Setting Your Clock Ahead to Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time in the USA officially starts Sunday March 10, 2023 at 2:00 a.m. You will need to set your clocks forward one hour. I recommend doing this before you go to bed on Saturday night (March 11th).

On most clocks, it is okay to turn the minute hand clockwise one hour. When setting the hands, you should pause at each time the clock will strike or chime. On clocks where you set the hands directly (not having a time set knob), move the minute hand (long hand), and the hour hand will automatically follow.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT MOVE THE HOUR (SHORT) HAND – IT WILL TURN BY ITSELF AS YOU MOVE THE MINUTE HAND.

Hermle Clocks (such as the ones I sell at Bill’s Clockworks): You may turn the minute hand ahead one hour, pausing each quarter-hour for a chiming clock or each half hour for a striking clock.

Cuckoo Clocks: Move the minute hand ahead one hour, pausing at the hour and half hour for the clock to cuckoo.

Grandfather Clocks: Move the minute hand clockwise one hour, pausing at each quarter-hour for the clock to chime.

Chelsea Ship’s Bell Clocks: Turn the minute hand clockwise pausing at the hour and half hour for the clock to strike.

Antique American wall, mantel and shelf clocks: Move the minute hand clockwise one hour, pausing at the hour and half hour for the clock to strike.

French Antique Clocks: Move the minute hand clockwise one hour, pausing at the hour and half hour for the clock to strike.

400 Day Clocks: Move the minute hand clockwise one hour.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT FORCE THE MINUTE HAND. IF YOU FEEL AN OBSTRUCTION, STOP MOVING THE HAND.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT MOVE THE HOUR (SHORT) HAND – IT WILL TURN BY ITSELF AS YOU MOVE THE MINUTE HAND.

Marine or Ship’s Chronometer: IT IS BEST TO LEAVE THE HANDS ALONE. Consult a specialist before setting a chronometer. It is best not to set the hands, just record the chronometer’s error each day.

Jefferson Golden Hour Clock (and Golden Helm, Golden Minute, Golden View and Golden Secret): Turn the HOUR HAND one revolution counterclockwise (backward), this will set the time forward one hour. Note: These are the only clocks I know of where you should turn the HOUR HAND for setting).


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5 comments

  1. Dave, setting the clock ahead should cause no problem. You might try leveling the clock again (make sure the point on the bottom of the pendulum is centered in the cup in the base). Then gently rotate the pendulum 1/2 turn to start it. If that doesn’t do it, you might wind the clock and see if that helps.

  2. Bill,
    I have a Schatz 400 day anniversary clock that you had serviced for me a few years back and has been running great. However, I reset the clock back an hour for the end of daylight savings time by moving the minute hand clockwise 11 hours. I didn’t feel any resistance when doing this, but the clock ran for an hour or so then stopped. I set the pendulum back in motion, but it stopped again after running for a short time. I hope I didn’t damage the clock by resetting the time like I did? Do you think you may know what happened to my clock and why it keeps stopping?

  3. Bill, may I assume that 400-day clocks fall under the statement above, “On the vast majority of clocks, it is okay to set the hands forward one hour.”?

  4. loking for directions for 1870 Woodbury Mantel clock it was printed on the back,HVE ONE STILL WORKING THIS ONE HAS THE ALARM ON IT

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