The present invention relates to a date mechanism comprising a stationary shaft (7) and an eccentric (4) supported by a date drive wheel (1). The date actuator (2) is arranged to slide and pivot relative to said stationary shaft (7). The eccentric (4) is arranged to drive the date actuator (1). The spring (9) is arranged to bias the date actuator (2) against the eccentric (4) of the date drive wheel (1). The eccentric (4), the stationary shaft (7) and the date actuator (2) are arranged relative to the date drive wheel (1) so that the date actuator (2) advances the date wheel (3) by one step when the date drive wheel (1) rotates in a first direction but does not pivot the date wheel (3) when the date drive wheel (1) pivots in a second direction opposite to the first. The date actuator (2) can slide and pivot relative to the stationary shaft (7) and/or move against the action of a resilient force (9) under the action of the date wheel (3) without driving the date drive wheel (1).