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Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

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Re: Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

#121

I absolutely love this. I think a lot of techie types might not realize what an engineering marvel a mechanical watch movement is. I'm sure you all realize there are a lot of teeny tiny gears. But does the HN crowd realize there are 24 precious gems (lab-grown rubies and sapphires!!!!) inside the NH38 movement, serving as bearings and such? While the Apple Watch is in some ways orders of magnitude more advanced than…

Sundials emphasize our reliance on the sun as a source of light and energy. They remind us of the fundamental role the sun plays in sustaining life on Earth and providing us with light and warmth. This dependency gives sundials a sense of harmony with the natural world and instills a sense of wonder and appreciation for the celestial bodies. Mechanical watches are diamonds for men.

The gods confound the man who first found out how to distinguish hours! Confound him, too, who in this place set up a sundial, to cut and hack my days so wretchedly into small portions!

— Plautus (c.254-184 BC)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30047352>

Re: Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

#122
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Excellent points! I'd like to add that while your Apple watch might last you 5-10 years, a mechanical watch well looked-after can last several lifetimes. I'm currently daily-driving an automatic watch from the mid-60s that still somehow looks pristine and keeps excellent time (for a mechanical, that is). I expect this watch to outlive me.

> Apple watch might last you 5-10 years Tiny ass battery + daily full charge discharge = toast well before 10 years If they actually cared about sustainability the screen and battery would be user replaceable

Apple always has had this tussle between making things repairable and sustainable vs selling more of stuff. It does not have to be this way. Don't they make a log of money from non hardware services. I heard apple pay rakes in close to 800m $

Re: Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

#123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Excellent points! I'd like to add that while your Apple watch might last you 5-10 years, a mechanical watch well looked-after can last several lifetimes. I'm currently daily-driving an automatic watch from the mid-60s that still somehow looks pristine and keeps excellent time (for a mechanical, that is). I expect this watch to outlive me.

Did that watch survive from the 60s without service? If you need to have a vintage watch like that serviced it would cost about the same as buying a new apple watch. Some of these old watches can also become a bit of a ship of theseus. It's a 60's watch with a new crystal,mainspring and rotor.

Under relatively normal wear, the only parts that should be replaced are the crystal, mainspring, and rotor. That's 3 wear parts, not exactly a "ship of theseus".

If something is broken, sure. It might need replacing. But that's rarer, I think, than people realize, and rarely is it more than one or two parts of the movement.

I recently repaired my great-grandfather's pocket watch and the only replacement necessary was the mainspring.

Re: Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

#124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah I want the monitor, not the screen. Apple, Polar, Garmin, I don't care.

You might be interested in the Oura ring then. I can't recommend it, because I haven't tried it. But sounds like the kind of thing you're talking about.

I do exactly this. Very happy with the solution though I did get grandfathered in to their paid subscription (so I don’t pay it)

Mechanical watches are a deep and expensive rabbit hole though.

Re: Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

#125

This is incredible... hats off to the maker. That being said I really wish that the Chinese ETA 2824-2 clone that is the PT5000 would see more action in place of Seiko movements. It's more accurate, runs at 4Hz, and isn't too far off in terms of cost (last I checked - I could be wrong as regards bulk orders). Then again I don't know whether it can be modded to be "open heart" a la the NH38 so it might not have been a…

Damn yeah, you guys are all on the money. I was thinking of an ETA clone or Sellita. As well as the Miyota 90S5 which was a really odd pick from ghostganz because I don't think its that popular of a movement. But I was looking at it as I had 0.5mm less height than Seiko's recommended minimum height within the case, and the 90S5 was much thinner. Ended up with the NH38 anyway because I was really REALLY unsure if I co…

The 90S5 is basically the very popular 9015 but with a big hole in it. :)

Re: Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The battery of a 20$ Casio F-91W alone, will outlive several Apple watches.

The battery of a 20$ Casio F-91W alone, will outlive several Apple watches. While I'm with you in spirit, I'm not sure that's strictly accurate. The F-91W battery is rated for 10 years: https://support.casio.com/storage/en/manual/pdf/EN/009/qw593... The calculator version (which I use) is rated for three years, assuming you only let the alarm go off for 20 seconds per day, and use the calculator function for less tha…

> The F-91W battery is rated for 10 years

What would you consider the average life of an Apple Watch? If it's 5 years, OP is right.

Re: Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

#127
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple watch might last you 5-10 years Tiny ass battery + daily full charge discharge = toast well before 10 years If they actually cared about sustainability the screen and battery would be user replaceable

The battery of a 20$ Casio F-91W alone, will outlive several Apple watches.

Casio F-91W costs $16.96 here: https://www.amazon.com/Casio-F91W-Digital-Sports-Watch/dp/B0...

Re: Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

#128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The battery of a 20$ Casio F-91W alone, will outlive several Apple watches. While I'm with you in spirit, I'm not sure that's strictly accurate. The F-91W battery is rated for 10 years: https://support.casio.com/storage/en/manual/pdf/EN/009/qw593... The calculator version (which I use) is rated for three years, assuming you only let the alarm go off for 20 seconds per day, and use the calculator function for less tha…

> The F-91W battery is rated for 10 years What would you consider the average life of an Apple Watch? If it's 5 years, OP is right.

What would you consider the average life of an Apple Watch? If it's 5 years, OP is right.

I'd say the Apple Watch is too new for anyone to know. I still use my six-year-old Apple Watch.

Re: Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

#129
post #82
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wear an automatic Tag Heuer. I have been asked by many people why I still wear a mechanical watch. My answer is, battery powered watches (including smart watches and quartz movements) might have a life, but a mechanical watch ticking incessantly has a soul.

Also: an Apple watch lacks elegance and is literally sexless.

I demur. My 2017 38mm Series 3 w Hermès Sport band is a joy.

Re: Mechanical Apple Watch from real e-waste Apple Watch

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The battery of a 20$ Casio F-91W alone, will outlive several Apple watches.

Casio F-91W costs $16.96 here: https://www.amazon.com/Casio-F91W-Digital-Sports-Watch/dp/B0...

I know Americans enjoy the lowest consumers electronics prices in the world but in Europe it's at least 20 Euros which is more than 20 USD and even at 20 euros it's difficult to find, with most shops asking for more than that.
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