Can I stop the sweeping second hand??? (5513)

[Merlin13]

Afternoon all

When I set the correct time on the watch I notice that the second hand continues to move no matter what position the crown is in. I've been told by a non Rolex Expert that the second hand doesn't stop!

Is that the case and if so how do you set the time to be to the second accurate if you cant get it to halt??? Its currently 24 seconds fast (or I guess I could make it 36 seconds slow by advancing the minute hand lol).

I know mine is 49 years old but is only gaining at a rate of 4 seconds a day which I think is pretty good?

Thanks all.

[Comex1665]

Sometimes when you the crown out and you turn it anti clockwise , it can stops the second hand but I don't recommend to do that or you will screw your movement lol it used to work on one of my old vintage date just 1603

[R.W.T.]

Originally Posted by Comex1665

Sometimes when you the crown out and you turn it anti clockwise , it can stops the second hand but I don't recommend to do that or you will screw your movement lol it used to work on one of my old vintage date just 1603

It won't hurt a thing.


This is sometimes known as "watchmaker's hack". It simply means the cannon pinion has enough tension to not slip on the center wheel easily in the setting position. Once enough force is applied to the crown in set position it will give way and the hands will move. This is the FUNCTION of the cannon pinion...to allow the train to be set without stopping the watch or forcing the train backward against the tension of the mainspring.

When Rolex Geneva serviced my bubble back in the mid 80's...it came back hacking in this manner. This is PROPER and they should hack like this to an extent. It is basically just stopping the train from moving. No harm done.

If your watch won't stop the second hand in setting the hands backward I would say your cannon pinion is a bit too loose.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

It won't hurt a thing.


. . .

Indeed..

It is a time-honored and well known method to "hack" non-hacking movements.