It’s that time of year again—the days are growing longer and warmer which means daylight saving time is just around the corner. This year, on March 10th, most people in the United States (with the exception of Arizona and Hawaii) will observe the time change and set their clocks forward by one hour. And you can’t forget about your watch, too! It’s important to take proper care when setting a watch, as its many gears and gadgets can be fragile.
In this article, we’ll explain step by step how to set a watch for daylight saving time so that you don’t damage its sensitive instruments.
Tips for Setting Your Watch
- Remove the watch before adjusting. This may seem like a small step, but it’s a very important one. Wearing your watch while winding puts stress on the winding stem and can potentially loosen the crown because of the awkward angle at which it’s positioned.
- Don’t over-wind the watch. When setting your watch, you’ll feel a tiny bit of resistance once the watch is fully wound. Don’t continue winding past this point, as it can permanently damage the mainspring.
- Set the watch forward, rather than backwards. While it may be tempting to turn your watch hand in a counterclockwise direction, it is not recommended as it can force and damage the watch’s movement.
- Properly push the crown back in. Make sure the watch’s crown is well tightened when complete.
- Set the watch at a specific time. Do not set a mechanical watch between the hours of 9 PM and 2 AM. Because the watch will already be in the process of changing the date, forcing it to do so can harm the movement.
Timepieces with additional complications such as a perpetual calendar, chronograph, or tachymeter can be especially tricky to adjust, so we recommend using extra caution. When you’re not wearing your watch, it’s still important to wind every two to three weeks to prevent its internal oils and lubricants from thickening and impairing the watch’s function.
Watch Repair San Diego
If you’re still uncertain how to set a watch after reading these tips, no need to worry! Here at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, our friendly repair team is happy to help you set your watch for daylight saving time. Have you tried setting your watch and think you may have accidentally damaged it in the process? Don’t stress—bring your watch to Leo Hamel’s and one of our expert watchmakers will have it working like new again in no time. Think you know how to wind a watch, but need a bit of guidance? We’d be happy to demonstrate for you, so you can be confident caring for your watch at home. Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers is your one stop shop for all of your watch needs!
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