How to use your watch as a compass

I was recently asked why some watch bezels feature the points of a compass as opposed to the more common minute markers or a tachymetre. The answer to this question was met with surprise, that it is in fact possible to use a wristwatch, any wristwatch where the time is indicated through hands as opposed to digital, as a compass!

Whilst a regular compass uses the magnetic poles of the Earth to identify which direction is north, with a wristwatch we can identify which direction we are facing by using the position of the sun in the sky (assuming of course we can see it!) In fact, this is a surprisingly easy technique to learn, with a slightly different technique required depending on whether you are in the Northern or Southern hemispheres.

One safety tip, when using this technique you should always avoid looking directly at the sun itself as this can damage your eyes – it will always be safer to look for a shadow, and use this to identify which direction the sun is in.

Using a watch as a compass in the Northern hemisphere

Using a watch as a compass in the Southern hemisphere

How do you use your watch as a compass?

If you are in the NORTHERN hemisphere, to find SOUTH take the following three steps:

1. Take your watch off and hold it horizontally, dial up

2. Point the hour hand towards the sun

3. The point exactly half-way between the hour hand and 12 o’clock, is SOUTH

(During daylight saving, for step 3, SOUTH is between the hour hand and 1 o’clock)

If you are in the SOUTHERN hemisphere, to find NORTH take the following three steps:

1. Take your watch off and hold it horizontally, dial up

2. Point the 12 o’clock marker towards the sun

3. The point exactly half-way between 12 o’clock and the hour hand, is NORTH

(During daylight saving, in step 2 point the 1 o’clock marker towards the sun, and for step 3, NORTH is between 1 o’clock and the hour hand)

Of course, for this technique you do need the sun – it clearly won’t work between sunset and sunrise when it is dark, and it can be difficult on a cloudy day. Additionally, it will only really work if you are outside of the tropics, away from the equator. However, so long as your watch is set correctly and keeps good time over the course of the day, it certainly serves a purpose.

There you have it – a simple technique which adds a whole new feature to your watch! Happy navigating!

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