Does it Really Wave?

Yes the candidates really wave their hands. When you wind the watch, it not only runs the clock, but also powers the candidate’s arm.

New for 2008 – a Ladies / Youth Size.

We have had many request for a smaller model for the ladies and for younger enthusiasts and are happy to have the answer in 2008. We carefully designed a model that is smaller than the men’s, but still big enough to boldly show off your candidate. A better fit for ladies and perfect for young wavers.

The photo below shows the two sizes side-by side (modeled by President Bush). The classic men’s watch measures 1 3/16 inches (30 mm) across the crystal glass while the Ladies is only 1 inch (25 mm) across the watch crystal.

One important fact, even though it is smaller, the Ladies watch is a full-functioning Auto-Winding like the Men’s.

Comparing Ladies/Youth (Left) and Men’s (Right):

Did you say that I have to wind the watch?

Yes and No. The watches are mechanical wind-up watches (no batteries) so they need to be wound. But they are “Auto-Wind” watches, meaning that they wind themselves as you wear it. Just having it on your wrist and going through your typical day will fully wind the watch. Once wound, it is good for 24 hours so you can take it off at night and it will still be running when you put it on in the morning. 

Interesting note from the editor. “Mechanical watch” is what’s called a retronym. We just called them “watches” before the introduction of digital watches; now we need to clarify the traditional watch as “mechanical.” 

What if my watch winds down?

You can wind and restart the watch by using the watch’s stem. Pull the stem to set the time, and then push the knob in to its winding position and wind it a few turns to get it started. Put it on and it should wind the rest as you wear it.

How Do I Change the Battery?

Ha ha – that was a trick question. There is no battery. (See previous answer.) That’s the additional benefit; your watch is “green” powered by the movement of your wrist.

Can I over-wind my watch?

Your watch cannot over wind itself, not even if you’re a go-go dancer or a jack-hammer operator.

How do you tell time with these traditional hands? 

If you’ve forgotten how to tell time without a digital display, let me refresh your memory: the big hand points to the minutes, the little hand points to the hour; and the arm that waves is just a reminder of our political process in action. A great explanation of time-telling can be found at http://www.arcytech.org/java/clock/telling_time.html 

Is my watch waterproof?

Waving Watches are water resistant. This means that they will survive a thunderstorm or a careless hand-wash, but it is not a waterproof watch – no scuba diving, please.

Is my band leather?

The bands are genuine leather, but the alligator finish is not really alligator (even though they are not considered ‘endangered’, we still avoid using their pelts).

How Accurate is a Windup Watch?

These watch movements are the culmination of hundreds of years of design refinement. They also benefit from 21st century metallurgy and machining that would make the legendary Swiss craftsmen green with envy. That said, they have real-world limitations and cannot compare with the miracle of electronic quartz watches. Your Waving Watch, like the candidates themselves, is fallible. It can gain or lose minutes a week – this is normal for a wind-up watch. Make sure to check it against your cell-phone clock and adjust it every now and then. Think of this as a special life-style feature. You’ll be able to say, “I’m late? I guess my watch is running slow.” (In Washington, they call this, “Plausible Deniability.”) 

How Do I Work the Advanced Functions – Stopwatch, Calendar, Alarm, GPS, Browser etc.? 

It’s a watch, not a career. Just wind, wear and enjoy!