question to people here who own automatic/mechanical wrist watches...

[CasioTech]

I just got a mechanical automatic watch.

My question is about setting the time, does anyone know which direction you have to roll the crown in order to set the time?

For instance, if I roll it "to me" which rolls the clock backwards, the second hand stops, or it moves backwards a little too...

I don't know if this is good for the spring inside the watch, and if I am suppost to only move it "away" from me, which is clockwise...

The same thing for the date, it only changes ahead, and doesn't go back, that's why I was concerned if I am suppost to turn the crown only clockwise in order to set the time, and if it's bad to go the other way for the springs powering it....

The instructions say nothing.
And, it's an [/b]ORIENT[/b]

 

[CasioTech]

come on, I bet about 1 in 15 members has one, why don't you answer me?

 

[Lvis]

I was told years ago, when all you could get was windup or auto watches, that setting the time backwards was bad for it.

 

[Pastore]

ive got a seiko, dont know what you mean by "automatic"

 

[Lvis]

auto = self winding

 

[CasioTech]

can you specify why?

 

[Lvis]

Just as you say it moves the gears and things in the wrong direction, perhaps unwinding the spring?

Setting it shouldn't be a big deal. Most watches allow you to set the date and time seperatly. Just move the crown in or out just a little to set the date, then move it in or out a little to set the time.

 

[CasioTech]

yes, but don't you think that modern watches, even ones made 10 years ago, would have some sort of safety, that would prevent abuse or neglect such as not setting the watch right? Or perhaps when you set it in the right direction, it speeds up the second hand but I don't notice, since such a thing is harder, but when I set it counter clockwise, it makes it stop or go backwards, which is easier to detect, it could work both ways.

Thanks L vis, I just hoped that more people who owned these watches could help, perhaps a jeweler ?

 

[CasioTech]

up

 

[CasioTech]

I swear to god there was a dude here yesterday who wrote that he has a mechanical watch... Where did his post go?


anyways, up!

 

[br0wn]

i have a seiko kinetic autorelay, I don't really notice
any slowdown or speedup. When I set the time, I move
backwards/forwards depends on which way is shorter
I have had this watch for 2 years. It is really a great
watch. When I first bought it, I thought I have to recharge
(shake the watch) like every week or so, none I don't have
to do it. As long as I wear it everyday (even if I didn't
wear it for 1 week, it still works ok), it recharges itself
just from the daily movement that your hand does.

 

[CasioTech]

yeah, but kinetic isn't automatic, kinetic has a battery, it has a 6 mon. reserve...

automatic has a 40 hr. or so reserve.

They also have different mechanisms...

Does your second hand move by the second, or does it tick (5 ticks per sec)?

 

[DesignDawg]

I have a rolex that's self-winding (if by that you mean, when you shake your wrist, you can hear it winding up inside...sounds like a little fishing reel inside). I have always heard that it's bad to set them backwards. What's the big deal? Just go forward?

Ricky
DesignDawg

 

[SuperGroove]

I have a seiko watch that makes a noise when I shake it. Sounds like there's a ball inside. When my dad gave it to me(I kinda take all of his stuff that I deem cool), he told me that it'll keep working as long as its strapped to my arm. Meaning there needs to be movement in order for it to work.



ya? No?

 

[CasioTech]

cool, I thought so, but if I am going to set it an hour behind, why go ahead 23 hrs. and then set the calander 30 days ahead again, since going ahead will change the date?

Also, when it stops, am I suppost to set it, then wind it, or wind it first, then set it, or it doesn't matter?

Does anyone know a place I can email or something, who will know the answers?

 

[Namuna]

I've got an Auto-wind, A Tag Heuer S/El Seems to only have about 24hrs reserve.

Since I'm ALWAYS losing time on it, I ususally only wind ahead anyway.

But as far as setting time in reverse, just do so. Then adjust the crown to 'wind' setting and wind the spring back up.

Can't do anything about the date though. If you swing by too fast, you'll have to spin the time till you get back at the proper date setting.

 

[thebestMAX]

Dont know how expensive your watch is so I will just say this;

I have a Rolex and A Breitling, both mechanical, automatic and expensive.

Advance hand forward only.
Set date to day before and advance hands to correct date.
Wind only about 20 turns and then wear.

One of my watches is 13 years old and runs perfectly.

If you care about this watch, treat it properly. What is a few seconds of your time worth?

 

[CasioTech]

wait, my is automatic, so I don't wind it.

but I am saying the dude I bought it from set the watch for me, he set it backwards, and that's why I worry that he wrecked it in someway, I don't think he meant to, but he set it, and then sold it to me. I am pretty sure that he set it backwards, and about 20hrs or so. So he wound it in the wrong direction for a min. or so, that's what bothers me. Could he have broke it?

also, when I put presure on the crown backwards, the second hand starts to actually tick backwards until I let it go, and pop the crown in, then it starts to go forward.

 

[thebestMAX]

One more time-

If your watch is a mechanical automatic wind watch, you only need wind it if you dont wear it for several days. If it stops it means it has run down due to no wrist action while wearing. Typical is about 36 hours to stop.

Second, you turn the STEM to wind or set date.

Third, is it keeping correct time? Doubt he hurt it backwinding it once unless he FORCED it. If you force anything mechanical, you are doing it wrong.

Forth, you cant WIND it in the wrong direction, only turn the hands that way.

Hope this helps.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Holy crap dude. Put it in a sock drawer and go by a $5 digital. Its not worth getting a ulcer over.

P.S. I have a Wittnauer Longlife. Shouldn't have to change the battery for 15 years

 

[CasioTech]

thanks dudes,

one thing you guys made me learn, I have OCD.

anyways, he probably didn't force it, just such a fragile mechanism so the springs aren't hard to move.

I called some jewelers, they say that some companies (like swiss watches I.E. $9,000 Weingers) could be wound either way, and when you go backwards, the second hand keeps ticking forward, but for me, the second hand goes backwards, or stutters when I go backwards with the hands, only, but when I go forward, it's fine.


oh, well, only time will tell, but I mean if I let it run down, then it starts back up, then nothing was hopefully damaged... So far, I haven't given it time to really stop yet, and it's pretty accurate, since I synced it with a digital

 

[Russ]

To further clarify, a mechanical is wound just by moving it.

Russ, NCNE

 

[CasioTech]

A mechanical watch is wound by twisting the crown, an automatic is wound by hand movement...