Setting a Complicated Watch While Sick

cazalea · 2018-01-02T17:29:12Z

Cazalea tackles setting a complicated watch without instructions while battling a cold. A humorous look at watch ownership and complex movements.

cazalea

WPS member · Seiko forum

10 replies1270 views17 photos

Cazalea shares a humorous and relatable account of battling a year-end cold, finding an unexpected challenge in setting a complicated watch without instructions. His narrative captures the essence of a collector's passion, even when under the weather, turning a mundane task into an engaging horological puzzle. This post offers a lighthearted look at watch ownership and the intricacies of complex movements.

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Let's assume (just theoretically) that you might have traveled too much, drank too much, spent too much and now you are paying the price. Head aching, nose running, bills coming, spirits sagging. Sigh.

Even perusing WatchProSite doesn't cheer you up, and you don't dare get found out with Collectors Market or Chrono24 on your screen. So you turn away from the computer and depression overwhelms you.

There is always the old standby - magazines! You can lock yourself in the "gents" and spent a peaceful few moments ... thinking how much better it is for everyone that you don't collect upright cased clocks.

Wondering if a diamond-marker TAG-Heuer is a watch you would wear ... but that dream only lasts so long. Eventually you have to come out and face reality.

==================

Yes, I am describing myself (except for the theoretical excesses). How WILL I survive this cold? I'm sick and I'm bored, and I am coming perilously near to exhausting all the tissues in the house. I've sipped up most of the honey, squeezed lemon into my tea, and even resorted to "fortifying" it - for medicinal purposes only, you understand?

What else can I do? (time passes) I know! It's time for a challenge: "Set the most complicated watch without using the directions". I reach into the watch cabinet and pull out the 7-hander.

(yes, that is the Seiko shelf of my cabinet; other brands are below; precious metal watches are above)

I study the watch for awhile. Can I remember how I've done it before? I cannot. Will I be able to set it? (I should not be operating complicated machinery - it says so on the NyQuil bottle)

I see that it has two crowns - why? No pushers on the case - why not? I can't remember.

I pull out the second crown and the day of the week hand LEAPS off the scale. Have I broken it? I couldn't have. I twist it one way, and the hour hand moves. I twist it the other way - nothing.

I push it back in - now it shows Monday. Hmmm. One way hours, other way days.

I revolve the hands around the dial and it's Tuesday. Hooray.

I need some more tea. A trip to the kitchen takes 5 minutes to heat the water, and 5 to choose the "fortification".

I set the time. It's a few seconds behind but do I care? I must confess I don't care at this point.

Pulling the main crown out to the first click lets me set the date. Now I realize I have to set the GMT hand to GMT.

That means turning the main crown one hour - advancing the GMT and hour hands, then pulling the second crown and putting the hour hand back one. Now I have an 8-hour gap, because 5pm + 8hr=13pm=1am, Done!

In a moment I notice the power reserve and see that I haven't wound it up yet. It's running just on slight motion. Oops. So I wind it and now all 7 hands are working.

I'm so happy that I now notice the calipers on the table, and I measure the watch case. It's 41.5mm, bigger than I remembered. I reward myself with some m&m's. And some tea.

I feel healthy enough to wear the watch. Cough, cough, gasp, sniff. But not back to full strength yet.

And that, my friends, is how this Purist spends his first day after the holidays. I've consumed 90 minutes, entertained at least one Purist (me) and feel a bit better.

Sniff, sniff. Pray that I get better soon, because I KNOW I cannot set this one without the book.

Cheers,

Cazalea

Key Points from the Discussion

The Seiko Astron GPS Solar, despite its advanced technology, is notoriously difficult to adjust, even with a manual, highlighting the complexity of some modern quartz movements.
The author, cazalea, agrees that the Astron's dial and operation are more complex than marketing suggests, reinforcing the challenge of setting such watches.
A fellow collector suggests that being unwell might actually be a prerequisite for successfully adjusting complicated watches without instructions, adding a humorous take on the challenge.
The post's entertaining nature and the visual appeal of the Ochs und Junior watch are highlighted, with one contributor noting the 'fortification' might be aiding the author's creativity.
The discussion briefly touches on the distinctive and joyful aesthetic of Alain Silberstein's watches, questioning why they haven't achieved broader popularity.

The Discussion

SALMANPK

Jan 2, 2018

and May the New Year Bring you Joy and Good Health. The last picture reminds me of Alain Silberstein's fun pieces. Why his watches aren't more popular I don't know. They give so much joy to the wearer. S

cazalea

Jan 2, 2018

They do make you smile, don’t they? Mike

MTF

Jan 2, 2018

Even with the instruction manual saved as a PDF on my iPad, this Seiko Astron is nigh upon impossible to adjust. Now, was that press button A and keep it down for 15 seconds before pressing button C until the seconds hand jumps to the vertical position unless the Flight mode indicator is showing but not the Daylight Saving Time? How many satellites must be in "line of sight" before the leap-second will be activated? This should keep a PuristS with coryza occupied...... Seiko Astron GPS Solar Mk1

cazalea

Jan 2, 2018

I completely agree - that is one of the more inscrutable dials and operationally it's not quite as simple as they have implied in the marketing literature. Great reminder. Cough. Cough. Thanks, I'm trying to fill myself with fluids, stay warm, get some rest sitting up - all the usual tricks. Cheers, Mike

piccolochimico (aka dsgalaxy1)

Jan 2, 2018

I have some inluenza: customers spit and cough on me every day (it's my job), thus sooner or later it had to happen. Now I that instructions manual are basically overrated, you just need to be ill to adjust time in some complicated watches 😬😀

rnaden

Jan 2, 2018

I reckon whatever it is you've been fortifying yourself with is working as that was a highly entertaining read! That Ochs is superb too - love the look and color combo on it.

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