When we set out to build the Time Machine winder, one of the first decisions was the motor. It's the heart of any watch winder — the component that determines how smoothly, quietly, and reliably your watch is rotated.
We chose Faulhaber. Here's why.
What is Faulhaber?
Faulhaber is a German manufacturer of precision micro motors and drive systems, founded in 1947 and headquartered in Schönaich, Germany.
Their motors are used in:
- NASA Mars rovers — precision actuation in extreme environments
- Surgical robots — where vibration and heat are unacceptable
- Satellite mechanisms — where failure is not an option
- Medical devices — insulin pumps, diagnostic equipment
- Industrial automation — high-precision positioning systems
Faulhaber motors are engineered for applications where reliability, precision, and silence are non-negotiable.
Why does the motor matter in a watch winder?
A watch winder motor rotates your watch thousands of times per day, 365 days a year. Over the life of the winder, that's millions of rotations. The motor needs to:
- Rotate smoothly — jerky, uneven rotation can stress the watch's automatic winding mechanism
- Run silently — you don't want to hear your winder humming on your nightstand
- Generate minimal vibration — vibration can affect watch accuracy and is simply unpleasant
- Last for years — the motor should outlast the watches it's winding
Most watch winders use generic DC motors that cost a few euros. They work, but they're noisy, vibrate noticeably, and degrade over time.
The cost difference
A typical watch winder motor costs €2–5. A Faulhaber micro motor costs approximately €60–100 — roughly 20x more.
For a product that retails for €30–100, that cost difference is prohibitive. For a Time Machine winder, it's a deliberate investment in quality.
We made this choice because the motor is the component your watches interact with directly. Everything else — the marble, the aluminium, the app — is important, but the motor is the one thing that physically touches your watch's winding mechanism through rotation.
How we tested
Before production, we ran a 10-year accelerated endurance test — subjecting the Faulhaber motor to over 1,000,000 turns in compressed time.
The motor performed flawlessly. No degradation in rotation speed, no increase in noise, no measurable wear.
This gives us confidence that a Time Machine winder will perform identically on day one and day 3,650.
What you'll notice
In daily use, the difference is simple:
- You won't hear it. Faulhaber motors are whisper-quiet. In a silent room, you'd need to put your ear next to the winder to detect any sound.
- Your watch rotates smoothly. No jerky starts and stops, no vibration.
- It just works. For years.
That's the point. The best motor is the one you never think about.
Learn more about the technology inside every Time Machine winder on our Technology page, or explore the collection.