you get a feel for how it handles and quickly become confident with it. As with any delicate object, slow and gentle is best.

I got a Twelve Alta gold for my wife earlier this year. She absolutely hates the screw down crown, to the point that she asks me to set up her watch. I think longer finger nails don't play well together with screw down crowns and crown guards.

I personally don't find it much of a problem on my watches, but I do think it doesn't go very well on a manual wind, especially one with a 6d power reserve. Time will tell, I'm curious to hear first impressions when you get it!

^^^^As Steve suggests.

Light pressure on the crown, back turn until you feel the thread seat, then forward turn to engage the thread, then screw in fully.

If you want to practice, any screw threaded closure will work; water bottle, marmalade jar, etc.

As to the Loco? Does it have a screw thread to the crown? I can't find mention of it now that the regular sales page on CW's website has come down.

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Sun Apr 27, 2025 8:51 am As to the Loco? Does it have a screw thread to the crown? I can't find mention of it now that the regular sales page on CW's website has come down.

I did wonder about that myself, Guy. I’m not sure whether the manual is ready yet, as it’s not in the archive, and I can’t see mention of it in the Loupe article.

Functionally (not visually of course) it’s not that far removed from the C9 SS, which has the hand-wound SH 21 and is certainly not equipped with a screw-down crown. The 3ATM of WR would suggest it’s not a necessity, but that’s just guesswork.

Maybe someone who went to the presentation night had a fiddle with the watch and found the answer?

I've answered my own question;-



As, of course, it has a six day power reserve, and with no drop off in accuracy as that depletes, one only need wind it every four or five days.


Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk

Yep, I saw this in the article on Worn & Wound. I keep hoping the final production model will just be pull-out, but seems doubtful.

At the suggestion of my watchmaker, I do use the pressure/back turn on all my screw-downs ever since the cross-threading incident. Still…

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

I did set the time on one in the showroom and for the life of me I can't recall clearly with 100% accuracy. I want to say it was push pull but I honestly can't swear by that

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Sun Apr 27, 2025 8:25 am Obviously it’s important that the screw-in mechanism is seated properly in the thread. A lot of people, myself included, have found that it’s best to keep a little pressure with the thumb and first finger on the crown (towards the case) while turning it gently backwards (anticlockwise); you often feel a distinct click which means that the mechanism is seated properly. Then, keeping the pressure on as the threads engage, gently begin to wind clockwise until the crown feels finger tight.

If it doesn’t feel like the threads are engaging properly, don’t force it; rather, turn it anticlockwise until the crown pops open (if you can locate the winding position it’s open) and try again. I can’t speak for the Loco, but certainly with other watches you get a feel for how it handles and quickly become confident with it. As with any delicate object, slow and gentle is best.

I think you’ve shared this before, as this is exactly what I think about every time I screw the crown down.

@jkbarnes Correct. I copied and edited it from a post I made a couple of years ago. No point in reinventing the wheel.

I think screw-down crowns make sense only with automatic watches that are intended to be regularly worn in water. If a watch is not going to be worn in the water, then screw-down crowns are unnecessary, even for automatic watches. And for manual-wind watches, screw-down crowns are a detriment. While we're at it, I also think automatic movements are a negative for time-only dress watches that are not regularly worn. In my opinion, of course.