Any winding device manufactured prior to the sixties is considered as antique as these generally did not have advanced functions such as automatic shutdowns and restarts. The winding mechanism was made from small electrical motors that provided simple circular rotations and had to be manually shut off after winding operations. They generally had a wooden framework or body with fine engravings and polished surfaces.

The type of wood used in antique watch winders and its finishing add a lot to the antiques market price. Winders made from Mahogany provided a fine grained, reddish brown texture to the device and made it resistant to swelling, shrinking, and warping. Walnut wood based winders were also resistant to shrinking and warping and provided and excellent finish when coated with varnish or other glossy chemical.

Oak wood with its strong and good bending qualities was used to provide durability and reduce moisture absorption that could damage internal components of the winding device. Other types of wood used in antique watch winders include maple, cherry, rosewood, and teak. Antique winding devices were completely hand made and are excellent examples of fine craftsmanship. The interiors of some of these winders are covered with soft calf hide to prevent scratching.

Antique metal watch winders are also available in the market but only in a limited supply. These winders are available as single, dual, and multiple capacity winding devices and some of these can wind up to twelve wristwatches at the same time. Some of these have the lid attached to the body whereas others are available with a removable lid and a separate body.

People interested in buying antique watch winders should make sure that the device they have selected is genuinely antique as cases of faked antiques has become very common in the present era. The customer can contact the manufacturing company if its still operating to verify the serial number of a particular antique watch winder.