Guides · Use and care

How to wind a watch

If your automatic watch has stopped, wind it by the crown: turn it forwards (away from you) 20–30 times in the innermost position, and the mainspring is charged and the watch starts. After that, your arm keeps it running. You cannot overwind an automatic watch — a slipping clutch disengages when the mainspring is full.

A hand-wound watch has no rotor and must be wound every day or every other day; it is typically thinner and often has a display back, because the movement is beautiful to look at. All our automatic watches can be wound by the crown; see automatic watches.

If you have a question about a particular watch, ask Nord, our assistant, at the bottom right — or write to us.

More guides about use and care

Use and careHow to set the date and timeOn most watches you pull the crown out to the first click to set the date (and day) and to the outermost click to set the time. Use and careChanging the battery in a quartz watchA quartz battery typically lasts 2–5 years (chronographs use more). Use and careService and lifespanA mechanical watch should be serviced roughly every 5–7 years: the movement is taken apart, cleaned, oiled and adjusted, and the gaskets are replaced so it stays water resistant.