Mechanical Watch Basics – How To Wind & Set

While it is not difficult to set a watch, some mechanical watches have quirks that make it vary from watch to watch. Here is a brief explanation of how to set and wind a mechanical watch to help you become more comfortable with the process.

How to Wind a Mechanical Watch?

We recommend winding your watch while it’s not on your wrist. Remove the watch and use one hand to wind the crown upward. The inner tube of the crown is a relatively fragile component that bends easily, so winding while the watch is off can help with longevity. Start winding the crown away from you while holding it between your thumb and index finger. You don’t need to exercise extraordinary caution, but don’t use excessive force. Depending on the movement, wind it up until you feel the slightest bit of resistance. Be cautious not to overwind. If you look up your specific movement’s specs, it’s easy to find how many turns the manufacturer recommends.

How To Set Your Watch

Here is how to set your watch. Each watch is different – some have a day function, others have a date function, and some only have the time function.

Set the Date

The mechanical timepiece crown typically has three places, each with a specific winding function. The first position is where the crown is pushed all the way in and is used to wind your watch manually. Change the date on the watch quickly by pulling the crown back to the second position. Until you reach the correct date, turn the crown clockwise.

Set the Time

Pull the crown out from the watch base to set the time on your watch. Some watches allow second hand setting as well as minute and hour hand setting.

Until the right time is set, slowly move the crown in a clockwise direction. We’d recommend turning the crown only one direction, so turn clockwise until you reach the right time again if you miss it.

Push the Crown Back In

Once your day/date/time are set, firmly press the crown back into the “zero” position to wear. To ensure it is pressurized and water-tight, screw the crown down next if needed.

Rotate Watches sells all-in-one kits to build a mechanical watch. Visit our selection to learn about how all of these settings work!

FAQs

Q1: How can I tell if my mechanical watch is fully wound? 

A: A mechanical watch is fully wound when you feel significant resistance in the crown while turning it, indicating that the mainspring is fully tensioned; essentially, when you can no longer wind the watch any further without forcing it - stop winding at this point to avoid overwinding. 

Only wind the instructed number of turns and keep track of how much time has passed to rewind.

Q2: What's the difference between hand-wound and automatic mechanical watches, and how do I wind each?

A: Hand-wound watches require daily winding via the crown. Automatic watches wind themselves with wrist movement but can also be hand-wound. Both stop running when their power reserve depletes.

Q3: My watch has a screw-down crown. What's the proper way to use it? 

A: Unscrew the crown by turning it counter-clockwise until it pops out. Then, set the time and/or date. Push the crown back in and screw it clockwise to ensure water resistance.

Q4: How do I set the day and date on my mechanical watch if it has both functions? 

A: The crown's second position typically controls the day and date.  Pull stem out to the next position and turn one way for day, the other direction for date.

Q5: What should I do if the crown on my mechanical watch feels loose or difficult to operate?

A: Avoid forcing it. Contact Rotate Watches for guidance. We can help troubleshoot the problem and provide instructions or assistance with repairs.