Crown positions
Most analog watches have a crown with up to three positions. Pushed in is winding. The first click out usually sets the date (or the GMT hand). The second click out sets the time and, on most mechanical watches, stops the seconds hand so you can set it to the second, called hacking. Unscrew a screw-down crown first.
Setting the time and date
- Pull the crown to the time-setting position and turn the hands until the date changes. That's midnight, so you now know a.m. from p.m.
- Move the time to around 6:30, well clear of the date-change window.
- Push the crown to the date position and set the date to yesterday's.
- Pull back to the time position and move the hands forward through midnight, which advances the date to today, then on to the current time.
- When the seconds hand reaches 12, push the crown in. Screw it down if it screws.
On a watch with a day as well as date, the day usually advances by turning the crown the other way in the date position. A watch with a calendar or moon phase has its own correctors; check the manual before pressing anything.
The danger zone
On most mechanical and many quartz watches, the date mechanism starts to engage a few hours before midnight. Using the quick-set date between roughly 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. can damage it. Setting through 6:30 as above avoids the problem.
Digital watches
Digital watches set with their buttons, and the sequence depends on the module inside. On a Casio, find the module number engraved on the case back and look up that manual on Casio's support site. Radio-controlled and Bluetooth watches can set themselves.
If your watch is keeping poor time after you've set it, it may be magnetized or due a service.