Quick Start Guide
Thank you for purchasing a Colorado Watch Company wristwatch! We appreciate your support and cannot wait to hear what you think of your new watch. Click a watch below to learn how to use and care for your new conversation piece.
Field Watch
The GCT
Field Watch
Your new 40mm Colorado Watch Company Field Watch is inside its waterproof box along with at least two Cordura straps. To open the box, twist the locking mechanism on the front, pull up the front side of the box opening the lid, and keep the box level as you reveal the watch inside. This black Seahorse case is 100% American made and extremely waterproof, so we recommend keeping it for when you travel with this watch.
Pick up the watch case from the custom foam insert and before putting the strap on the watch, we recommend taking a close look at the case, specifically between the lugs to see where the strap attaches as well as the crown to feel how it sets and winds. We’ve designed this watch to be extremely versatile so it can officially be an everyday wear watch true to its name. Make sure to do all of this while holding the watch just a few inches over a table. The watch is hardy, and can survive small impacts from day to day use, but we never recommend dropping it.
Winding & Setting
The crown on the Field Watch does not screw down, so when it’s closest to the case, it’s in “wind mode.”
Please turn the crown 20-30 revolutions to give the watch a jump start. You should see the balance wheel ticking through the back, and the red second hand moving once you do so. Once it’s started ticking, pull the crown out to set the time. Note that you may feel two clicks, and the crown should be as far away from the case as it can get in order for the second hand to hack, or stop moving. Once the watch stops ticking, and the crown is pulled out sufficiently, you can set the time.
Don’t forget to push the crown all the way back in once the time is set. If the crown is left out, the watch may not start ticking again, and it won’t be as water resistant. Never set the time while the watch is submerged or when water could get inside the case such as in the shower.
Attaching Your Strap
1.
Once the watch is ticking and the time is set correctly, you can attach a strap to the watch. Choose the strap you prefer to start with from under the rubber netting inside the lid of the box, and slide the two sides apart. The buckle section goes on the 12 o’clock side of the watch, and the longer section of the strap goes on the 6 o’clock side of the watch.
2.
Look closely at the underside of the end of the strap that touches the watch and you’ll see a small metal lever. Pull that lever with your thumbnail or fingernail to collapse the embedded spring-bar. These straps are called “quick-release” straps and no tools are needed to apply them.
3.
Play with the spring bars until you’re comfortable collapsing and releasing them, then line up the spring bar section of the strap with the small holes on the side of the case lugs. Collapse the spring-bar with your nail, hold it in place, get one end of the spring-bar in one hole, line up the strap with the other hole, and release the spring-bar.
4.
Carefully slide the strap around slowly until you hear a click sound and you know the spring-bar is securely attached to the case. Once both sections of the strap are attached, keep the watch over a table and firmly pull both sides of the strap to make sure the strap is secure.
Put it on and enjoy!
Once you put on and take off the quick release strap system a few times, you’ll get used to the process and it can be a fun ritual to mix up the look of your watch, not to mention an exciting new venture collecting many different 20mm straps! Our black waterproof box is designed to properly protect the watch for shipping and while traveling as well as carry multiple straps. If you’d like to store the watch in a different case and keep the strap attached, we have soft zipper pouches available for purchase.
AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT
Since the watch contains an automatic movement, wearing it for ten or more hours during the day should keep the watch wound enough to still be keeping time the next day. Certainly don’t hesitate to move your wrist a bit more than typical to get the rotor spinning, or physically turn the crown to give the watch extra power throughout the day. The more power the movement has, the more accurate time it will keep. These watches are regulated to keep time within ten seconds per day, so as long as the watch is properly wound, you should not notice any timekeeping issues.
If you do not wear the watch long enough during the day or multiple days in a row, the movement will stop and you’ll have to wind it and set it the next time you wear it. If you’d like to avoid this, you can store your watch on a watch winder. We plan to offer a winder as an accessory soon. Email us to be alerted once we have one available.
WATER RESISTANCE
Your Field Watch is water resistant to 100 meters, but is not a dive watch and was not designed for excessive water pressure. You can submerge it, and you can certainly wear it in and around water, but note that the faster you move your wrist under the water, the more pressure is put on the case and the gaskets.
Warranty
Your watch has a 2-year warranty with some exclusions including severe damage clearly caused by mis-use or large impacts. Never open the watch case yourself even if you’re a watchmaker. This will void the warranty and may dislodge gaskets causing permanent damage to the watch. No matter what happens, if there’s something wrong, or you have a question, please email us. Almost 90% of each watch was made in the United States, and we built these watches to last a lifetime if properly cared for, so we will absolutely take care of you. As long as your watch is keeping accurate time, please keep it on your wrist. Only send it back to us for service if something seems off, or once every 10 years. Our periodic, once-in-a-decade service includes re-oiling the movement, adjusting and refining the setting and winding mechanism, and replacing all the gaskets responsible for water resistance.
Wear it!
Over time you will notice small scratches on the watch, especially inside the lugs from attaching the straps. These are all normal, and some signs of wear are to be expected.
We built these watches to outlive you while on your wrist… not to be shiny trophies to sit on a shelf. Please wear your watch and send us pictures of you living life, doing amazing things, traveling and truly enjoying the experience. We cannot wait to see where they go!