Hacking (Second Stop)
Hacking is the feature whereby the seconds hand stops the moment you pull the crown out, letting you set the watch to another timepiece right down to the second. Not every mechanical movement offers it.
Hacking is a small but meaningful detail, built for setting a mechanical watch down to the exact second. The moment you pull the crown out, the seconds hand stops; push it home on the right second and the watch starts in perfect sync.
How you set the time to the second
The routine runs to three steps, and for anyone who wears an automatic watch it soon becomes second nature:
- Pull the crown: at its outermost position the seconds hand freezes in place
- Wait: hold it there until your reference clock reaches the top of the minute
- Push it home: press the crown back on the right second and the watch resumes in full sync
That is what lets you set the time to more than just the minute, releasing the hand the instant your reference does.
Not every movement offers it
The feature is no given, least of all at this price. Seiko's newer 4R36 and Orient's F6922 both hack, whereas the older Seiko 7S26 does not. Hacking is as concrete a trait of a calibre as its power reserve, so when buying a mechanical watch it is worth asking whether the movement hacks. You will find a real-world example in our Orient Mako 3 review.
Related terms
Watches that show this
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my watch hacks
Pull the crown to its outermost position and watch the seconds hand: if it stops at once, the watch hacks; if it carries on, it does not. This is a fixed property of the movement, not something you can switch on or off.
Does the lack of hacking mean a watch is poor quality
No, hacking is a convenience feature rather than a measure of quality. The older Seiko 7S26 does not hack yet is a thoroughly dependable workhorse; the absence is only felt by those who like to sync down to the exact second.
Which watches at this price hack
Models running Seiko's 4R36 or Orient's F6922 hack, the Orient Mako 3 among them. Seikos built on the older 7S26 do not, which is why asking about the calibre before you buy is the surest approach.