How to Set and Wind Your Watch Correctly

Setting a watch looks simple, but a few habits can prevent damage. The crown is the control for winding, setting the time and setting the date, and it usually has several positions. Learn what each one does before you pull it out.

On a hand-wound mechanical watch, unscrew the crown first if it is a screw-down model, then turn it clockwise gently until you feel firm resistance. Stop there. Do not force it. A full wind typically takes thirty to forty turns, and it is best to wind at the same time each day so the watch runs consistently.

An automatic watch winds itself as you move, but it still needs a few turns of the crown to get going if it has stopped, and it may not stay charged if you only wear it occasionally. If it has been sitting in a drawer, give it a few turns, set the time and wear it.

Be careful with the date. Many movements have a window of hours around midnight, usually roughly between nine in the evening and three in the morning, when the date mechanism is engaged. Changing the date during that window can damage the gears. A safer approach is to move the hands past six o'clock or to the early hours before setting the date.

When setting the time, turn the hands forwards, and if you need to go back, move them forward past the target and then continue round to it only if your watch manual allows backwards setting. Quartz watches are simpler, but the same date caution applies. If the crown feels stuck, loose or gritty, stop and have a watchmaker look at it rather than pushing harder.