What is a Hacking Watch Movement and How Does it Work? - Watch and Learn #35

Today we cover a term that confuses many people. Hacking! What exactly does it mean when someone says "this watch has a hacking movement"? Well, the answer is quite simple! In this short video, we will explain what hacking a watch movement means, and then dig down into an ETA 2824-2 movement to show you how it actually works. It is quite a simple, yet like most ideas, ingenious device.
Please visit our store at: www.longislandwatch.com

[@kelvinx5704]

So that's how it works. I had thought the second hand stopped because power was decoupled like putting a car transmission into neutral. I had no ideal the entire movement is 'stalled' during hacking. Thank you very much for showing that.

[@eariamjh71]

I watched and learned something today. Thank you .

[@j.t.3739]

I am learning and having fun at the same time watching the W&L series. Nice job Marc! Keep them coming.

[@islandwatch]

Much appreciated.

[@LL3L.]

Couldn't have been explained better, thank you!

[@sorenahlback]

Very nice video Marc! I regulate my watches so they are a little on the fast side, maybe 2-3 sec/day so I can set them by just use that "hack break" to set them correctly maybe once a week. Now I know what is going on inside my Eta 2824-2, 7750 and NH35A. Keep up the good work! :)

[@sqd8r]

Who are these losers giving these videos a thumbs down. This stuff is great. Thanks for taking the time.

[@galuhrichata6148]

Yeah, too bad, some people just don’t know how to appreciate others..

[@atlantic_love]

@@galuhrichata6148 You do realize there's a difference between YOUR opinion, and someone else's, right?

[@No0_Name]

Love this video ! Good work man!

[@edwinlee367]

Yourv videos are extremely informative and useful

[@EddyWoon]

Thank you for creating this great content. Learnt new things today.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks.

[@DarkvirusXI]

Awesome video Marc, very informative!

[@islandwatch]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@marcmiller1300]

Loved this. Thanks for the indepth look at the movement.

[@islandwatch]

Glad you liked!

[@jerryg50]

I like your explanations and videos! Very interesting. Learning experience! Thanks!

[@fredbenjamin7072]

Thank you. Excellent information, well presented and succinct.

[@operasinger2126]

Good videos, Marc.

[@giangvu7902]

Thanks! Learned something new today.

[@Teachering]

This was very interesting. An enjoyable watch and learn. I learned something today.

[@islandwatch]

That's what I like to hear!

[@mujeebrahmanyousef725]

Such a pleasure to watch it. thanks, for this video

[@davidtodd907]

Thankyou - very educational and I now know a little bit more about hacking today that i didn't yesterday

[@bobjoe1593]

Great video. I'm a mech engineer and really loving this series, you have a very clear way of explaining everything and it's neat to really consider all the problem solving and design that goes into these little things (just got my first automatic mechanical recently, a cheap little Seiko 5 speed racer, had some fun replacing the horrid folded bracelet with a nato strap and I love the thing even if I scratched it- oops). Also I love those Seagull 63s. Every time I see it on your videos l I want one more and think I may need to make one of those my second piece . Do you think any more acrylic crystal 38mm will be sourced at your shop? I've been considering snagging a sapphire one before they're gone but think the acrylic really accentuates the vintage feel -and the cost would be a plus.

[@islandwatch]

Yes, in the next few weeks we will have them again.

[@philrodriguez558]

Another great teaching video! Thanks !

[@islandwatch]

Glad!

[@LibertyManor]

wow, very cool video Mark, thanks very much for showing us!

[@islandwatch]

Thanks for watching.

[@rodzsermecses2757]

Thanks ,this is very useful...

[@brianmsahin]

So that's how that works!. Great to know. Thanks for all the instructional vids.

[@matsleandersson1243]

Great video! Very educational. 👍🏻 Thanks!

[@islandwatch]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@myedc7382]

Great video, and explanation...

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@pauljackson2899]

thank you I watch your canel a lot I find all your explanations very good

[@islandwatch]

Thank you.

[@isaacpavlak5359]

Hey Mark, thank you for the video, as always you provide very intuitive information in a very understandable format. I have an idea for a future watch and learn video I was hoping you would consider. Moonphase watches have recently caught my attention and was hoping you could do a video on the differences between a "true moonphase watch" and a watch that simply acts as an AM/PM indicator. As always, thank you for the videos, I truly enjoy watching and learning from them.

[@islandwatch]

Okay, thank you!

[@edwmonzon]

Nice job! Interesting video!

[@islandwatch]

Thanks for watching.

[@SeanBenson23]

Easy decision to subscribe. Great video. Thanks

[@stuartbrown25]

thank you for this great video marc, now I know what hacking is and how it works.

[@willtothewong]

Awesome video!

[@Lee_K_5555]

Fascinating. It's really surprising that the friction lever contact point against the balance wheel is so simple and effective. I guess not that much pressure is needed to stop the balance wheel in its tracks. Great addition to the W&L series!

[@islandwatch]

Nope. The balance is extremely delicate.

[@denisticic5150]

Very good video , keep it on !

[@islandwatch]

Will try!

[@JohnConnor12]

Great video.

[@michaelcloud9230]

great video, I just now at 50 I'm getting into watchmaking and repair and have been looking into getting me a microscope for it, but its daunting as there's many out there. what would you recommend for a scope around 200-400 give or take dollars new or used. I see the good magnification in the video and how you have room to work under it. Thankyou for all the videos

[@kyleoberhauser9349]

Loved you in the show Weeds

[@warrenpeece1900]

Loving this series. Currently looking at the Citizen Atomic Timekeeping watches and wondered if you planned on making a video on Atomic Timekeeping and/or comparing stainless steel with titanium (there are two versions and I'm stuck between the two). Thanks and keep up the great series!

[@islandwatch]

Perhaps, I will try, thank you.

[@thedislikebutton9819]

Great video, fun little anecdote my watch looks like it uses the exact same movement (or at least the same automatic rotor). I own a Tissot Visodate and I was staring at this like damn that looks familiar

[@CoolCforlife]

nice! another great video. Thanks for showing that!

[@islandwatch]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@hectordemarchena4414]

Mark, great video! I may not have listened carefully enough but I'll still ask, are there other mechanisms that don't use a friction stop to hack? Also, do you think as some say that hacking can damage the mechanism? Thank for your great series and continued good luck with LIW.

[@islandwatch]

I don't think hacking ruins the movement. This is the only method I've seen where it's a balance stop. There are likely others.

[@FreeToUseChannelArtTemplates]

Hey my watch seems to have a problem starting back up again after being stopped from hacking. if i removed the hacking lever would it still function as a normal watch but with out hacking?

[@siraajkhandkar2093]

Thank you, Mark!

[@islandwatch]

You are welcome, hope you got something good out of it.

[@Johnydanerous]

Great Job Thank you very much !

[@islandwatch]

Thanks for watching.

[@DigitalicaEG]

Awesome, thanks!

[@fernandoguerrero2895]

Great video

[@islandwatch]

Thanks.

[@dr.omar.insights2000]

Good job

[@islandwatch]

Thanks.

[@triples4good]

pretty cool. very interesting.

[@islandwatch]

indeed!

[@jefferyneu3915]

I think you should give watchmaking another go. You seem to have a talent for it. It would certainly blend with your engineering background.

[@islandwatch]

No thanks. My hands are WAYYYY too shaky.

[@mrz80]

You ought to show how Glycine did hacking on the original Airman. It's something not a lot of watchmakers are familiar with, and tends to be a function that gets broken when an unfamiliar watchmaker services an Airman. There's a lever that moves a tiny wire up through the face into the path of the second hand at the top of its sweep, stopping it from moving.

[@Robert.Dickson]

Liked, as always.

[@islandwatch]

Thank you!

[@victorkinszki3130]

Hi what steel it is in watch movement. It is different between watchis? Thank you

[@eamonn6492]

Hi Marc I was thinking ! How do you release main spring , could you do a video on this ? Cheers Uk

[@islandwatch]

Okay, thank you for the idea.

[@geraldwoodny5252]

That was awesome

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@ericscamman1685]

Hi Mark! Great series btw! I just bought an Orient open heart from you guys and can’t wait to wear it! Question... does hacking serve any benefit?

[@islandwatch]

Only accurate timesetting.

[@jerryg50]

This is from what I understand about quartz/electronic time devices. On a quartz watch when pulling out the crown of a mechanical quartz watch it stops the electronics to the drive motor circuit. There are different design techniques to achieve the same effect. On a digital quartz watch pressing the set button and selecting seconds reset to go to zero it does a zero set in the seconds counter circuit. The master oscillator and main circuits are always working. In a digital watch if the power is completely cut the display will go out.

[@LazyJacques]

That is a very nice classic Datejust. Your dad has good taste in watches. Guess it's not that surprising he liked nice watches, seeing what his son got into.

[@islandwatch]

Thank you, I appreciate that.

[@romanus8788]

Hi Mark, This is Sam, thanks for great videos, enjoying your videos ever since i started digging in mechanical watches, into building up my own vintage watch collections. Where my watches doesn't support hacking btw. The thing is, As i'd always been real careful all the time when I default the time setting on my watch, trying back-hacking. I'm itching weather hacking would inflict any damage or totally safe for your watch. I'd believed that it's totally okay you using the hacking system, it doesn't harm your timepiece according to an article about this issue. where they say it's just slightly detaching only the second hand from the MVT, while it's operating. But At least Mine seems to be on the same mechanism as the one in your video. Which seems to be letting the balance wheel to a pause. So, can i be not too much worrisome about harming my watch any? Thank you for your reading and your answer in advance. Sam.

[@KillerByte666]

Always a pleasure to watch your W&L videos ! Plus a wrist check what we need more : thank you m8te for sharing your passion ;)

[@islandwatch]

Thanks for watching!

[@gratengelsker7614]

My blue ray i ordered from you come today, it is absolutely beautifull! I just have 2 questions regarding the crown. How hard should i screw it down for it to be water resistant etc? It makes a weire buzzing sound when i screw in the crown, is this normal? Its my first mechanical watch :)

[@islandwatch]

Just until finger tight; you do not have to crank down on it. The buzzing you hear is the watch winding while it screws down; normal!

[@mohammedziad1612]

Thank u

[@FredoWfpb]

Hey Mark my Hamilton Khaki Mechanical has hacking but sometimes it won’t hack when I pull out the crown. It’s not a screw down crown so it should just hack every time right? Just bought it so i don’t know if I should return it

[@CvT_Custom_Cues]

what do you think is the problem when after pushing back in ,(when the lever lifts up from the balance wheel) ,and the balance wheel does not start back on its own. it requires a little shake

[@stevek8829]

When doctors stop a heart they need to give it a little jolt to start ticking again.

[@bruhdabones]

Why does the first movement you disassemble (the ETA) look nearly identical to my Chinese $15 pocket watch assembly?

[@mna7ee]

Thank you Mark. I just bought Seiko SSA374J1 with 4R71 movement. I “hack” my watch 3 times a day to match time with time.is I only pull crown to stop second hand at 12 and put it back. My question is does this damage my watch?

[@DigitalicaEG]

Ahmed Al Mulhim why?

[@keekim880]

Hi Marc I have a skx007 and I adjusted the minute hand counter clockwise for just a minute to set the time just right and I noticed the second hand kind of paused for a second. Does that damage the movement in any way if I turn the hands counter clockwise to set the time?

[@islandwatch]

No damage. You can set the time backwards briefly, but not over several hours.

[@keekim880]

Ok thank you.

[@Mengelaus]

Ok so I learned a new thing today, thanks Mark. Looking at how simple the method of hacking is makes me wonder why the watch companies don't implement it in all of their movements.

[@islandwatch]

I think the movements being developed in the last decade do; it is your movements from the 90's that don't.

[@Mengelaus]

Ohh, never thought of that. Good point.

[@ryanrabe7184]

Could it affect the balance wheel?to much hacking...

[@cumibakar10]

Does this not damage the balance wheel over time?

[@CraigMedlinmusic]

On my automatic watch, the second hand comes to a stop a few seconds after i pull the crown, but the balance wheel keeps on spinning. Do you know how what the deal is with this? It's a rotary Calibre - R.1004.21

[@islandwatch]

Not really, but this is one method of hacking. I'm sure there are others.

[@wayneho6458]

Hi Mark. A noob question. Does constant usage of hacking wears out the balance wheel, causing it to wobble? Since the hacking level is using friction stop?

[@TealJosh]

All mechanical moving parts are suspectible for wear and tear, but in this case, without manufacturing issue I don't think it would be the first part to fail.

[@islandwatch]

Nah, not in our lifetime of use.

[@tatarugabriel4328]

For some reason my nh35 movement had a loose hacking lever (I did wear the watch in a pretty abusive way tho). My watch stopped sometimes and I didn't understand why. I noticed the loose lever so I just superglued in lol. My watch works now. It doesn't have the hacking option now obviously. Eventually I'll replace the movement

[@LazyJacques]

Very interesting. Doesn't seem like a very complicated or costly mechanism - I wonder why Seiko left it out of the 7S26 movement on the SKX007/009? Another video perhaps?

[@islandwatch]

The 7S26 was developed decades ago. I guess they just didn't see the necessity. (not sure I do either!)

[@LazyJacques]

Well, I just received my SKX from you yesterday. If you need more precision in setting time, doing a little backwards/forwards second-hand dance with the action is actually not that difficult. Doing so doesn't harm the movement, does it?

[@roryckeel5176]

Please explain the need for hacking and it value to a watch.

[@officialandproper]

Rory C Keel It lets you set the time with greater precision: many automatic watches run slightly fast, so when the time displayed on your watch is too far ahead after a few days or weeks (depending on how good your watch is and how important high accuracy is to you), you can just watch the second hand reach 12, pull the crown so that the watch stops, then wait for time to "catch up" to your watch. Reference a reliable time source (I use my cell phone) and push the crown back in exactly when the minute changes to match the time shown on your watch. Now you'll be exactly in time again to the second. Really helpful!

[@comedyman112]

@@officialandproper why do people care about 1 minute? Jesus...

[@officialandproper]

@@comedyman112 Well, perhaps someone who is obsessed with accuracy will reply - I can only speak for myself: I like being as punctual and accurate as reasonably possible, and it just makes me a little bit happy to know my watch is just right. Nothing fancier than that, and no particularly good reason beyond that. In reality of course, one minute will seldom make much difference. What would you consider an acceptable level of inaccuracy before it's too much?

[@bruhdabones]

@@officialandproper I totally agree, I love seeing my watch change minutes as my phone changes minutes :) That being said, keep in mind that Android phones are 15 seconds behind, since they rely directly on GPS for time, and GPS satellites have missed a few leap seconds...

[@JanPBtest]

I catch a train twice every day, this kind of precision is _extremely_ practical, trust me :-)

[@qusaymanchesterunited8004]

Hi, I repaired my movement from another side, & adjusted the lever, but when I pull the stem out, still running unfortunately & if I rotate miles many time, stop little then work again, how can adjust the lever again can you explain?

[@1984ohl]

Does leaving a movement in hacking position for too long damage the watch?

[@silverghost4206]

No.. When you go to buy a watch. All the watches are off.. Its basically just a off position for the watch to not run or tick at all... Until the watch is purchased...

[@TopSecretVid]

Hey Mark I am curious about something and I just can’t find any info from Google. I have new watch that has a ETA 2824-2 movement yet it does not hack. All other functions work, setting the time and date etc. Is it possible that some early 2824 movements did not have a hacking function?

[@TopSecretVid]

Maybe it’s a 17jewel 2824-2? Possible not possible. Still learning here

[@islandwatch]

LOL, just replied on your other comment in a different video.

[@kswaminathan5439]

But every time the hacking lever hits the oscillating balance wheel, won't it damage the balance wheel?

[@homunculus777]

Nice video. One thing though, the camera seems to always focus on the wall behind you during the couch parts of the videos.

[@islandwatch]

Did not realize that, thank you!

[@Nicotine46]

Whouldn't it damage the movement if we use the hacking to much or for too long?

[@melody3741]

Do you actually go out in two watches? Sometimes i bring my small seagull to time things when i wanna wear a panerai or whatever with no chrono and im always worried people would look at me weird.

[@ShaggyOtis]

Does anybody have the slightest clue as to why a brand new Seiko with the 4R35 movement doesn't hack seconds when I pull the crown to the second position? Everything else works flawlessly but I can't find an answer anywhere and it's so frustrating.

[@jbaumun]

In adventure military and thriller movies and novels & television shows, a team leader will call for everyone on the team to "synchronize your watches everybody " ; does this refer to the need for 'to the minute hacking' ? Wasn't it necessary for aerial bombing missions ?

[@gorditonatural1359]

Got a question though ??.. what benefits do you get from stopping the seconds hand ??

[@cornpop_tv]

You can set the time more accurately.

[@j.s.3414]

Kratos zeus it allows you to "hack" for more precise time.

[@matthewreagan2384]

Great video! When will you start selling fully stocked junk drawers.

[@islandwatch]

LOL; got loads!

[@abdelmercifulgaming7890]

Hey mark , there's no option for shipping to my country called Jordan :( is their a way i can purchase a watch personally from you so you can ship it to me through international shipping? Help me mark D:

[@islandwatch]

Maybe use a USA based freight forwarder?

[@skynet_cyberdyne_systems]

interesting

[@ytube777]

How is this any different from a quartz movement??? In either scenario, when I pull the crown out the second hand stops and when I push back it in the second hand starts.

[@silverghost4206]

Good question.. It is different from a quartz. But kinda same stoppage for the watch. Just dont have the same movements... Quartz / mechanical... Hard to explain.. Maybe someone else can.

[@TheHiderOfKeys]

How does "back-hacking" work on seiko/other watches? -Where one applies a mild back pressure on the crown so the second hand stops. And does it actually risk damaging the movement of the watch, if so how? I'd like to know.

[@islandwatch]

Maybe we can make it a future WNL to show how it works?

[@aleksajonic2919]

What is your opinion on new Zenith watch. Maybe a video?

[@jfrschnell]

I was blown away by that new system they came up to. It is nice to see some watches reduce the number of parts to get the same result (sistem51) but the Zenith it's really another level that is why I like watches... the engineering behind it.

[@motosessions]

Swaggiest man alive - one watch per wrist!

[@davidcervini5187]

Why is it important? Or what is the use of the hacking lever? It stops the second hand. Why is that good or important?

[@Bhatakti_Hawas]

wow just wow

[@islandwatch]

OK!

[@sbenjapong]

👍👍👍👍🙏

[@josephearth1551]

Since I bought my automatic watch , I have not been wearing any of my quartz watches. The quartz do not feel like a real watch to me any longer. l am fascinated by the beautiful work of art in mechanical watches.

[@ЭтоДрючинский]

Watching how simple this feature is implemented I wonder even more, why the heck 7S26 lacks this basic feature??

[@islandwatch]

just wasn't needed, actually still isn't needed really.

[@foundati0n]

@@islandwatch Why not? Is it because being eventually desynced for up to 30 seconds isn't such a big deal as it seems? Or is there a different way to sync a watch without a hacking function every day?

[@Nikioko]

Hacking doesn't mean that just the second hand but the balance wheel and therefore the whole watch stops. ;-)

[@thorsan42]

Actually, there are quartz watches without a hacking feature. For instance, many swatch models.

[@islandwatch]

Thank you, I did not know that.

[@rodpanhard]

Why is hacking so important on an automatic watch, I always picture the "synchronise watches" command alongside a military strike team but an automatic is out so many seconds one way or another the next day so whats the point of synchronising the seconds hand to anything?

[@Nicotine46]

Just to put the exact time more easily. Even though it will be desynchronise within a few days.

[@jk12324]

So if your watch isn't hackable, then can you technically hack it by taking the back off and stop the balancing wheel with a toothpick?

[@islandwatch]

Yeah, but not advisable!

[@brucebanksshow]

Have you done an affordable watch video?