A multimode electronic timepiece has a display, a case, a plurality of manually actuated actuators disposed about said case, and an integrated circuit programmed to keep time and to provide a plurality of modes for performing a plurality of timepiece functions, including a first and second modes. The integrated circuit is further programmed to permit an operator to sequentially cycle a timepiece through the plurality of modes by selectively and repetitively actuating a first actuator. The improved timepiece includes a program for the integrated circuit adapted to dispose the timepiece out of a first and second of the plurality of modes into a first and second operating instruction subroutine in response to actuation of a second actuator. The first and second operating instruction subroutine respectively comprise a first and second set of operating instructions which describe the operation of the actuators when the timepiece is respectively disposed in the first and second modes. The first and second operating instruction subroutines are adapted to allow a timepiece operator to cycle the timepiece through the first and second of operating instructions in response to continuous uninterrupted actuation of the second actuator.