New to Automatic Watches? Start Here!

New to Automatic Watches

If this is your first automatic watch, welcome to a tradition of mechanical timekeeping powered by motion rather than a battery.

An automatic movement contains a mechanical mainspring that powers the watch. As you wear it, the movement of your wrist turns a rotor inside the case, winding the mainspring. Your Fullness of Time watch can also be wound manually using the crown.

Starting and Winding Your Watch

If your watch has stopped:

  1. Remove the watch from your wrist.
  2. If the crown is screwed down, gently turn it counterclockwise until it releases.
  3. Leave the crown in its normal position.
  4. Turn the crown clockwise approximately 20–30 times to start the watch.
  5. A complete manual wind may require approximately 55 turns.

Gentle movement will also wind the watch, but manually winding it before setting the time provides a stronger starting reserve.

A fully wound movement will generally run for approximately 40 hours without being worn, although actual running time can vary.

Understanding the Crown Positions

Your watch has three crown positions:

  • Normal position: Used for winding
  • First click: Used for setting the date and, on Joshua GMT models, the 24-hour hand
  • Second click: Used for setting the primary hour and minute hands

If the watch has a screw-down crown, it must first be unscrewed before these positions can be accessed.  If you feel a slight "pop" when you unscrew the crown, that's completely normal.  That's just the sprint inside the crown releasing from being compressed when screwed down.

Understanding the Crown Positions

Your watch has three crown positions:

  • Normal position: Used for winding
  • First click: Used for setting the date and, on Joshua GMT models, the 24-hour hand
  • Second click: Used for setting the primary hour and minute hands

If the watch has a screw-down crown, it must first be unscrewed before these positions can be accessed.

Setting the Time

  1. Unscrew the crown if necessary.
  2. Pull the crown out to the second click.
  3. Turn the crown to set the hour and minute hands.
  4. Make certain that AM and PM are set correctly. The date changes when the watch passes midnight.
  5. Push the crown completely back into its normal position.

If the crown screws down, press it gently toward the case while turning it clockwise. Stop when it is secure. Never force the crown or overtighten it.

Setting the Date

Important: Do not use the quick-set date function between 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. The movement may already be engaging its date-change mechanism during these hours, and adjusting the date could damage it.

If you are uncertain whether the watch is showing morning or evening:

  1. Pull the crown to the second click.
  2. Move the hands forward until the date changes. You have now located midnight.
  3. Continue moving the hands to approximately 6:30.
  4. Push the crown to the first click.
  5. Turn the crown counterclockwise to select the correct date.
  6. Return to the second click and set the correct time.
  7. Push the crown back in and secure it.

Setting the 24-Hour Hand on a Joshua GMT

The additional arrow-shaped hand on your Joshua GMT completes one revolution every 24 hours. It can display your home time, another time zone, or indicate whether it is morning or evening.

  1. Set the primary hour and minute hands first.
  2. Pull the crown to the first click.
  3. Turn the crown clockwise to move the 24-hour hand.
  4. Set the hand against the numbered 24-hour bezel.

The 24-hour scale is read as follows:

  • 3 represents 3:00 a.m.
  • 12 represents noon
  • 15 represents 3:00 p.m.
  • 18 represents 6:00 p.m.
  • 24 or the triangle represents midnight

For example, if the primary hands show 3:00 p.m. and you want the GMT hand to display the same time, set the GMT hand to 15 on the bezel.

For simple two-time-zone use, leave the bezel’s triangle at the 12 o’clock position. The primary hands can display your current local time while the 24-hour hand displays the time at home or in another location.

Turning the crown counterclockwise while it is in the first-click position changes the date, so confirm the date after adjusting the GMT hand.

Normal Mechanical Accuracy

An automatic watch will not behave exactly like a battery-powered quartz watch. It may gain or lose a small number of seconds each day depending on wrist movement, temperature, power reserve and the position in which it rests overnight.

Each Fullness of Time watch is individually tested on a timegrapher. The results recorded on your Certificate of Stewardship represent the watch’s performance during testing and may vary slightly during everyday wear.

Water Resistance and Crown Care (See full section on this topic for more information)

Each Fullness of Time watch is individually pressure tested to the rating stated on its Certificate of Stewardship.

Before exposing the watch to water:

  • Make certain the crown is completely pushed in and securely screwed down.
  • Never pull, turn or operate the crown while the watch is wet or underwater.
  • Avoid hot tubs, saunas and hot showers, because heat and steam can affect the seals.
  • Do not use a watch rated to 5 ATM for scuba diving.

Water resistance can diminish over time as seals age. Periodic inspection is recommended if the watch is frequently exposed to water.

Questions?

If you have questions about winding, setting or caring for your watch, please contact Fullness of Time Watch Company at info@fullnessoftimewatches.com. We will be glad to help you enjoy your timepiece with confidence.