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Mastering the technique of adjusting electronic and mechanical watch dates
Most electronic and mechanical watches utilize a common mechanism for setting the date, so this article will guide you through popular products today. Of course, there are still many special types of watches with different adjustment methods, which will be discussed in a recent article.
General Rule: Watches with date calendars all share a common mechanism: The date advances at precisely 24-hour intervals, typically around 12:10 a.m. to 12:15 a.m.
Note: This does not apply to some types of electronic watches today.
There are 3 methods to adjust the date on different electronic and mechanical watches.
1. Rotate the hour hand 24 hours to advance the date
This is the most common method where you simply pull the crown to the first position and then rotate it clockwise. After 24 hours, the watch will automatically change the date. This method is also applicable to most single-button watches available today.
2. Adjust the date by pressing a button
Press it once and it leaps a day. Adjusting the date on an electronic watch, this method applies to certain types of watches with 3 buttons including a central pin and two buttons A and B on the sides. To perform this operation, you still need to pull the pin up one notch and then press A or B, depending on the type of watch, but typically adjusting the date on electronic watches, in this manner, is by pressing the A button.
3. Adjusting the date in the 9 → 12 style
This is a rather peculiar way of adjusting the date on an electronic or mechanical watch. On some devices, when you pull the pin one notch and turn the clock hands counterclockwise to 9 or 12 o'clock, the date will automatically jump. However, this method of adjusting the date on electronic or mechanical watches is quite rare, and some types of watches no longer apply this method.
Example: Your watch stopped at 9 o'clock on October 24, 2017, but now it's 8 o'clock on October 30, 2017. You do as follows:
- Pull the time adjustment knob to 12 midnight until the calendar advances to the 31st, then stop... (remember, it will be 0 o'clock on October 31, 2017 at this point)
- Return the time adjustment knob to the date adjustment notch, and the calendar will jump to October 30, 2017 (it will be 0 o'clock on October 30, 2012 at this point).
- Put the knob back into the time adjustment notch, it will advance to 8 o'clock in the morning, close the knob and you're done.
Additional note when using mechanical or electronic watches.
- Avoid using or storing watches in places with strong magnetic fields, as this can cause time inaccuracies, especially for mechanical watches.
- Always rinse the watch with warm water (note: do not use hot water from the tap) immediately after swimming (for watches permitted for diving)
- Avoid subjecting the watch to strong impacts, consider removing the watch during sports activities except for specialized sports watches.
- Regularly check the condition of the winding crown, the correct position is in the innermost notch. During use, the crown is prone to catching on clothing or other impacts that may pull it out.
- Weekly, clean the watch with warm water and soap to brush off dirt and sweat residue. Dirt and sweat residue are the main causes of water ingress into the watch.
- Do not use watches with chemicals that may damage the strap, watch case, or other components.
Above are the methods for adjusting the date on electronic and mechanical watches applicable to some common watch types today. There are many different types of smartwatches available on the market today, such as the Apple Watch. Although there are still limitations in battery life, the Apple Watch is a luxurious, stylish timepiece, and the connection between the iPhone and Apple Watch has been simplified like other Bluetooth devices.
