Don't forget - the clocks go back tonight

Tikay10

pompeynic

Is it true that you should never wind a clock or watch backwards, so as to protect the mechanism? Or am I remembering something that simply isn’t so.

PKRPar

cause we all need another hour of 2020...

VespaPX

pompeynic said:

Is it true that you should never wind a clock or watch backwards, so as to protect the mechanism? Or am I remembering something that simply isn’t so.

The reason moving the time in reverse is harmful on mechanical watches is because the mechanisms are only designed to move forward, so reversing their movement can cause stress on the parts. Also, once you’ve owned the watch for awhile, reversing the movement rubs against the pattern of wear and can cause additional, unnecessary wear.

That being said, this doesn’t apply to most modern watches. They are generally designed to handle this without problems or wear, but check with your manufacturer first. Here’s a quick way to tell: if your mechanical watch’s second hand does NOT stop when you put the watch in time setting mode, then you should definitely not turn the hands backwards.

goldon

Moon Walking Watch.