Learn how to start and use your Holzkern quartz watch.

When you take your watch out of the box, the crown is usually set with a small plastic spacer. This is to prevent the battery from being used before the watch arrives, especially in the case of quartz movements. In order for the watch to start running, please remove the stopper, turn the dial to the desired time and then carefully push the crown into the case. Your personal piece of nature is ready for use. The exact battery life is indicated in the instructions, which can be found on our product page of the respective model when you scroll below the sample pictures. If you notice that the movement is becoming irregular, it means that the battery needs to be replaced. You can easily have it replaced at your nearest watchmaker or jeweller. We can also replace it in one of our stores.

How does a quartz watch work?

Learn how to charge and use your Holzkern solar watch.

If you&apos;ve decided on a watch with solar movement, starting it up works a little differently. In this case, there is an inbuilt battery that is recharged via the energy of the sun or a light source. In order to charge your solar watch, remove the protective foil from the glass and charge it for a minimum of 5 hours in direct sunlight. Particularly in months with less sunshine, the watch should be charged under a lamp (at a distance of 20cm) for 60 hours (30W lightbulb/6W LED/Lumen 375) because the sunlight is a little bit too weak to recharge the battery. Please note that your solar watch shouldn&apos;t be exposed to excessive heat (e.g. the blazing midday sun) in order to avoid damage. As soon as your model is recharged, the battery will last for at least 4 months without the need to recharge your watch again. When the seconds hand begins to tick in 2-second intervals, it&apos;s a sign that your timepiece needs light again and should be recharged. In case your model has a variety of functions, like e.g. a date display, a dual time display or a chronograph, get to know these functions in advance in order to maximize the full potential of your watch.

How does a solar watch work?

Learn how to wind and use your Holzkern automatic watch.

Your automatic watch works somewhat differently to a watch with Quartz movement. Because you&apos;ve chosen a watch with mechanical movement, there is in this case no inbuilt battery and you&apos;ll have to first give your model a little help to get it up and running. Before you wind it up, make sure that the crown is in the normal position, which means fully pressed against the case. In order to get your watch operating, turn the crown 40 times in a clockwise direction and your watch will run for approximately 42 hours. If you wear your watch within this time, the running time is extended because the clockwork will be automatically wound up via the motion of your body. In case your model has a variety of functions, e.g. a date display or a dual time display, get to know these functions in advance in order to maximize the full potential of your watch.

How does an automatic watch work?

Step-by-step instructions to get your new Holzkern watch started.

In order to get your watch up and running, remove all protective foils first. With a Quartz movement, you can directly set the time by removing the plastic stopper and turning the crown, which is the small calibration wheel on the side of the case. As soon as you&apos;ve set it to the correct time, push the crown gently against the case and your watch will begin to run. If you have an automatic or solar watch, you&apos;ll have to first wind it up or charge the battery.

How do I get my watch running?

Find out how to adjust your Holzkern watch or bracelet to fit your wrist.

With so many different designs, there&apos;s definitely the perfect model for every wrist size. Our models with link bracelets can be easily adjusted to any preferred length. Additional bracelet links and the necessary tools are enclosed free of charge so that you can immediately adjust your model to your individual wrist size and wear it. The leather watch straps in our product range come in industry-standard sizes. For particularly short or long watch straps, please see a (specialised) watchmaker or jeweller near you. The models with ball clasps have a sleek and subtle design, and are very easy to put on, even with just one hand. To do so, you simply have to move the ball to make the band wider or tighter. You can find our video tutorial on how to adjust the bracelet in our FAQ section.

How can I adjust my model to the perfect size?

Tips for caring for and maintaining your Holzkern watch.

You will hardly find watches or Bandlets that are as comfortable to wear as ours. The wood is characterized by its lightness, which makes your model very comfortable on the wrist. We use selected hardwoods for our products, which are carefully checked beforehand and give our customers a lot of pleasure for a long time. Please note, however, that wood does not have the same resistance as metal, for example, and may show changes when subjected to external forces. As with other pieces of jewellery that you want to enjoy for a long time, you should handle our models with care and take them off, for example, for manual work, sports or before going to bed. Our models do not require any additional or special care, because wood becomes even more beautiful and smoother with time. However, if you still want to treat your piece of nature, the wooden elements will appreciate a little wood oil or wood balm to make them shine again. The best product for this is our special care balm, which you can find in our accessories shop. Clean your model first and then rub in some of the chosen product with a clean cotton cloth in gentle motions. Let it soak in for a few minutes and then remove the excess product with a dry corner of the cotton cloth. Your model will be as good as new! :)

How do I care for my watches and how do they behave in everyday life?

Find out what's included in every Holzkern order.

Every single Holzkern product is delivered in a high-quality solid wooden box in which your piece of nature can be safely stored. The wooden box is lined with cork, which optimally protects your model during transport or storage. The removable cork piece in the wooden box in which our watches and Bandlets are delivered is reversible. On one side you will find the German sentence &quot;So einzigartig wie du&quot;, and on the other side you will find its translation to English: &quot;As unique as you&quot;. For all models with linked bracelets, we additionally send the matching extension links including tools free of charge. This way, you can individually adjust your personal piece of nature and immediately start wearing it. :)

What is delivered in the package contents?

Information about materials and allergy safety in Holzkern products.

For the metal parts of our products we only use 316L stainless steel, which is basically almost nickel-free and usually does not cause any problems for allergy sufferers. Therefore, this stainless steel is also declared as nickel-free. Many manufacturers use this type of stainless steel as well. If you have experienced allergic reactions to other watches and jewelry before, we would advise you to make sure you tolerate this specific type of stainless steel. However, in case you still experience an allergic reaction when trying on your unique piece, we will of course be happy to assist you. :)

Are your models suitable for people with allergies?

Learn about the chronograph function on your Holzkern watch.

A chronograph is basically a stopwatch with which you can measure a certain period of time. These watches have a button above and below the crown where you can start and stop the time. The top button is used to start and stop the time, and the lower button is used to reset the time. If the hand is not exactly at zero, or you want to start from a different position, you can set the second hand manually. To do this, pull the crown out of the case once or twice until the time stops completely. Then you can adjust the hand with the top button.

What is a chronograph?

Instructions for setting the date on your Holzkern watch.

To set the date on your watch, pull the crown out by one click. Then you can set the correct date by turning the crown (setting wheel) counterclockwise. Please be careful not to set the date between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m., otherwise the date may not change correctly the next day. If you have a chronograph in addition to the date display, you can also set the date with the crown pulled out once, but you have to turn it clockwise. Please also note that your model does not have a perpetual calendar, so you will need to manually correct the date again after months with 28, 29 or 30 days.

How do I set the date?

Learn about the Dual Time function on your Holzkern watch.

With the Dual Time function, you can set a second time in addition to the normal time. This can be very convenient for business trips, for example, when you change time zones. Of course, any desired time can be set. To set the time, simply press the two buttons on the side of the case, then the clock can be corrected +/- 15 minutes.

What is Dual Time?

Learn about the 24-hour display function on your Holzkern watch.

You may have chosen a unique model that has a 24-hour display. With this function, you can distinguish morning and afternoon (AM and PM). If this display does not correspond to the time of day, simply pull out the crown as if you were setting the time. (If you also have a date display in your piece of nature, you may have to reset the date).

What is a 24-hour display?

Learn how to use the Easy-Switch Bezel System on your Holzkern watch.

This system has a variable case bezel that can be removed. To ensure that the removable bezel holds securely, turn it clockwise like a screw and apply slight pressure downwards on the case until the bezel locks into place. Please note that it does not work like a bottle cap! You can&apos;t put it in a position where you cannot turn it any further - that would damage the thread and the glass. However, there is of course a position in which it is tight enough not to come loose on its own. You simply have to find the position where it feels secured in place.

Watches