Pocket watch owners guide to setting the time

Setting the hands to the correct time

Stem-wind watches use a variety of methods for setting the hands. Most are set by pulling out the winding knob one click and then turning it to set the hands. Don't forget to push the knob back in when you have finished setting the hands. Many cheaper watches, i.e. of the 'dollar' watch variety used a knob that was pushed in against a spring and then turned for setting the hands. When released, the knob sprung out to the winding position.

Setting the time on earlier stem-wind watches

Earlier stem-wind (or keyless) watches used either an 'olive' near the winding button which had a plunger in the centre which had to be pressed in by a fingernail while the knob was turned to set the hands, or there was a lever at the edge of the dial which had to be pulled out by the fingernail while the knob was turned to set hands.

Setting the time on key-wind watches

Setting the time on key-wind watches is accomplished by either using the key on the hand square on the front of the watch or on the hand-setting square at the back, depending on the design of the watch.