How to Wind a Manual Watch
Setting the time of a manual watch is a simple procedure. Manual, or mechanical, watches are powered by a mechanical movement that needs daily winding. By contrast, a quartz watch is powered by a battery and never needs winding, and if it features a date calendar it needs only to have the calendar reset on short months. The vast majority of today's wristwatches are quartz, but manual watches, both vintage and modern, have made a comeback in the past decade. Owners have come to enjoy interacting with their watch by winding and setting it every morning.
Instructions
-
-
1
Locate the crown, usually found on the right side of the case, and pull it out all the way. Don't force it. Be gentle. Rotate the crown clockwise or counterclockwise the shortest distance to the correct time. Push the crown flush with the case.
-
2
To wind the watch, rotate the crown either clockwise or back-and-forth until the crown stops. It's okay to rotate the crown until there is no movement as long it's not forced. The watch is fully set.
-
-
3
To set the second hand on a hack watch, a military watch in which the second hand can be stopped for synchronization with another watch, pull the crown out to the end. The watch will stop. Some hack watches have the second hand automatically go to 12 o'clock. The watch can now by synchronized with a second watch. To restart the watch, push the crown flush with the case.
-
4
To set a manual watch with a calendar date, pull the crown to the second stop and rotate it clockwise to move the date forward. It will not go backward. If the date is missed, then the calendar must be rotated through all dates again before reaching the proper one. Rotate the crown slowly because the mechanism is not built for fast manipulation.
-
5
Wind manual watches daily to keep all mechanical components evenly lubricated and to prevent the oils from drying out. It's advisable to wind manual watches the same time each day to maintain consistency in powering the movement.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Don't be alarmed if your manual watch gains or loses a few seconds during the day. By virtue of being a machine, it will be less accurate than an electronic quartz watch. By establishing a morning winding and setting ritual, which takes about 30 seconds, the difference in timekeeping will be negligible.
Be sensitive to the feel of the watch when rotating the crown. Increased resistance means the movement needs lubrication. Less than normal resistance means the cannon pinion, the heart of the movement, is loose and needs an adjustment.
