Hacking (Second Stop)
Hacking is the feature where the second hand stops when you pull the crown out. It lets you sync the watch to another timepiece down to the exact second. Not every mechanical movement has 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 second hand stops; push it back at the right second and the watch starts in perfect sync.
How you set the time to the second
The routine is three steps, and for anyone who wears an automatic watch it quickly becomes second nature:
- Pull the crown: at its outer position the second 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 beyond just the minute, releasing the hand the instant your reference does.
Not every movement has it
The feature is not a given, least of all at this price. Seiko's newer 4R36 and Orient's F6922 both hack, while the older Seiko 7S26 does not. Hacking is as concrete a trait of a caliber 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 outer position and watch the second hand: if it stops instantly, the watch hacks; if it keeps moving, 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 low quality
No, hacking is a convenience feature, not a measure of quality. The older Seiko 7S26 does not hack yet is a dependable workhorse movement; the absence is only felt by those who want 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 caliber before you buy is the surest approach.