How to Set the Time on Any Watch
Whether you just bought a brand new watch, you live in a place that has Daylight Savings Time, or you’re traveling to another time zone, you'll occasionally need to set the time on your watch. Learning the correct way to do so will make sure you don’t damage your timepiece, so we're sharing expert tips to help you do it right.
Setting the Time on a Mechanical Watch
A mechanical watch is a watch that uses a series of gears inside the case to keep time and rotate the hands. It’s the typical style of watch you might imagine. Setting the time on a mechanical watch entails physically moving the hands into the correct position by winding the crown.
Understanding the Parts of a Mechanical Watch
To set the time, there are some parts of a mechanical watch that you need to understand. First, you’ll need to locate the crown on the side of the watch case. This is usually on the right side of the watch and is a small, protruding gear that turns. It may be in the center or offset depending on the different functions your watch has. The other parts of your watch you need to know about are the hands (the parts that rotate and point to the time), and the date display, if your watch has one.
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting the Time
When you’re ready to set the time of your watch, sit down at a table. You may want to lay down a soft cloth to protect your watch and the surface you’re working on in case you drop it. Hold your watch in one hand and leave the other free to turn the crown. Make sure you have a digital clock nearby so you can set the most accurate time.
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Remove your watch from your wrist – Not only does this make it easier to set the time, it also reduces the risk of damaging your watch. Turning the crown at an odd angle can damage delicate internal mechanisms.
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Pull out the crown – Depending on your watch model, your crown may be able to be pulled out to two or three ‘stops.’ To set the time, the crown needs to be pulled out as far as it will go.
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Turn the crown clockwise to the correct time – Avoid turning it counter-clockwise to ensure you don’t damage the mechanisms inside your watch.
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Push the crown back in – Once you’ve set the correct time, push the crown back to its starting position. Some waterproof watches also require you to screw it in place.
Top tip: Where possible, any watch with a day/date complication should not have the time changed between 8PMand 3AM. This is because the mechanisms are usually in motion between these times, and forcing a manual motion upon the mechanism can easily chip a gear, damaging how your watch works and requiring repair.
Setting the Time on a Digital Watch
Digital watches don’t have hands. Instead, they display the time as a 12 or 24-hour number on the face of the watch. Digital watches are usually accompanied by some other handy functions such as alarms, timers, and chronographs. The easiest way to set your digital watch is to follow the instructions included in its user manual. But if you’ve lost your manual or don’t have it on hand, here’s how to set the time on your Timex digital watch.
Understanding Digital Watch Features
Most digital watches work more or less the same way but make sure you check your watch’s instruction manual before you begin.
Generally, there are four buttons on the watch:
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Mode: This button cycles between the different modes of your watch – stopwatch, alarm, time, and other functions.
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Set or Reset: This is also sometimes the “lap” button if you have a stopwatch function. This button confirms settings or resets stopwatches and alarms.
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Start/Stop: This button will start and stop timekeeping in stopwatch mode. It also often switches between values when you’re setting the time.
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INDIGLO/Light: This button will illuminate the screen so you can read the time easier.
Step-by-Step Guide to Adjusting the Time
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Press the set button – the seconds will begin flashing which indicates you can change the time.
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Press the start/stop button to reset the seconds so that they begin counting from 0.
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Press the mode button when done. This will bring you to the minutes, which should begin flashing.
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Press the start/stop button to set the desired minutes.
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Press the mode button when done. This will move onto the hours, which should begin flashing.
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Press the start/stop button to set the desired hour. PAY ATTENTION: take notice of the A or P, signifying AM or PM, in the top right corner next to the date. Make sure you are setting the hour appropriately.
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When the desired hour is chosen, simply press the set button to save the new time and exit the setting mode.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
There are some common issues you can face when changing the time on your watch. For mechanical watches, one of the most common issues is rotating the hands counter-clockwise which can cause problems with the internal mechanisms. Another common issue is not pushing the crown back in fully which can mean the hands don’t start keeping time again. Make sure the crown is pushed all the way back in when you’re done.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my watch needs a manual setting or will adjust automatically?
Any clock that’s not connected to the internet will require manual adjustment when you need to set the time. This might be due to daylight savings time, traveling to other time zones, or just resetting the time if your hand-wound watch falls behind by a few minutes.
Can I set the time on a Timex watch if it’s still on my wrist?
When doing any maintenance on your Timex watch, we recommend removing it from your wrist first and sitting at a table or flat surface. This is because adjusting settings while it’s on your wrist can potentially damage the inner mechanisms.
What is the correct position of the crown for setting the time on a mechanical watch?
When changing the time on a mechanical watch, you should pull the crown all the way out to allow the hands to rotate.
Do digital watches require any special precautions when setting the time?
When setting the time on a digital watch, make sure you understand the layout of the buttons and know what each will do to avoid confusion.
Key Takeaway
Whether you have a mechanical or digital watch, setting the time is a straightforward process. Just make sure you follow the instructions properly for your watch and don’t rotate the hands counter-clockwise. We have more information about resetting your Timex watch for daylight savings in our helpful guide. And, if you need more information, our helpful experts will be happy to help – don’t hesitate to contact us.
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