Though I do not have a Spirit 37, it is generally true for automatic watches.
When only setting the date the movement continues to keep time. Think
how inconvenient it might be to have the second hand stop when adjusting
the date at the end of the short months.


Thanks,
rationaltime

 

What @rationaltime said is true of most every watch out there, both quartz and mechanical. I have a 40mm Spirit and the movement only stops when the crown is pulled all the way out, not in the date position. The 37mm and 40mm have the same movement.

Some older mechanical movements might not stop the movement when the crown is pulled all the way out. One that comes to mind is the Omega Speedmaster (with 1861 or older movements). Those movements that don't hack tend to be time only, no date. I've never seen a quartz that doesn't act like your Spirit though.

Just be careful, do NOT change the date between 9pm-3am is the rule of thumb for any watch with a fast date advance. Doing so in that time window can trash the date change mechanism, it's not guaranteed it'll damage it but better safe than sorry.

 

Normal protocol for most automatic watches now days.