The watch comes with a tiny plastic splint that keeps the center side knob from being pushed in. In pushed-in mode, the watch is activated. In pulled-out mode, the time can be set. This is obvious to anyone who had operated a watch before but I am including this info just in case.

To set the 24-hour clock (bottom small dial), push the lower of the side knobs in. The hand moves in increments until you get it where it belongs. If you don't 'speak' 24-hour (military) time, it doesn't matter.

To set the day of the month (left small dial), keep pressing the upper side knob in the same manner. The hand will move around the dial.

Now how to set the day of the week (right small dial) is not so obvious. I suspect at this point that one must turn off the watch by pulling out the center knob until the day of the week upon which the hand resides, then restart the watch. Just put a tickler on your calendar so you remember. If anyone figures out another way, please let me know.

This watch is large and feminine and very showy without being cheap-looking. As another reviewer noted, the strap is not white but a very attractive light tan, almost ivory. (More accurate pictures are on other websites - just Google them.) And the background of the watch face isn't a glarey white but softer - a lighter ivory than the strap. The 'gold' accents look real which is especially important to the appearance of the hands and watch face decor. All those crystalline accents are where the bling really comes in. Did you know that instead of numbers, there are more little crystals set on the face? Well, except for 3, 6 and 9 where the small dials interfere.

The outside of the strap doesn't look like real leather but then patent leather never does. It may be real. I can't tell. The inside where it contacts my wrist says it is real leather; that's the more important part to me as anything plasticky there generates uncomfortable sweat. I won't know 'til warm weather just how that will play out. The strap is plenty long and with enough holes for adjustment to wear either directly on my slender wrist or over long-sleeved garments - gotta show it off, after all.

Will update to report on longevity issues.