How to set up the day and date on a watch
Short answer: Day-date watches usually set the day by turning the crown one way at its first click and the date by turning it the other way. Keep the hands out of the overnight window while you do it.
How real watches do it
| Seiko Presage with calibre 6R24 (day, date, power reserve) | First click: clockwise = day (2 clicks a day), counter-clockwise = date. |
|---|---|
| Citizen Eco-Drive Calendrier Moonphase | Day at position 2. It finishes changing by about 5 am. |
| Fossil "sun & moon" / moon-window watches | VX43: day at position 2 clockwise, date at 3. |
See it drawn button by button, with today's moon for your location.Open the interactive guide →
Set the day of the week on most watches: 2 steps
Crown positions are numbered 1 / 2 / 3, from pushed in to fully out.
- 1
Hands away from the night window
Day and date mechanisms engage roughly 9 pm–3 am. Set the hands to around 6:30 first.
⚠️ Avoid 21:00–03:00 on the dial. The date and moon mechanism is engaged then. Move the hands out of that window first (for example to 6:30), or wait. - 2
First click: one direction = day
Usually one direction moves the day.