Setting a Watch

Instructions for Basic Models

Pull the crown out (the knob on the side of the watch that moves the hands). If your crown doesn’t pull right out, your watch has a screw-down crown. This feature helps to keep water and dust out of the watch. To change the time, you must first unscrew the crown. Be sure to completely screw the crown back in when you are finished setting the time. Many watches are ruined when people think they are “water proof” but the crown hasn’t been screwed back down.

If your watch has a day/date function, you will feel the crown click into two different positions. Pulling the crown out to the second notch will set the time and pushing it back in to the first notch will set the day/date. Typically, moving the crown one direction will set the date and the other direction will set the day. When setting the day/date it is important to have the watch set in the right 12-hour period. The easiest way to ensure the day/date changes at midnight and not noon is to pull the crown out to the second notch and change the time until you see the day/date flip. When it flips, you know that your watch is now in a.m. Turn the crown until you reach 6 a.m. and then push the crown back into the first notch. Set the correct day/date and then pull the crown out to the second notch again. Set the proper time and push the crown all the way back into the case.

Instructions for More Complex Models
Perpetual calendars and other features like chronograph and moon phase can be quite confusing. Although many watch brands have setting instructions on their websites, sometimes finding the instructions can be equally as confusing.

If your watch is more complex, we’ve listed a few common brands here. If yours isn’t listed, look on the brand’s website for something like “operational guide” or “setting instructions.” These are often listed under FAQ and Technical Support and may be found as a small link at the bottom of the page or as weird tabs off to the side. You may also have to search for the specific model number, which is found on the back of the watch or the bottom of the dial.

Bulova: http://www.bulova.com/dynamic_repository/instructions/general.pdf
Casio: http://world.casio.com/wat/download/en/manual/
Citizen: http://citizenwatch.com/COA/English/settings.asp
Hamilton: http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/webapp/en-us/customer-service/instruction-manuals.aspx
Movado: http://www.movado.com/downloads/MovadoOperatingManual.pdf
Omega: http://www.omegawatches.com/uploads/tx_omega/English.pdf
Seiko: http://seikousa.com/#FAQ
Skagen: http://www.skagen.co.uk/index.php?SCREEN=skagen_watch_ instructions
Tag Heuer: http://ww2.tagheuer.com/_documents/manuals/EI2241_en.pdf
Timex: http://www.timex.ca/en/instructions/095Instr.pdf
Tissot: http://www.tissot.ch/data/usersmanual/121-en.pdf