Minute / second synchronization 240 vs 324

[Golden Ellipse]

Patek fans —

Just a small helpful hint for those who like their minute and second hands to be coordinated, and for those who like to quasi-“hack” their minute hand to the exact time of day.

I have noticed the following on my 3940, 5940, 5712 and 5320.

If you want the 324 movement watches to hack properly, wind the minutes hand past the true time, then adjust backwards when the seconds hand is near 12 o’clock. The seconds hand will stop, or sometimes slightly reverse, but when it restarts, the minutes hand will track perfectly with the seconds.

If you want the 240 movement to hack properly, do the opposite. Set the time by reversing the minutes hand behind the actual time by at least half an hour, then advance the minutes hand to the true time.

These differences are connected to An engineering issue of “gear lash” or the way that the machining tolerances between timing gears plays out.

Maybe not a huge issue for you, but for me a useful way to keep everything neat and trim.

[doctoryellow]

I’m always afraid to wind backwards

[Helmi]

I am not able to do it on my watches, can you film an illustration video please? Also, are you sure this is not harming/damaging the movement?

[Rushne]

I spoke to my Patek AD's Watch maker and he said that the back pressure on the crown will stop the seconds hand and will not cause any damage what so ever. release the back pressure to let the seconds run again :)