About Our Movements

The Heart of Our Watches: Automatic Mechanical Movements

At the core of every watch we create is a finely engineered automatic mechanical movement — the same type of timekeeping engine trusted by world-renowned watch brands like Rolex, Omega, Citizen, and Seiko. Unlike quartz watches that rely on batteries, automatic watches are powered by the natural movement of your wrist. Each swing of your arm winds the mainspring, storing energy and keeping your watch alive with nothing but motion.

This makes an automatic watch more than just a timepiece — it’s a living machine, a small marvel of precision engineering and craftsmanship. Owners often describe the experience as more luxurious, personal, and timeless than owning a battery-powered watch.

Setting & Caring for Your Watch

Each of our models uses either the TMI (Seiko-owned) NH35 or NH71 automatic movement or a Miyota (Citizen-owned) 8285 automatic movement, each celebrated for their reliability and precision. Below are instructions tailored to your watch:

Setting The Time, Date, and Day-of-the-Week (IMPORTANT INFORMATION!)

  • Always move the hands forward (clockwise) when setting time. Backward movement can damage the gears, though small backward adjustment is generally okay.

  • Do not use the quickset date/day function between 9 PM and 3 AM. This period is known as "The Danger Zone" in automatic watches. Because the day/date gears begin to be initiated during this time, trying to set the date or day-of-week directly during this time can damage the movement beyond repair.

Recommended approach to set the date or day of week:

Set time to 6:30, set day/date to yesterday, then advance hands to correct time/day/date. Push crown in securely.

The Danger Zone applies to these models with day/date functions:

  • The Dog Days
  • The Daily Bread
  • The Play Time (The movement has a date setting at the first crown click, even though there is no visible date window)

Winding Mode

Unscrew the crown. With the crown in position 0 (fully pushed in), turn it clockwise about 20–30 times to wind the mainspring. This is especially useful if the watch hasn’t been worn for a few days. Stop if you feel resistance while winding.

 

Maintenance & Servicing

Your watch is built to last a lifetime, but like all precision instruments, it benefits from care:

  • Daily Wear: Wearing your watch regularly keeps the movement wound and running smoothly.

  • Power Reserve: Each of our movements hold about 40 hours of power when fully wound. If unworn for longer, they may stop and simply need to be wound again.

  • Servicing: We recommend a full service every 3–5 years by a professional watchmaker. This involves cleaning, lubrication, and recalibration — similar to a tune-up for a car.

  • Care: Avoid strong magnetic fields, extreme shocks, or submerging your watch deeper than its rated water resistance. If your watch is exposed to water frequently, have your water seals professionally checked occasionally.

An automatic watch is more than just a tool for telling time — it’s a piece of craftsmanship designed to be worn, cherished, and eventually passed down.