What to watch out for when using a replica mechanical watch for the first time?

　　I believe many watch enthusiasts have a special fondness for mechanical watches. A timepiece measuring just a few square centimetres integrates hundreds or thousands of precision parts, making it more like a work of art. However, mechanical watches also have many points to note when wearing and using them, and improper operation may cause damage. Below are a few points to summarise when using for the first timeReplica mechanical watchpoints to note and handling methods.

　　Points to note when adjusting a replica mechanical watch for the first time:

　　1. Fully automatic mechanical watches rely on kinetic energy from wearing to wind.

　　Before using for the first time or after a long period of disuse, please shake the watch a few times or manually wind it 10-20 times to ensure sufficient power to start.

　　2. Please note that regardless of whether you are adjusting the date

　　or the time, please keep the hands and date disc moving forward in a clockwise direction, and try to avoid reversing them so as not to damage the movement.

　　3. Do not adjust the hands backwards

　　If you accidentally adjust the hands past the desired time, you should continue adjusting until they cycle round to the correct position, rather than taking a shortcut and adjusting them backwards. Similarly, if you adjust the calendar too far, even if it means cycling forward by 30 days, do not adjust it in reverse. Once the adjustment is complete, push the crown in firmly.

　　How to adjust the calendar and time on a mechanical watch:

　　4. Adjusting the calendar

　　Generally, pulling the crown out to the first click is the calendar adjustment position. Advance the calendar until it stops on the day before the current date. (Before doing this, first adjust the hour hand forward to the lower half of the dial, which is around the 6 o'clock position, to avoid interfering with the calendar adjustment mechanism). If the actual date is the 10 and the watch calendar shows the 13, you need to keep turning it through 14, 15 a full circle until it reaches the 9, and you must not take the shortcut of adjusting it backwards!

　　5. Setting the seconds and time

　　This step must be carried out before 9 in the evening and after three o'clock in the morning, again to prevent affecting the calendar adjustment mechanism.

　　Currently, most automatic mechanical watches have a hacking seconds function, meaning that when the crown is pulled out to the time-setting position, the second hand will stop. After finishing the calendar adjustment, wait for the second hand to reach the 12 o'clock position, then pull the crown out to the 2 position. At this point, the second hand will stop, and you can then set the time against a standard time source, such as a time signal. Make sure the minute hand is aligned precisely with the markers to resolve any issues with the minute hand not aligning with the markers when the watch leaves the factory, until the calendar changes correctly and there are no issues over the 24-hour period.

Related reading:

How do mechanical watches store power?

How do you wind an automatic mechanical watch?

A watch enthusiast's favourite: manual-winding mechanical watches

Manual-Wind vs Automatic: Which Mechanical Watch Is Better?

What is a three-hand watch? Recommendations for the most clean and practical three-hand mechanical watches