setting seconds at 0

[Yacine]

Hi Guys!
I would like to sync my watch with the us time service department (usno).
my question is how to set the seconds of my watch at 0? it's just keep running and i can't stop it...i would like to start my watch running in sync with another time (usno or whatever..) without any delay with the seconds.
in other word, how to stop my seconds at 0? in order to start it in sync..
Thx for answering,

[OysterDavid]

What kind of watch do you have? What you're trying to accomplish is called 'hacking' and it automatic (and quartz) movements that have that feature, it involves pulling the crown out to a hand setting position and that should 'freeze' the sweep hand.

If you have an older Rolex (or another brand) that does not have this hacking feature, then you want to 'retard' the sweep hand by pulling the crown to the hand setting position and then turning the crown backwards which should retard the sweep hand allowing you to sync it up with the time setting web page. But this would have to be a very old Rolex or other automatic brand as hacking has been a feature for the past few decades.

[Yacine]

Daytona 16520
there is almost a 25 seconds retard delay compared to website...
I tried your method but it didn't work for me :/
Anyone could tell me exactly each step i should follow?
Thx in advance!

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Yacine

Daytona 16520
there is almost a 25 seconds retard delay compared to website...
I tried your method but it didn't work for me :/
Anyone could tell me exactly each step i should follow?
Thx in advance!

When setting the time, turn the hands slight counter clockwise to stop the second hands. Do this prior to setting the minute and hour hands.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by dddrees

When setting the time, turn the hands slight counter clockwise to stop the second hands. Do this prior to setting the minute and hour hands.

But don't turn the hand backwards again or you will 'hack' it again.

IMO I would check your timing and establish whether your Daytona is running fast or slow and set it ahead of or behind time accordingly so that it can catch up or slow down to the correct time. If you set a watch exactly to the correct web time then in most cases that will be the only time it will be correct as it will either be fast or slow from that point.

Just my 2c.

[goldspur]

watch without hack function can be hacked but depends on friction of cannon
pinion and power from main spring so best time to do this is when watch is
run down say 12 to 20 hours.

[Yacine]

Thanks Dan, directioneng and goldspur!
I made it!:) perfect now!
other questions:
1. I wonder though if hacking it that way won't damage the springs, etc...(i'm not an expert of what's inside the watch) or is it safe doing it?
I hope u understand me..)
2. Could you please remind me the meaning of the positions of the watch when crown is up, down, upside-down.. i have read somewhere that it has an impact on seconds + or -... (I couldn't find it in my favorites and trf..)
Thanks for answering

[Rikki]

Hacking won't damage anything in the watch and the positional errors are that when a watch runs dial up or dial down it's running on the tips of the balance staff and therefore very little friction, dial up down or sideways the balance rides on the shaft of the balance staff and has more friction causing the amplitude decrease and the watch to ever so slightly gain time. So as you wear your watch throughout the day it goes into most of these positions and then the time is averaged out. Hope that helps Rikki

[Rikki]

Addendom the second part should have been stem up down or sideways not dial my bad. Rikki

[Yacine]

Thanks Rikki for helping!
Yesterday i wanted to loose 1sec. So i left the watch crown down. result this morning: -2 sec
Tonight, should i leave it crown up or face up?

[Rikki]

dial up

[Yacine]

thx