These days, we often take the hack watch for granted. Let’s go into exactly what hacking is and why it’s so useful!
The SKX007 is one of Seiko’s most beloved vintage models. It runs on the brand’s heritage caliber, the 7S26. These days, however, descendants of the SKX007 run on one of the 4R movements.
Any description would describe this change as an upgrade despite the caliber families being quite similar. The 7S and 4R are both as reliable as any Japanese workhorse. Both are so durable they’ve been described as “bulletproof,” and both are in-house creations.
However, the 4R movements of today’s Seiko sport watches have an important distinctive feature: A hacking function.
So, how is a hackable watch an upgrade from a non-hackable one? Well, for one thing, it brings a level of convenience. It makes the watch more operational as well as engaging.
Today, we’re going to learn all about the ubiquitous hack movement watch.
Table of Contents
What Is a Watch Hacking?
A hackable watch is one in which you have operational control over the second hand. This means you can set it, along with the hour and minute hands. This is why it’s also referred to as the stop-second function.
Mechanical movements with this ability feature an instrument that stops the second hand and then allows you to set the second hand as well.
So, for perfect clarity, let’s directly answer the question, exactly what is watch hacking in mechanical watches? Hacking is when you can stop the second hand first using the crown, then reset and restart it to synchronize with a reference timekeeper (perhaps a more accurate quartz watch or clock).
These days, even super affordable quartz timepieces have hacking available.
Vintage watches that don’t have hackable mechanical movements don’t always have this ability. To reset and restart non-hacking timepieces, you’d have to set the hour and minute with the second hand still moving.
That being the case, you’d have to be okay with your second hand being slightly off from its reference timekeeper.
Or, you’d have to set the minute and hour just a minute or two into the future. Then, you’d wait and coordinate for the second hand of the reference watch and the watch you’re setting to match up.
If you have all the time in the world, you can consider this a fun little game. For the rest of us, it’s pretty inconvenient. This is why hacking was such an important development.
So, on that note, how and why did hacking develop?
What Is a Hack Movement Watch Used For? A Little History
Hacking originated in the 20th century for navigation and astronomical purposes.
A ship would often have a marine chronometer, which is a highly accurate clock. Of course, accurate and precise time is crucial to spot-on navigation. However, the marine chronometer on the ship wasn’t always portable.
In fact, it was often below deck or suspended. The more level it is, the more protected it is from movement and elements, which can affect its accuracy.
With the advent of hacking, the ship’s crew could synchronize their timepieces with this master clock to the very second.
Of course, people’s watches didn’t always stay accurate as consistently as a chronometer. However, they were at least always able to go back and recalibrate their watches easily and without wasting precious time.
Moreover, the accuracy of one’s wristwatch could stay intact for important short-term timing needs.
Even more, by being able to detach the second hand temporarily everyone on the ship can synchronize their watches with each other.
This is particularly important when they’re doing time-sensitive projects. The timing of each project is incumbent on another in different parts of the vessel.
Remember, there weren’t radios back then, or texting for that matter.
Can You Hack a Non-Hacking Watch?
If you can’t stop the second hand of your watch when the crown is pulled out, there’s one way to still “hack” the movement. It’s not hacking technically, but it allows you to get accurate synchronization.
You’d do this by “back-hacking” your watch.
This means you’ll move your hour and minute hands backward. Going counterclockwise will cause the second hand to move backward, too. By doing this, you can get your automatic or hand-winding watch to sync perfectly with a reference timekeeper.
I wouldn’t back-hack often, though. Since the hands aren’t meant to move in that direction, I’m always fearful it might do long-term damage to the movement.
Still, it’s a cool hack to hacking, if you will. I just like knowing how to do it.
Conclusion: Why I Prefer Hacking Watches
As much as I love watches, I don’t actually use them to tell time. I’ve definitely done the Andy Warhol thing in which I’ll run around town with an unwound watch.
So, for me, it’s less about convenience and more about the user experience.
Anytime you can operate something on your watch yourself, I find it more engaging and more tactile.
So, even from a non-practical perspective, I think hacking is a true upgrade.
Do you know how to hack a watch? Now that you know what a hack watch is, are you going to try it out? Let us know!
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