Rotating the Watch Face

Fix a misaligned watch face dial thatโ€™s been rotated due to impact or dropping the watch.

When You Need This

Sometimes the watch face (the printed dial inside) becomes rotated from its proper position, making the numbers appear tilted or off-center. This usually happens when the watch is dropped or experiences a hard impact.

Youโ€™ll know the watch face needs adjustment when:

  • The 12 isnโ€™t at the top
  • The 3 isnโ€™t at the right
  • Numbers appear rotated at an angle

This guide is for the dial only โ€” not for calibrating the watch hands. If your hands are pointing to the wrong positions, see Calibration instead.

What You Need

Steps to Fix

1. Open the Watch

Follow the instructions in Opening/Closing the Back for your specific model.

2. Remove the White Plastic Insert

Carefully lift out the white plastic ring insert from inside the watch case. This holds the watch face in place.

3. Rotate the Watch Face

Gently rotate the watch face dial to the correct position:

  • 12 should be at the top
  • 3 should be on the right
  • Numbers should be level and properly aligned

Optional: Use a Sharpie to mark the correct position on the inside of the case so you can reference it if this happens again.

4. Replace the Plastic Insert

Carefully place the white plastic insert back into the watch case, making sure it holds the watch face in the correct position.

Double-check alignment before proceeding โ€” itโ€™s easier to adjust now than after closing the watch.

5. Close the Watch

Follow the instructions in Opening/Closing the Back to close your watch.

6. Test

Check that the watch face is now properly aligned with the 12 at the top and numbers level.

Video Guide

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Tips

  • Be gentle โ€” The watch face is delicate
  • Work on a clean surface โ€” Keep small parts organized
  • Take your time โ€” Itโ€™s better to get it right the first time
  • Mark the position โ€” A Sharpie mark can help if you need to do this again

Prevention

To avoid future misalignment:

  • Avoid dropping the watch
  • Remove before high-impact activities
  • Store in a protective case when not in use