Key takeaways
- A day-date watch shows both the day of the week and the date of the month on the dial.
- It is a complication: any function beyond hours, minutes and seconds.
- Set the date and day with the crown, then set the time last.
- Avoid changing the date late in the evening, when the date change is in progress.
A day-date watch is a watch that shows both the day of the week and the date of the month, usually in small windows on the dial. In watch terms it is a complication, a function that goes beyond telling the hours, minutes and seconds. Here is how a day-date display works, how to read it and how to set it correctly.
In this guide
What does day-date mean?
Most watches with a calendar show only the date: a number from 1 to 31 in a small window. A day-date watch adds the day of the week, often written in short form such as MON or TUE. The two can sit side by side in one window, or in separate windows, for example the day at 12 o'clock and the date at 3 o'clock.
It is a practical, everyday complication. One glance tells you not just the time, but where you are in the week. For an overview of all the parts on a dial, see Parts of a watch.
How to read a day-date watch
- The date window shows a number from 1 to 31. On a simple calendar it does not know how many days a month has, so after a 30-day month or February you correct it by hand.
- The day window shows the day of the week. Some watches can show the day in two languages; you choose the one you want when you set it.
- The hands tell the time as usual. The day and date change once a day, around midnight.
How to set a day-date watch
The exact steps depend on the movement, but many quartz day-date watches work like this:
- Park the hands at around 6 o'clock with the crown in the second position, so you are well away from the date change. Then push the crown in to the first position. On many watches, turning it one way changes the date and the other way changes the day.
- Set the date and day to yesterday. This makes sure the next step lands on the right side of midnight.
- Pull the crown out to the second position. Turn the hands forward until the day and date click over to today. You now know the watch is in the AM.
- Keep turning to the correct time, adding 12 hours if it is the afternoon or evening.
- Push the crown back in. If your watch has a screw-down crown, screw it down gently.
For a full walkthrough, read How to set the time and date on a watch.
Avoid the danger zone
Many watches start moving the day and date discs a few hours before midnight. Changing the date with the crown during that window can strain the mechanism. This matters most on mechanical watches, but it is a good habit on any day-date watch: avoid adjusting the calendar between roughly 9 pm and 3 am on the watch, and park the hands at around 6 o'clock first. Your watch's manual is the best guide for your specific movement.
Day-date watches we like
The dressy day-date: Santos ($129.99)
A fluted bezel and sunburst dial with day and date windows, in a 40 mm stainless steel case on a three-link bracelet. Japanese quartz movement, coated glass and 30 m water resistance.
The everyday day-date: Brone ($79.99)
Day and date at a glance, with luminous hands for low light. A 40 mm stainless steel case only 10 mm thin, a Japanese quartz movement, mineral crystal and a bracelet with a hidden push-button clasp. Ten colours, including gold two-tone versions.
Only need the date? The Caspian ($79.99) has a date window at 3 o'clock on a horizontally textured gradient dial, in a 40 mm cushion-shaped case.
Day-date and date picks
Is a day-date watch worth it?
If you like a watch that does a little more without looking busy, yes. The day and date windows are small, so the dial stays clean, and the extra information is genuinely useful during a busy week. The only trade-off is a quick date correction at the end of shorter months.
Quartz day-date watches keep running on a battery for years. Read How long do watch batteries last? and, if you are deciding between movements, Automatic vs quartz. Browse all men's watches.
Keep reading: green dial watches, integrated bracelet watches, the best watches under $100 and a watch as an anniversary gift for him.
Frequently asked questions
What is a day-date watch?
A watch that shows both the day of the week and the date of the month on its dial, usually in small windows.
Is day-date a complication?
Yes. In watchmaking, any function beyond hours, minutes and seconds is called a complication, and the day-date display is one of the most common.
Why is my day-date watch showing the wrong day?
It may have been set 12 hours out, so the day changes at noon instead of midnight. Move the hands forward a full 12 hours and reset the day and date.
Do I need to adjust the date every month?
On a simple calendar, yes, after any month with fewer than 31 days. Move the date forward with the crown at the start of the new month.
Can I return a watch if it is not right for me?
Every DIFFRNT order comes with a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee. See our refund policy for the conditions.
