Watch hands move freely inside as watch turns

• Setting an Elgin stem-set pocket watch. Pull the stem out of the crown at the 12 o'clock position of an Elgin stem-set pocket watch. Rotate the stem clockwise to move the hands to the correct hour and minute. Depress the stem and wind the crown to keep the watch running.

If you can wind your pocket watch using the crown, but you cannot see any way of setting the watch, you probably have a "lever-set" movement, though it's possible you might also have a "pin-set" movement. Do you see a little button you can push in, either at 1-2:00 or 10-11:00 on the watch case? If you, you have a pin set watch. Push and hold that little button in while you twist the winding crown, and that will let you set the time. End of problem.

Setting the time on a lever-set watch is a bit more complicated and will require taking off the front bezel of your pocket watch--the metal ring that holds the watch crystal in place. Pocket watch cases of this time are usually made in 3 pieces: the bezel, the main case body, and the back. The procedure used to remove your bezel depends on the type of watch case you have.

Take a close look at the front of your pocket watch. Do you see any hinges at the bottom (that is, below 6:00 and where the bezel meets the main case body)? I suspect that you won't, as double-hinged cases are usually associated with an older style of pocket watch, but it's worth checking. If you do see little hinges for the FRONT (it's more likely that the back will be hinged), then look for a little lip on the bezel that's used to pry open the front. Pull on that to open the case.

If you don't see hinges, which is what I expect, your front bezel unscrews. You can try to do this with your bare hands, but it's a lot easier if you have a bit of "gripping" rubber so your hands don't slip so badly. I have a small rectangle of shelf non-slip stuff that works perfectly for this. Turn the bezel counterclockwise. It may resist a little bit at first due to accumulated dirt, but then it should easily screw off.

Once you have the bezel away from the face, look closely at about 2:00 on the watch dial. Just at the edge of the dial, you should see a little lever or button. GENTLY pull this away from the watch face until it stops. Now, when you turn the winding crown, you should be able to set the time. Once the time is set, gently push the lever back to its prior position. Now, you should be able to wind the watch without changing the time.

Be very careful when screwing the bezel back onto the watch body. These parts typically have very fine threads, and it's easy to cross-thread the pieces. Don't force the two pieces together; once the threads catch properly, the front bezel will screw on easily without resistance.

An older style of pocket watch required the use of a little key to set the time from the back of the pocket watch movement. However, these watches were also wound by the same key, so the fact that you're able to wind this watch with a crown suggests to me that your watch doesn't use this system.

The "pin" you're describing sounds like the pin-set lever, which would be used to set the time. Pushing in the pin while turning the winding crown will move the hands forwards or backwards, depending on the direction in which you're turning the crown.
If you are trying to see the rear of the watch movement--i.e., where the balance wheel is ticking--and you can't see anything after removing or opening the back cover, you probably have a watch case with two back covers. This is not uncommon--the first cover might have engraving or a photo inside it; the second cover would serve as a dust shield. While the rear cover may screw off or be hinged, the inner cover is almost always hinged. Look for a tiny divot or imperfection in the dust cover where it does not seem to cleanly meet the rest of the case. Insert a case opening knife (or just a dull pocket knife blade) into that opening and *gently* twist. Do not get too aggressive here or you could deeply scratch the watch case and/or skitter across the face of the watch movement, significantly reducing the value of your pocket watch.
The dust cover should pop open with only a small amount of pressure. Swing it back, and admire the view of your pocket watch movement.
If none of this matches what you're seeing on your watch, follow up with any identifying language about the type of watch case that you have. Typically, the manufacturer will stamp some info inside the outer-most back cover of the watch. Note that the case maker is probably not Rockford; movements and cases were often sold separately and mated together at a jewelry store. That way, people could put a good movement in a cheap case, or a cheap movement in an expensive gold case.

I have found that some of these "automatic" Fossils also contain a battery. That is how that provide an automatic watch at such a cheap price. I recommend taking it to a jeweler to have them check this. If it needs repair it will likely cost near the watche's replacement value.

Often with battery powered watches the word "Quartz" will be written on the dial. In the abscent of that you can look at the mechanism inside (typically by removing the case back).

Alternately (this may not be an absolute confirmation) with the winder in neutral position i.e. pressed all the way in, turn the crown (winding button) and if it spins freely it's probably quartz. Because unless it's broken most mechanical watches click as the watch is
wound up (except some automatics which cant be crown wound).

Plus if it's working and left unworn for a few days yet continues to run it's probably quartz.
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First -let's check out what type of watch you have. If you push the crown in and it turns freely back and forth with no resistance at all - this is battery driven watch.
If you do the same and feel and hear some clicking and resistance- this is mechanical (spring driven) watch.
Next - the case: Usually all pocket watches have snap-on casebacks. Take an eyeglass and examine the case. Even if you think there is no any grooves or gaps- try to pry it using watchmakers caseback opener (about $5 on ebay).
In case if there are no chance to open caseback - that means you have one of the cases assemblad watch glass fitted last and that means you have to take glass out first and then only to get to the movement.
As you will not be able to get the glass out without braking it, the only solution will be to visit your nearest watchmakers shop and ask for help.

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The pushbutton in the center of the winding crown is for watch case opening only. When you push it, the front lid should pop up, revealing the dial.
If you want to set the time, you have to pull out the winding crown (not the pushbutton) and adjust the hands to desired time. After setting the time push the crown back in and the watch is back in winding position.

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mcdevito75 here, Unless you have a good knowledge of takeing apart, even just the back off your watch / pocket watch it"s best to look for a small watch repair shop in your area, but here is what you can do to possibly start your watch / pocket watch. If your watch / pocket watch hasn"t been wound in some time and that time varies from watch to watch, the oil in the watch can become a bit thick so as to not allow the mechanism to work smoothly, leave the watch / pocket watch in a warm place, window sill in the sunlight wrapped in a paper towel for anywhere between a few minutes to 1/2 hour, after the watch / pocket watch has been warmed up hopefully the oil in the mechanism has liquified enough to allow the movement to start working. You can also give the movement a little boost, after the watch /pocket watch is warm, pull out the stem as if to set the time of day, move the stem and hands, sometimes this action will get the watch ticking again. If this fails, BEST BET specially if this is an expebsive or keepsake watch, look for a small watch repair shop in your area for serviveing. approx. $45.00

No problem pulling it the way out its okey,Wind it the crown until calendar move so the hands move properly.When you going back the crown,push the crown hardly going inside while pushing, wind the crown until you reach the end so its locks properly,because has a thread needs to lock so it will not wind freely,that all Working guy, txt me whatever happen.