To wind your watch, grasp the grooved crown that juts out from the frame of the watch between your fingers and gently turn it clockwise. You should hear a repeating "click" sound as it turns. Continue to wind the watch until you begin to feel some resistance. You can over wind and damage the watch if you try to force the crown to turn, so take it slow for the first few days you have your watch until you get a feel for how much you can wind it.
To set the time, remove or open the front cover, and you will see a small lever at 2, 5 or 10 o'clock depending on the model of your watch. Pull out this lever with a thumbnail or small pocket knife. Turning the crown will then set the time; you should be able to turn both clockwise and counter-clockwise. Once you have set the time, gently push the lever back toward the watch to return it to the winding position.
For proper maintenance of your vintage mechanical watch, we suggest that if you are carrying/wearing the watch daily, you have it cleaned and serviced by a professional watchmaker annually. If the watch is used sparingly or for display, we suggest this be done once every 3-5 years. We also recommend that if you do not already carry your watch regularly you wind it at least 2-3 times a month to help keep the movement works active. Think of your watch like you do your car; preventative service on a regular schedule can save wear and tear on the parts and extend the life of your watch! Please feel free to contact us any time you have questions about this.
When not in use, we suggest storing the watch in a dry covered location, try to avoid places where excessive moisture or dust will accumulate or where the watch would be in direct sunlight. We suggest glass domed displays or cloth lined storage boxes (such as a jewelry box). Although not necessary to the working condition of your watch, we also suggest purchasing a polishing cloth to help maintain the luster of your case. We do carry a basic selection of these items on our website under the "Supplies" section.
Related Products:
Vintage Pocket Watches
More Winding & Setting Instruction pages:
Pendant Set Watch Instructions
Pin Set Watch Instructions
Key Wind & Set Watch Instructions
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