: Hi, thanks for replying!
: I had seen this entry on the owners guide, however, the instruction
: booklet with my watch states under calibre 1861. Pull the crown
: out to position 2, move the crown backwards or forwards to set
: the time! This seems to be in conflict with what most people
: know about manual wind watches. Having only ever owned
: automatics and of course quartz, I wasn't aware that it would be
: a problem. Certainly the salesman didnt tell me anything about
: it either when demonstrating its functions and operation in some
: detail! I am concerned that I may have damaged the watch by not
: being properly informed at point of sale or in the instruction
: booklet! The watch is performing perfectly, so I'm assuming that
: if I'd damaged it in anyway it would have started playing up by
: now. The salesman in the shop when I called them today, stated
: that the reversing hand issue was new to him and that yes you
: shouldn't set the time by moving the hands backwards, but that
: most modern watches wouldn't be damaged by doing so. I also
: called omega uk today and their engineer said that the watch
: should always bet set by moving forward but it would be unlikely
: to damage the movement!
: Can I therefore take the instruction manual as canon?
: Yours confusedly,
: Joseph.
Two things. First, watch sales people are generally clueless. Not all, but most and I wouldn't put much stock in what they do or don't tell you.
Second. If its in the owners manual then the movement can probably handle reverse time setting, but I and others will not recommend it. Its just not a natural movement for a mechanical watch. Also, the owners guide leaves out some stuff as well, so I wouldn't take it as the bible. Post you questions here and we will do our best to answer them.
Oh, fwiw, I do have a speedy pro, and I never have moved the hands backward to set the time. If your watch is running fine then I wouldn't worry if you set the time by rolling it back a time or two. The 1861 is a pretty rugged caliber.
