Pin Set Pocket Watches
A pin set pocket watch is a watch in which the hands are adjusted by pressing and holding a small setting pin or button located near the pendant while turning the crown. The pin engages the setting mechanism, allowing the crown to move the hands rather than wind the watch.
Pin setting was commonly used on European and Swiss pocket watches during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and is sometimes referred to as pin setting or nail setting.
How Does a Pin Set Pocket Watch Work?
Unlike a pendant set watch, where the crown is pulled outward, or a lever set watch, where a separate lever beneath the bezel must be pulled out, a pin set watch uses a small external button to engage the setting mechanism.
- Locate the small setting pin or button near the pendant.
- Press and hold the pin inward.
- While holding the pin, turn the crown to move the hands to the desired time.
- Release the pin when the correct time is reached.
- The crown returns to its normal winding function.
Important: The setting pin should operate with relatively light pressure. Never force the pin or crown if the mechanism does not engage properly.
Why Were Pin Set Watches Used?
Pin setting provided a practical way to separate the winding and setting functions of a pocket watch. Because the setting mechanism required the owner to deliberately press a small button, the hands were less likely to be moved accidentally during normal winding or handling.
The system was particularly common on Swiss and Continental European pocket watches and can be found on watches ranging from everyday timepieces to finely finished complicated watches.
How to Identify a Pin Set Pocket Watch
- A small pin or push button located near the pendant.
- The pin must be pressed while the crown is turned to set the hands.
- The crown normally does not need to be pulled outward.
- No setting lever beneath the bezel is required.
- Frequently found on Swiss and Continental European pocket watches.
The exact location and appearance of the setting pin can vary depending on the manufacturer, case design, and period of production.
Pin Set vs. Pendant Set vs. Lever Set
| Feature | Pin Set | Pendant Set | Lever Set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crown used to move hands | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crown pulled outward | No | Yes | No |
| Setting pin/button required | Yes | No | No |
| Setting lever required | No | No | Yes |
| Bezel must be opened | No | No | Usually |
| Convenience | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Common railroad use | Uncommon | Less common | Common |
Pin Set and Nail Set Watches
The terms pin set and nail set are often used for similar setting systems. The term "nail set" comes from the small button being pressed with a fingernail while the crown is turned.
Terminology can vary depending on the watchmaker, country of origin, and period. For collectors, the important identifying characteristic is the small external pin or button that must be depressed to engage the hand-setting mechanism.
Collector Interest
Pin set pocket watches are of particular interest to collectors of Swiss and European watches because the mechanism is characteristic of many nineteenth and early twentieth century timepieces.
Pin setting can also be encountered on higher-grade watches and complicated timepieces, making identification of the setting system useful when evaluating and operating an unfamiliar antique pocket watch.
Conclusion
The pin set pocket watch uses a small button near the pendant to engage the hand-setting mechanism. By pressing the pin while turning the crown, the owner can adjust the time without pulling the crown or opening the bezel to access a setting lever.
Although less familiar today than pendant and lever setting, pin setting represents an important chapter in the development of practical pocket watch setting mechanisms.
Never force the crown, setting pin, or hands. If you are unsure which setting method your pocket watch uses, refer to the watch description or contact us for assistance.