How to Use your Watch as a Compass

If it’s a sunny day, and you have a watch that is reasonably on time, you can locate directions by following these steps:

• Hold your watch with the flat surface parallel to the ground.

• Keeping it parallel to the ground, rotate it until the hour hand points in the general direction of the sun.

• In the morning, south lies about halfway between the hour hand and twelve o’clock, measuring clockwise.

• In the afternoon, south lies about halfway between the hour hand and twelve o’clock, measuring counter-clockwise.

• North, of course, will be on the same line, in the opposite direction.

This method isn’t entirely accurate, but if you’re wondering which way to turn at a highway crossroad, for example, it may serve to give you the approximate direction you need.

Sandi Duncan is the Managing Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. Click here to read Sandi's full biography.