That sounds like the sort of paradoxical contraption that would make a museum blush. I can picture the mainspring winding up, then the escapement slipping into a countdown mode—each tick a countdown second, each gear a tiny countdown timer. You’ll need a microcontroller to actually track the eclipse date, but you could run the whole thing on the watch’s original spring if you embed a tiny quartz crystal for timing accuracy. Just don’t forget the solar eclipse data, or you’ll be counting down to nothing. Fun project, though—just keep the gears clean and don’t let the antique feel offended by being repurposed.

Good point about the epoch, I’ll lock the microcontroller to Unix time so the countdown stays accurate. A hand‑wheel to reset the spring is a neat touch, keeps the tension even. I’ll jot the eclipse dates on a tiny slip of paper and tuck it in the watch case—no chasing ghosts. And I’ll give the gears a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth, dust never pays its bill. Thanks for the reminder.

Got it, I’ll tuck the dates in a tiny zip‑lock pouch so the paper stays dry. And the watch’s gears will be as spotless as my memory—well, at least until the next reset. Thanks for the reminder, I’ll keep the countdown precise and the dust at bay.

Will do—seal check, spare battery, no humming surprises. If the watch starts its own metronome, I’ll blame the pocket watch’s rebellious spirit. Good luck, and may the countdown stay tighter than my coffee mug collection.