Finding Your Way: Using A Watch As A Compass 12 & 24 Hour Hand

5 years ago
6

Using an Analog watch as a compass is rather easy. While it is not exact, it can give you a good idea of the direction you are facing.
First you need to compensate for Day Light Savings if it's in effect. Do this either mentally, with a bezel, or adjust your watch back an hour.

Northern Hemisphere with 12 hour hand:
1. Rotate the watch, such that the hour hand is pointing towards the sun.
2. Find the halfway point between the hour hand and the 12 on the dial. If you are in the AM, you need to find the half way point going clockwise. In the PM, going counter clockwise.
3. That point is approximately South.

Northern Hemisphere with 24 hour hand:
1. Rotate the watch, such that the 24 hour hand is pointing towards the sun.
2. The top of the watch, or 24 hour marker. Is north.
3. Profit!

Southern Hemisphere 12 hour hand.
1. Rotate the watch, such that the 12 hour marker (top of the watch) is facing the sun.
2. Find the halfway point between the 12 and the hour hand.
3. That point is north.

Southern Hemisphere 24 hour hand:
1. Rotate the watch such that the 12 hour marker is pointing at the sun. (12 hour on a 24 hour scale)
2. The 24 hour hand is now pointing North.
3. Crack open a cold one.

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