The Principle

• Northern sun sits in the southern sky
• Bisect hour hand and twelve o'clock
• That midpoint points to south
• North lies opposite, 180 degrees away

Establish Sun

• Locate the sun in the sky
• Note whether it sits east or west
• Set your watch to local time
• Use solar time when possible

Northern Method

• Point the hour hand at the sun
• Find the midpoint to twelve o'clock
• Read that direction as south
• Turn around to face north

Read the Dial

• Use the dial twelve, not the bezel
• Remember the bezel rotates freely
• Trust the fixed hour markers
• Keep the watch level while reading

Southern Method

• Point twelve o'clock at the sun
• Find the midpoint to the hour hand
• Read that direction as north
• Reverse the northern logic

Watch the Errors

• Adjust for daylight saving offsets
• Expect less accuracy near the equator
• Account for midday sun ambiguity
• Cross-check against terrain when unsure