You can use a traditional analogue watch as a compass. Hold the watch flat in your palm. In the Northern Hemisphere, point the hour hand at the sun. The halfway point between the hour hand and 12 o’clock is south. In the Southern Hemisphere, point 12 o’clock at the sun, and the halfway point to the hour hand indicates north. [1, 2, 3, 4]

 

How to Navigate Step-by-Step

1. Northern Hemisphere (North of the Tropic of Cancer)

 

• Hold the watch horizontally (parallel to the ground).
• Point the hour hand directly at the sun.
• Find the exact centre point between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark on the watch face (moving clockwise).
• This midpoint represents South. Directly opposite this line is north. [1, 2, 3, 4]

 

2. Southern Hemisphere (South of the Tropic of Capricorn)

 

• Hold the watch horizontally.
• Point the 12 o'clock marker directly at the sun.
• Find the exact centre point between the 12 o'clock mark and the hour hand (moving clockwise).
• This midpoint points to North. Directly opposite this is the south. [1, 2, 3, 4]

 

 

Important Tweaks and Considerations

 

• Daylight Saving Time (DST): If your watch is currently adjusted for DST (Summer Time), you must use the 1 o'clock mark instead of the 12 o'clock mark as your reference point. [1]
• Equatorial Latitudes: This method loses accuracy near the equator because the sun’s path is more vertical. [1]
• Cloudy Days: You can still use this method by holding a small twig or matchstick vertically over the watch face. Align the shadow of the stick directly with the hour hand (Northern Hemisphere) to find the shadow's path. [1, 3]