Set My Watch
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Setting2 min read

Winding a stopped watch

Before you set anything, give the movement enough energy to keep good time.

A mechanical watch that has been sitting in a drawer has an empty mainspring. Setting the time on a nearly empty spring is pointless: the watch will run weakly, keep poor time, or stop again within hours. Wind it first, then set it.

Manual-wind watches

  1. 1If your crown screws down, unscrew it counter-clockwise until it pops out to its first position.
  2. 2Turn the crown clockwise (away from you) in smooth, even strokes.
  3. 3Stop as soon as you feel firm resistance. That is a full spring. Never force past it.

Automatic watches

Automatics wind themselves from wrist motion, but a stopped one needs a head start. Give the crown around 30–40 turns. Most automatics have a slipping bridle, so you cannot overwind them, but there is no benefit to going much further.