Manual-wind watches: take the watch off your wrist, because winding it on the wrist strains the stem. Turn the crown clockwise (away from you) with smooth strokes until you feel it resist firmly, then stop. Wind it once a day, ideally at the same time. Most movements run about 36–48 hours on a full wind, but this varies.
Screw-down crowns: on many sports and diving watches, first unscrew the crown anticlockwise until it springs out to the winding position. Wind it, then push it in and screw it down fully to restore water resistance.
Automatic watches: if the watch has stopped, give it 20–30 turns of the crown, where the movement allows hand winding, or gently move it from side to side to start it. Then wear it as normal. An automatic worn only a little each day, or by a very inactive wearer, may still run down. A watch winder or an occasional hand wind keeps it going. Automatics generally cannot be overwound, because a slipping bridle protects the spring.
Older watches need extra care. Vintage crowns and stems are fragile. Wind gently, never force past resistance, and do not pull the crown out hard. If winding feels gritty, slips or never reaches a stop, stop winding and have it inspected.
Setting the time: pull the crown to the setting position (on date models, often the second click) and turn it. Many watchmakers advise not changing the date between about 9 pm and 3 am, when the date mechanism is engaged, unless the maker says it is safe.