Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

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Paul Drawmer
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Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by Paul Drawmer »

Now I realise that the whole point of a timepiece is that it should keep time. However; examination of the performance of a particular watch can highlight inconstancy and inaccuracy which can lead to fear and apprehension in the observer.

As a way of mitigating these unfortunate symptoms, may I suggest the following course of action.

1. Buy plenty of watches.
2. Do not get a winder for the automatics.
3. Wear them in a daily rotation.

In this way, each time you return to a watch, it will be run down. It will need the care and attention you give it by re-setting the date/time, and giving it a wind.

Since the only time to actually check the setting of a watch is from a stop, you never find out how much it varies over the day.

In this way you get to examine each watch in the collection on a regular basis (note that for Kip regular might only mean once a year!) , and relieve yourself of stress brought on by worries about performance.

Problem solved.
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Amor Vincit Omnia
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Not really drivel, Paul. There is something in what you say. The more watches I collect, the less frequently I wear any particular watch, the less I worry about it being completely spot-on. If it points to the right minute after a day, I'm fine.
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by Berkshire »

I agree with Steve, it's not drivel. You have described my habits and my collection. :D
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by welshlad »

Paul, that makes perfect sense to me. :)
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by Fnew »

I agree completely. I do use a winder though and I have just come to accept that my autos are going to need to be adjusted when I put them on.
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by theaub »

Spot on, in my opinion. I stopped using my watch winder and eventually sold it because I found it easier to let the watches run down and their accuracy was better than when they were on the winder. Now I have fewer watches and tend to wear one for considerable periods, I find the accuracy is much better.
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by magicman »

I imagine a watch winder is very useful for watches that need a bit of setting up, say a moonphase or similar.
But i like the whole process of re-powering/setting a watch, although i do just shake mine gently rather than wind it, is that incorrect ?

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Helix Von Smelix
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by Helix Von Smelix »

Are you MAD!! :shock:

Its like keeping plates spinning on sticks :D
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by MiniMpi »

Because I have my watches on rotation they always run down. I enjoy the whole resetting the time and date and winding. It something that I enjoy, getting some life into them again ;)
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by Lavaine »

I absolutely agree with you Paul. I check the timekeeping on all my watches when I buy them, to make sure they are running ok and don't require regulating or service, and to get an idea of which watches are less accurate if I wear them for more than a couple of days. After that I don't bother setting them to the second. I set them to the minute and put them on. Good enough for me. I do check timekeeping occasionally as a 'health check', but that's it. By doing this I identified one of my vintages watches recently as in need of service, when it went from -40 seconds/day to -90.
I think the turning point for me was buying the Magrette Bronze, which didn't have a second hand. It helped me realize that to the second accuracy was mostly irrelevant. Very cathartic.
Having said all that, I still really enjoyed seeing my new-to-me Seamaster maintain -2 seconds over the first 24 hours, so I'm not completely cured.
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Interesting notion about the lack of seconds hand being cathartic. Makes me want to try a single hander!
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by holyk »

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote:Not really drivel, Paul. There is something in what you say. The more watches I collect, the less frequently I wear any particular watch, the less I worry about it being completely spot-on. If it points to the right minute after a day, I'm fine.
I agree with this completely. I find I don't even bother checking the seconds variation anymore which I used to check zealously when my watch collection was smaller.
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by malvern_man »

I always let my autos run down, and, rightly or wrongly I also pull the crowns out on my quartz ones.


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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

When I was 18 I got my first quartz digital and got a **** from my Dad for ringing the speaking clock about 5 times a day to check if my watch was right!
Steve
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Re: Some thoughts on timekeeping. (drivel)

Post by 38911 »

malvern_man wrote:I always let my autos run down, and, rightly or wrongly I also pull the crowns out on my quartz ones.


Chris.
I might be wrong, but I'm sure someone once told me that leaving the crown out for long periods of time was a bad idea as the seal is 'open' potentially letting moisture in the air inside the watch.
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