Caveat on setting time around mid-night?

[psharpless]

is this really an issue? Comment on another post stated this shouldn't be done between 8pm and 3am... is this really an issue and if so why no mention of it in rolex material obtained at purchase??

[kareemthedream33]

Good question. The instruction booklet for my Breitling says the same thing and I've wondered about it since

[Clay]

No, you can set the "Time" any Time you like....No worries....

[MoosicPa]

The modern Rolex with the quickset dates allow the watch to be set anytime. However, if you dealing with another brand, especially ones with complications, be careful and read the instructions before setting the date, as some do advise not to set during certain hours.

[Speed]

Set the date anytime...but make sure a black cat does not cross your path while you are doing it! Also make sure you do NOT under any circumstance change the date on Friday the 13th.

[dddrees]

What you are probably more concerned about is setting the date. With most mechanical watches it is best not to adjust any of the other items or complications such as date or day unless you first set the time at 06:30 AM. The reason you wouldn't want to do this is because between the hours of 8:00 PM and 03:00 AM the gears associated to all these complications are engaged and you can damage some of these gears by manually adjusting during this time.

My understanding is that you needn't worry about this with any modern day Rolex as this is not an issue with their movements.

[Dripp]

But what do you do if you stick your watch in a drawer after you get home from work on Friday, and pick it up on Monday morning and set it? You have no idea if it's between the forbidden hours?

[Paracentesis]

Originally Posted by Dripp

But what do you do if you stick your watch in a drawer after you get home from work on Friday, and pick it up on Monday morning and set it? You have no idea if it's between the forbidden hours?

There are no forbidden hours with a Rolex.

[dannyboy123]

Originally Posted by Paracentesis

There are no forbidden hours with a Rolex.

this is indeed the case, why however do the other manufacturers not make similar movements. I have an Oris with an ETA and stripped the gears messing with the date at the wrong time - just figured all watches guts were the same - I now read the instruction manuals on all my non Rolex watches.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Dripp

But what do you do if you stick your watch in a drawer after you get home from work on Friday, and pick it up on Monday morning and set it? You have no idea if it's between the forbidden hours?

You set the time first. Thats is change the time until it goes past midnight. You will know this once the date and or day change. Then take it to 06:30 AM. Once there make the rest of your complication settings to the correct date. Then set the time accordingly.

Assume all non-Rolex has this issue. I am not positive that is the case, however I know Rolex does not, and most of my other brands do.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by dddrees

You set the time first. Thats is change the time until it goes past midnight. You will know this once the date and or day change. Then take it to 06:30 AM. Once there make the rest of your complication settings to the correct date. Then set the time accordingly.

Assume all non-Rolex has this issue. I am not positive that is the case, however I know Rolex does not, and most of my other brands do.

This is the correct approach. The rule is: do not set the date, or set the time backwards, between 8pm and 3am. It is fine to set the time forward. This is the safe way to test whether the time showing is am or pm: move the watch forward past 12:00. If the date changes, it's midnight. If it doesn't, it's noon.

I agree, it would be nice if all watches were free of this issue, but few are. As more watch manufacturers develop in-house designs, this rule may become anachronistic. But for now, gven that ETA designs are so entrenched in the Swiss watch industry, it's a good idea to apply the 8-3 rule any time you don't know for a fact it's safe not to apply it.

[Zed Homme]

Originally Posted by Speed

Set the date anytime...but make sure a black cat does not cross your path while you are doing it! Also make sure you do NOT under any circumstance change the date on Friday the 13th.

We've got a black cat in the house, thanks a lot bill!

Seriously though, I've also heard my rolexes won't be affected by this. However, many of my other watches will so I always make sure the hour hand is on the lower hand of the dial before I set the date...