I noticed a while ago that a few watches in shop windows have their crowns pulled out in the ‘time setting’, hacked position. I always thought it odd but thinking about it, it makes sense to put the break on an auto movement when the watch goes in the box, rather than letting it discharge the power reserve, then having to hand wind a few turns when it goes back on (which I’m told one should avoid in autos).

Question is: does leaving the watch hacked cause damage to a partially wound mainspring which is being held under tension?