I could make this thread a sticky as it’s branching out.

Let’s just leaf if there with the bad puns shall we.

LambethCW wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 6:59 pm

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 5:46 pm I believe you can. It would require the GMT hand to be set to the same time, and what happens when the clocks go forward or back?

I was wondering what the GMT hand should be set to. Not to GMT?
Hold on, I think I see what you mean. So at noon - hour hand would be top at 12 and GMT hand pointed to 6 inner (12 outer) which would be south.

What I wanted to say (I don’t think I expressed it very well) was that any method involving the hands of a watch will not be very accurate if 12 o’clock and solar noon are not particularly close together. BST is an example, though not an extreme one with solar noon occurring at 12:56 here today. In Vigo (NW Spain) it occurs at 14:26. I’m no mathematician but I think you’d be off by a good 30° there.

LambethCW wrote: ↑Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:37 pm @Amor Vincit Omnia
So that wouldn’t be fixed by setting the GMT hand to GMT?
I’m just clutching at straws now.

I may be wrong, but I think it would only work if you set both the GMT hand and the watch to GMT. Solar noon would then be at 11:56 on the watch (depending on where you live) so using your watch as a compass would only give you a fractional error. The problem is, it wouldn’t be doing a very good job as a watch.

The joys of DST!

nbg wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 9:09 pm

exHowfener wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 8:41 pm You can use a stick to find North

But this is a watch forum, not a stick forum.

That’s why neither Des or I mentioned a stick.

Neil

You mean there's a stick forum?

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Tue Apr 08, 2025 8:21 am

LambethCW wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 6:59 pm

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 5:46 pm I believe you can. It would require the GMT hand to be set to the same time, and what happens when the clocks go forward or back?

I was wondering what the GMT hand should be set to. Not to GMT?
Hold on, I think I see what you mean. So at noon - hour hand would be top at 12 and GMT hand pointed to 6 inner (12 outer) which would be south.

What I wanted to say (I don’t think I expressed it very well) was that any method involving the hands of a watch will not be very accurate if 12 o’clock and solar noon are not particularly close together. BST is an example, though not an extreme one with solar noon occurring at 12:56 here today. In Vigo (NW Spain) it occurs at 14:26. I’m no mathematician but I think you’d be off by a good 30° there.

So what about all those mountaineers for whom Seiko created the Alpinist model: was that watch calibrated for mountains in Japan?

@tikkathree
Pete the Alpinist works in the same manner as finding North or South with a normal hour/minute dial watch. The twisty outer compass reader just makes it (theoretically) easier to more readily calculate directions other than N, S, E, W.

Still that method and the one using a GMT watch both require time the time to be set to GMT and not for example BST.

The stick forum will tell you the stick method.

Much preferred as it will make the user think they are a back woodsman.

Only potential issues are:
- ideally the stick needs to be of sufficient length and straight
- it has to be stuck in the ground upright on level ground
- the Sun needs to be out to throw an appropriate shadow
- you need to wait about 20 minutes to take both readings

Probably as accurate (not!) as the watch method, as both will likely have someone wandering off line, if they are trying to navigate with any degree of accuracy.

The key lesson is don’t use your watch or a stick to find North! Use a compass, or GPS gizmo.

Neil

iain wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 6:59 pm Surely if you are down south when doing this you just follow the light……….

I could have changed the last word for you but I thought better of it!
M.T. Cicero

A compass compass or a compass on your phone

I use my phone for ... phone calls and texts. My watch for time telling, and a compass (compass) for finding North (and other points).

I'm a simple soul really.

@Bahnstormer_vRS Not really Guy. It’s an approximation tool. Used when the sun is on its descent and you’re up in the hills. Useful for gauging the last hour or so before the sun sets.

Des