I'm sure this is a noobie question, so sorry and thanks in advance.
I don't have a winder (yet), what are the precautions I should take when I go on vacation and my automatic runs out of reserve?
I read in my manual that I shouldn't change time between 10 to 2 (just to be safe). So is there anything more doing the following when I come back to my automatic watch?
thanks!
When you get back manually move the time ahead so that the date changes once and go to about 5 am. Now move the date ahead to the day before the actual date. Now set the time so that the date changes to the correct date and then set to the correct time. Then wind.
Seems tedious but if you follow this protocol you cannot get into trouble.
Alan,
Could you be a bit more specific, because I don't understand.
First you move the date, then you move the date some more?
Then you set the date to the day before by changing time and then you change the time some more before you wind?
Kind regards,
Waimar
hi guys, welcome to the forum.
Change of date - the prohibited time period I believe is 8 pm and 2 am everyday. here is some advice here from our moderator's earlier post:
so basically if you just returned from your holiday today and want to set the correct time now:
1) move the hour and minute hands to make sure the time is not anytime within 8 pm and 2 am
2) quick-adjust the Date to one day before today's (yesterday basically) date
3) then manually move the hour and minute hands forward until the date and hour and minute are correct as of right now
this is the method I prefer too.
It's a bit like understanding the rules of cricket!!
Thanks very much shing, a very clear description.
Since I do not own an IWC yet I did not know the date and time can be adjusted separately, which was the cause of my confusion.
Thanks again for clarifying.
Waimar
Good point, Dave...ever thought about a Cricket Watch? Elegant, robust, reliable and one could combine it with a GMT complication...optional colours of course for team or country, counting function...
I did not know cricket actually had rules. I always thought they made them up as they went along, throwing and hitting the little red ball, while running back an forth. The "tea and biscuits break" is particularly quaint. :-)
Haha, I vote for the Portuguese Minute Repeater 5449 as it is hand wound (not enough action for an automatic except when walking to and from the beer tent), and the repeater will wake you up for lunch time, tea time, and when it's time to go home!
Bye the way, I used to play cricket so I say these things tongue in cheek!
Brilliant! I love the beer tent stuff :-)
Cricket is simple, when you are in you are out on the field batting and when you are out you are back in the pavilion. You may be fielding in which case you may stand at silly mid on or silly mid off or cover or maybe long stop, or other places like short leg. At least it does not require the diving and acting abilities of football. What could be simpler!? Whether you are in or out on a cricket pitch you would be advised not to wear an IWC.
Hi Shing - as always, thanks for the quick and clear response.
So just to be clear, on the step #3, b/c the date was set to yesterday's date from step #2, do I just manually move the time crossing midnight so the date would change to today's and then I can set the time to today's current time. Is that correct?
I think I understand the restriction of 8pm to 2am, but my confusion and fear is: so it would be ok to manually wind crossing the midnight hour? E.g. I set my time to 6'o clock and date to yesterdays, then I would manually wind it and watch the date change and that is OK?
Yes, correct.
The whole idea is to make sure you never set the date while its between 8pm and 2am. Following this procedure insures no trouble.
(Or you could simply set the time by winding ahead until you get to the correct date and time. Fine for a day or two , but tedious for a couple of weeks catch up.)
Alan - thanks! I think that's the "money" line there :-)
Thanks for everyone's clarification, it's just a bit scary when handling such a precious machine (at least for me...)
My advise, bring your watch with you and take pictures and post it to where has your IWC taken you.
When you go on a vacation, your watch should too.
I like your thinking :-)
But I was thinking getting another IWC on the trip and wear THAT one back, any IWC boutique in Buenos Aires?
Oh, then that is a different story. I like your thinking too. Looking forward to your new IWC if ever. Enjoy your vacation.
Just to get back to the calendar setting issue:
as the ETA-Valjoux 7750 based movements have a prohibited zone and they do not instantly jump to the next day-date, and
as I stay awake sometimes till midnight and do not like them being between two days and
as I work till 8 PM on several days and the short month date correction has to be made at cca. 9 PM on those days:
I usually ask my watchmaker to re-adjust the calender wheels and hands on my ETA-VAljoux 7750 movement watches so as the termination of the calender shift should be at 2 AM.
So
- shift begins at cca 1 AM when I usually sleep
- till midnight I see the adequate day-date without the changing period
- this way date adjusting can be safely done at cca. 9 PM.
Best,
Robert
I think this is the source of your confusion. I expect the manual says you should not quick-set the date between 10 and 2.
Remember that you can adjust the time and date separately by pulling the crown out by 1 position (to change the time) and to the 2nd position to change the date only (quick-set the date).
You can quite safely wind the time forwards between 10 and 2, and the date will move over normally. What you must not do is adjust the date alone between 10 and 2.
There are basically two ways to set the time/date.
1) Adjust the time to, say, 5 (could be 4 or 6, as long as it is not between 10 and 2). Then quick-set the date to yesterday's day. Now wind the time forwards until the date moves to today, and continue setting the time to "now".
2) Wind the time forwards until the date changes and continue to change the time until correct. Then quick-set the date to today (provided the time is not between 10pm and 2am!)
I think method 1 is the safest.
Ross, I agree with your method 1) as the safest, that is also the method I use when necessary, such as 1st March.
Ross - thanks for your explanation, that's right, I was a bit confused and scared by that. Thanks much!
Only the ability for "spot fixing". :)
And for that IWCs are not required
Antonio, Touché, great retort!
No ball!