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Mechanical Watch

ciechanow.ski

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Re: Mechanical Watch

#171

Post by alfalfasprout »

rkangel wrote: post #164
_fat_santa wrote: post #2

There's something magical about mechanical watches. Maybe it's just knowing that you have this perpetually winding machine on your hand (in the case of "automatic" mechanical watches). Also knowing that the thing will last forever, take care of it and it will probably outlive you. Can't say that about an Apple Watch. If you want a good mechanical watch that won't break the bank I suggest picking up a Seiko SKX (thoug…

I keep considering a mechanical watch, but I think I'd find the accuracy a bit tedious - having to continually adjust it every week so that I didn't arrive late to appointments. I like a watch that gets out of the way - it just works. I've got a Citizen watch a little like this: https://www.citizenwatch.co.uk/stiletto-ar1130-81a.html It's a quartz watch, powered by solar power through the face. It has 'just worked' f…

It depends on the movement in the watch. Any COSC chronometer movement will hold +4/-6s per day which worst case is under a minute lost per week. Typically the error is much smaller.

Re: Mechanical Watch

#172

Post by CydeWeys »

leeoniya wrote: post #160
CydeWeys wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be clear, there are literally hundreds of different models of Grand Seiko watches that are powered by spring drive that have been produced over the past two decades plus, with wildly varying looks across the range. It's not just one watch I'm talking about here.

i probably would not get a watch model from two decades ago, let's limit it to maybe past 5yrs. most (all?) that i've seen have a power reserve gauge. if it's a daily wearer, that needle will be pegged to max and basically useless clutter. complications for their own sake are not my cup of tea. most (all?) that have a date function have the extra-wide single digits, which i'm not a fan of. (i could go on) i know it's…

Here's one example of one without a date or a power reserve gauge: https://www.grand-seiko.com/us-en/collections/sbgy007g

If you do want a date, but it's specifically the font on the date wheels they use that you don't like, then you're probably SoL.

Re: Mechanical Watch

#173

Post by naikrovek »

Normally I would crap (pretty hard) on web tech, because normally, it's only ever used to make websites harder to follow in the name of design, or to create new ways for ads to be served to me.

This site, and the most recent blog entries on this site, are excellent examples of why web technologies are not all bad. People seeking new ways to make money make everything bad, eventually, and thankfully there are bastions of utility without sales still to be found, sprinkled around.

Re: Mechanical Watch

#174

Post by alfalfasprout »

vanshg wrote: post #142
barbazoo wrote: post #138

I couldn't quite figure it out from the (excellent) writeup but when you wind up the watch, you wind up the barrel AND the balance wheel, right?

Same question. The balance wheel/hairspring has to be losing energy overtime to friction (however miniscule). Otherwise we have ourselves a perpetual motion machine

To add to the other answer, that friction (and the intertia of the balance wheel) is actually factored in when regulating the watch. The pallet fork gives the balance wheel a nudge on every "Tick" then the pallet fork stays stuck until the balance wheel swings around and back and jolts it in the other direction (the tock). Basically a little bit of energy is released from the mainspring via the escapement to the pallet fork to the balance wheel on each tick/tock.

Re: Mechanical Watch

#175

Post by vmurthy »

leeoniya wrote: post #33

i'm continuously astounded by how accurate the Omega Aqua Terra is. it will be within 90s over a 30 day period after 4 years of daily use with no servicing. the fact that something mechanical and so tiny operating at 3.5hz can do this is mind blowing to me. it has a cool [8800] co-axial escapement: https://www.kapoorwatch.com/blogs/through-the-scope-the-omeg...

Ha! I followed a rabbit hole and found this gem : Listen to how 3Hz sounds like. It's hypnotic https://www.omegawatches.com/en-au/watch-omega-speedmaster-m...

(Search for 3 Hz and click the Audio icon)

Re: Mechanical Watch

#176

Post by Razengan »

Is there a “gearpunk” hobbyist community anywhere? Where people design mostly un-electrical contraptions or even mechanical computers etc.? Would be a pretty fun and rewarding hands-on craft.

Re: Mechanical Watch

#177

Post by fuddle »

aliljet wrote: post #4

This may not be the most valuable comment, but my goodness, the quality of this writeup and it's interactive descriptions of complex mechanical components AND their interactions is radically impressive. The treatment of complex topics in deeply visual and partially interactive ways, for me at least, is a remarkably helpful way to learn.

I wonder how long it took him to put together this blog post?

Re: Mechanical Watch

#179

Post by alfalfasprout »

99_00 wrote: post #14

How difficult is it to bootstrap the ability to manufacture mechanical watch parts? It was only in 2017 that China joined the elite club of countries capable of making ballpoint pens. Is it that hard? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/01/18...

Very hard. And it comes at an outrageous price. Independent watchmakers usually go one of four routes:

1) Source a movement from a big manufacturer (eg; ETA/Valjoux or a japanese/chinese movement) and use it as is but design the case/dial yourself 2) (1) but modify the movement adding functionality, replacing parts, or refinishing it to your own standard 3) Designing a custom movement around specialty movement parts from a supplier like Jaeger LeCoultre. They make some of the trickier parts (gears, balance springs). They can also manufacture special parts on a swiss screw machine. 4) Going through a bespoke movement maker like agenhor. You tell them what you want and they have both the machinery to make many custom parts and source the rest from elsewhere. They also provide movement design expertise.

Actually machining the watch parts isn't the hard part... the tricky part comes in things like hairsprings and escapements which are made from sometimes exotic materials like silicon. Some tiny watch parts are made using electrical discharge machining which costs $$$$$$$$ as well.

Re: Mechanical Watch

#180

Post by [deleted] »

aliljet wrote: post #4

This may not be the most valuable comment, but my goodness, the quality of this writeup and it's interactive descriptions of complex mechanical components AND their interactions is radically impressive. The treatment of complex topics in deeply visual and partially interactive ways, for me at least, is a remarkably helpful way to learn.

[deleted]
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