Ye, it's all a bit fiddly to get the time set and get the watch running as well! ...
I have found that letting go of the crown either leaves it in pause or stays in an none documented pause/hours mode(depending which way you are turning the crown). You have to let go of the crown and then quick as a flash move it back to the somewhere between the 12 - 1 o'clock position manually. Just letting go when setting the hours doesn't always work for me.
instruction for an Optel below, sorry for the size - have to get your magnifying glass out!l
Hope this helps :D