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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Glossary · Mechanism

Negative set

A setting system that relies on the case to hold the movement's setting parts in the winding position.

Explanation

Found on some American movements of the 1890s, negative-set movements will not wind correctly outside their original style of case. A negative-set movement in the wrong case is a frequent cause of apparently mysterious winding faults, and is itself evidence of re-casing.