Setting a Non-Hacking Watch

How to set a watch that does not hack.

[@iosdeals]

6 minute video, and about 15 seconds total frames were in focus.

[@hugo511]

The left watch’s height is competing with the Empire State Building’s

[@daved1823]

With many non hack-able movement (including ones form Seiko and ETA) you can still freeze the second hand by slightly turning back crown in the time set position. You can get to within second or so using this method.

[@rokfam]

correct - I discovered the same on my sea-gull ST17 movement.

[@guyfriedman295]

Thanks! I jist managed to set the seconds on my Seiko 👍

[@derekr7814]

Not on mine. Not a chance.

[@markdotcomau]

just did this on my Seiko SNZG...works!

[@michaellin4553]

I figured out a consistent method that works on any mechanical watch at any state of wind, but it's less tedious when the VPH is lower. If the watch is say, 3 Hz, then if you grasp the watch firmly and rotate it on the same axis as the hands, back and forth at the same rate as the watch (one turn of the hand at 1/6th a second, another turn another 1/6th), you can sync up with the balance with harmonic motion. Then you can start rotating a bit faster to speed up timekeeping. You can then advance the seconds hand until it syncs up with the true seconds. Then, push the crown in, fully wind the watch, then pull it out and set the hours and minutes. The watch will be 100% accurate.

[@rokfam]

Hello - I own an ST17 movement Sea-gull watch. Hacking is done by placing the crown into set position, then holding the crown in a half-turn position (i.e. before the minute arm moves at all). The seconds hand will be hacked as long as you hold the crown in half-turn. It may not work on all models and I do not know if doing this is detrimental to the movement. I handle mine very gently, winding it 15 winds every twelve hours and off the arm of course.

[@Mobin92]

Long story short, buy a hacking watch...

[@treedillinger5801]

It's gonna be off by at least a few seconds within a day anyway and then you can't adjust it since it's non hacking... better to know how it's running and set it accordingly. For example: if it runs +3 seconds a day set it a little behind (up to a minute slow) and it'll start catching up...a couple weeks later you'll be close to a minute ahead if you've been wearing it continuously, then you just take 2 minutes off...no sense worrying that much about the seconds since even the most precise mechanical watches aren't that accurate.

[@hobokenhorology1588]

This is true. In retrospect a few seconds won't really matter. For me I sometimes wear my watches in rotation. I do not use winders. I recently read about this method shown above and it works well for me. This can be used for testing accuracy on your watch. I find it useful. Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@derekr7814]

You sir are an idiot. There is a speed adjuster inside near the balance wheel. All mechanical watches have them.

[@user-db2dd2ed8v]

My main watch is a 23 year old swatch irony that i semi retire i send it to their headquarters for service couple of times.

[@jasonwan163]

That works but its not because the mainspring gets charged when you shake the watch. The balance wheel starts oscillating when you shake the watch so it starts ticking. It wouldn't work if you started powering the mainspring with the crown but there would be a delay

[@SeaStern1]

That seamster is GORGEOUS !

[@amintaslneto]

Very nice technic. Love your Seamaster 300 BTW. Congrats!

[@meow7593]

Is back hacking healthy for your watch?

[@chilledtea6614]

It is readable what are talking about?

[@JungleLibrary]

Love how you swiped Ari Melber's sign off, sounded genuine though so dw I won't call the cops :P

[@AS-cu2rd]

You can use the crown rather than shaking it for winding via rotor

[@quittance]

only hackable movements can set the time with the crown

[@Korium84]

this is incorrect. all mechanicals can be wound via crown (how else do you wind them), and many unhackable automatics can be wound via crown. it depends on your movement. original poster is correct unless you have a movement with rotor only automatic winding (seiko 5's come to mind).

[@daved1823]

The last time I checked an automatic only winding movement is a mechanical movement.

[@comedyman112]

@@daved1823 that guy is stupid. Don't listen to him. Automatic watches only start working after wearing and thus moving them. But mechanical watches can be wound from the crown. (that's info for the future people reading these comments haha)

[@petermikus2363]

@@comedyman112 automatic watches can also be wound with the crow well most of them

[@rafaelfranciulli]

Seriously ? OMG !!

[@Vishalkumar-mu5hy]

6beats/s.

[@comedyman112]

You'll find out there's better things to do in life than worrying about your watch being 1 second off

[@tcphll]

I know this is a year old, but there's also better things to do in life than watching a video about setting a watch and then commenting on said video. Do what makes you happy and enjoy the life you have. I mean, there are better things I could be doing right now rather than commenting to you, which you'll probably never see, but here we are.

[@salty_terminal_civilian5374]

False. I have OCD and the Marine Corps taught me to set my watch on the dot according to the atomic clock lol.