How To Use Your Analog Watch As A Compass

Telling time and direction isn’t something that a person would do in normal situations. However, this unnecessary information would prove vital when it comes to emergencies that leave you disoriented and lost, when finding out where you are is of utmost importance. Even in normal situations, you could use this information however you want and it would be best to be prepared in case of such scenarios.

There are a lot of ways to identify your orientation, and the best one is that if you have a compass with you. Unfortunately that isn’t always the case as people seldom bring compasses on regular days. Another way is by looking at the sun as they rise at the east and sets at west. However this isn’t foolproof as a lost person may not have any means to know what time it is, an important indicator for knowing where the sun is.

Fortunately there’s a great way to know your orientation and it only requires the sun and an analog wristwatch, a very common accessory for anyone travelling outdoors. Just follow these steps and you’d be accurately pinpointing your direction in no time!

For people at the Northern hemisphere:

1. Hold the watch and make sure the face is parallel from the ground.
2. Point the HOUR HAND to the sun as the first reference point.
3. Take not of 12:00 as it is the second reference point.
4. Bisect the hour hand to the 12:00 symbol to locate SOUTH.

•  If it is before noon, bisect it clockwise
•  If it is afternoon, bisect it counterclockwise

5. The opposite side of South will then be North.

For people at the Southern hemisphere:

1. Hold the watch and make sure the face is parallel from the ground.
2. This time, point the 12:00 SYMBOL to the sun as the first reference point.
3. The HOUR HAND will be the second reference point.
4. Bisect the 12:00 symbol to the hour hand to find NORTH.

• If it is before noon, bisect it clockwise
• If it is afternoon, bisect it counterclockwise

5. The opposite side for the North will then be South.

A bit confused about the method? Check this video out for a more interactive tutorial.

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