Glossary · Mechanism
Negative set
A setting system that relies on the case to hold the movement's setting parts in the winding position.
Explanation
Negative setting is the American keyless-work arrangement in which the setting mechanism lives in the case pendant rather than in the movement. The stem and its case-side parts stay with the case when the movement is removed. It was devised so railroad-grade movements could be lever-set and cased cheaply. Movements and cases are not freely interchangeable between positive- and negative-set designs.