Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

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tempusmaximus
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by tempusmaximus »

smegwina wrote:To me have always been the ultimate dress 'down' watch. The antithesis of the classic dress watch if you will.

I still have a few of the plastic originals and apart from the loudest tick known to man, they are still going strong.

They are one of the classless watches, alongside the Timex Ironman/expedition, Casio G shock ilk.

When I was in the city, I saw the Swatch on everybody from CEOs to cleaners in the same building on the same day!

I don't see this being any different to be honest.

I agree Nick , i know they are not everybodies cup of tea , but i for one do like their mechanical watches.
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by Berkshire »

I first heard about the Sistem51 well over a year ago and have since been eagerly waiting for the launch. The price makes it all the more attractive and without doubt I will be adding one to my collection. From what I've read this is a significant in-house movement development and could revolutionise the watch industry. :D
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by smegwina »

Berkshire wrote:I first heard about the Sistem51 well over a year ago and have since been eagerly waiting for the launch. The price makes it all the more attractive and without doubt I will be adding one to my collection. From what I've read this is a significant in-house movement development and could revolutionise the watch industry. :D
I have to agree! The original was a classic and I see this as being no different!
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by tempusmaximus »

smegwina wrote:
Berkshire wrote:I first heard about the Sistem51 well over a year ago and have since been eagerly waiting for the launch. The price makes it all the more attractive and without doubt I will be adding one to my collection. From what I've read this is a significant in-house movement development and could revolutionise the watch industry. :D
I have to agree! The original was a classic and I see this as being no different!

IMHO its £108 very well spent :D
Bernie
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by Dancematt »

tempusmaximus wrote:
Dancematt wrote:I wonder what the lifespan of the plastic pallet fork and escape wheel will be and how well will it hold up over time?

The fact that this technology has been rolled out in a swatch rather than a brand like tissot say means it's highly doubtful that much of this will role out to the luxury brands. Its not a game changer but the suspend it from one screw idea is a nice gimmick (and will probably find its way into a tissot like swatches plastic movements did in the 70s)

And they do look pants...almost like the black one, perhaps on a swatch nato?


Tissot was first use to use the plastic self lubricating movements ,which in the 70s was already using the heat moulded synthetic materials which gave birth to the plastic movement and plastic cased watches in the Tissot Astrolon, Swatch Watches came later.
Doh! Stupid mistake there, swatch weren't invented till the 80s haha! Those Tissot movements sucked though and I'm probably alone in saying this won't revolutionise anything. Its over priced considering a fully serviceable 7s26 can be had for a lot less but still that's the swiss way.

I'd like to see it on different straps.
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by tempusmaximus »

Dancematt wrote:
tempusmaximus wrote:
Dancematt wrote:I wonder what the lifespan of the plastic pallet fork and escape wheel will be and how well will it hold up over time?

The fact that this technology has been rolled out in a swatch rather than a brand like tissot say means it's highly doubtful that much of this will role out to the luxury brands. Its not a game changer but the suspend it from one screw idea is a nice gimmick (and will probably find its way into a tissot like swatches plastic movements did in the 70s)

And they do look pants...almost like the black one, perhaps on a swatch nato?


Tissot was first use to use the plastic self lubricating movements ,which in the 70s was already using the heat moulded synthetic materials which gave birth to the plastic movement and plastic cased watches in the Tissot Astrolon, Swatch Watches came later.
Doh! Stupid mistake there, swatch weren't invented till the 80s haha! Those Tissot movements sucked though and I'm probably alone in saying this won't revolutionise anything. Its over priced considering a fully serviceable 7s26 can be had for a lot less but still that's the swiss way.

I'd like to see it on different straps.
Yes , i can see what your saying about the 7s26 , a great movement for the money , but i still think the sistem51 is of some horological significance.
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by Dancematt »

I agree to a certain extent. Its a cool idea, it could prove great if it wasn't packaged so off beat, I could imagine if an independent got hold of these movements they could make bigger waves but revolutionary it ain't (imo)

The question is, it's a mechanical automatic made by robots so...does it still have a soul? :lol:
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by Cirrus »

Interesting, but ugly. You would think that they would have produced one "diver" for the launch range - this sistem design seems perfect for that application.
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by jmarchitect »

I too have been waiting for the first piece to make it onto the streets but I still cannot help feeling as though it will be a real disappointment to strap one onto the wrist. I remember the early Swatch quartz pieces taking the wrist watch world by storm but it wasn't until they released the irony range that I succumbed. Perhaps if they released a steel cased version with a decent leather strap I might be tempted. Definitely not interested in strapping a piece of plastic to my wrist.
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by Cirrus »

jmarchitect wrote:I too have been waiting for the first piece to make it onto the streets but I still cannot help feeling as though it will be a real disappointment to strap one onto the wrist. I remember the early Swatch quartz pieces taking the wrist watch world by storm but it wasn't until they released the irony range that I succumbed. Perhaps if they released a steel cased version with a decent leather strap I might be tempted. Definitely not interested in strapping a piece of plastic to my wrist.
I have this thing... I wear it on occasion ;)

Image

Image

Sooooo plastic!
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by ianblyth »

I have read and pondered over this and not sure who the watch is aimed at. In the low end fashion market quartz dominates and probably most people do not even realize that non quartz watches even exists. I didn't until I got into watches a few years ago. If you are into mechanical watches then people are generally wowed by the amount of work that goes into a movement even though most manufacturers are heavily industrialised. Do you really think Rolex hand makes a million watches a year? :lol:

It is very clever that they can fully automate the system but being sealed means that it cannot be regulated or serviced which means it has to maintain accuracy and last for a long time. So does that make it a disposable automatic? Only time will tell how long it works in real life. Yet I think of watches like the Orient Mako, the Seiko SK007 and a few of the Parnis watches as disposable as they can be bought for under £100 and the cost of servicing is almost the same as buying a new one. Yet they are good looking watches with a strong following.

I can see this working if you are selling these watches to people who are used to quartz watches saying that you do not need to get the battery changed. Especially if they run for a reasonable length of time as the sting with automatic watches is the servicing costs which far outweigh the cost of a battery change. Although if they have not worn it for a few days it will look like the watch has stopped so we may see these come on eBay as "broken". :lol:
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by Dancematt »

its aimed at people who like their toys? its a 5 minute wonder.
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by smegwina »

Dancematt wrote:its aimed at people who like their toys? its a 5 minute wonder.
I am not convinced of this. I have a feeling that this whole project is a proof of concept and these can almost be considered Beta pieces (with purchasers the unwilling testers).

Depending on how it goes, I am pretty sure that the technology or variations of it will start appearing in other movements.

I am rather excited by the whole thing and if I was not roped in as a last minute, very unwilling baby sitter, I would be getting mine today. :cry:
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by Dancematt »

smegwina wrote:
Dancematt wrote:its aimed at people who like their toys? its a 5 minute wonder.
I am not convinced of this. I have a feeling that this whole project is a proof of concept and these can almost be considered Beta pieces (with purchasers the unwilling testers).

Depending on how it goes, I am pretty sure that the technology or variations of it will start appearing in other movements.

I am rather excited by the whole thing and if I was not roped in as a last minute, very unwilling baby sitter, I would be getting mine today. :cry:
Hi, please explain why you are excited by this one? if this tech filters to other watches/ swatch brands i doubt any savings made during production will be passed onto the consumer.
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Re: Sistem51 Launches In London 6th August

Post by smegwina »

Dancematt wrote:
smegwina wrote:
Dancematt wrote:its aimed at people who like their toys? its a 5 minute wonder.
I am not convinced of this. I have a feeling that this whole project is a proof of concept and these can almost be considered Beta pieces (with purchasers the unwilling testers).

Depending on how it goes, I am pretty sure that the technology or variations of it will start appearing in other movements.

I am rather excited by the whole thing and if I was not roped in as a last minute, very unwilling baby sitter, I would be getting mine today. :cry:
Hi, please explain why you are excited by this one? if this tech filters to other watches/ swatch brands i doubt any savings made during production will be passed onto the consumer.
I love the way that the original swatches are a classless design. I have seen them being worn by rich and poor, young and old etc. The original sealed unit ones at the time were criticised for being 'disposable' and that they would all fall apart, yet the ones that I have are all ticking away still.

This just takes it a step further. A sealed mechanical with 51 components, and a 90 hr power reserve. It is the exact antithesis of so many Swiss manufacturers and movements. It is simple, cheap and will certainly act as a component testbed for future movements.

I think that it is also a process testbed. The construction must be flawless, and quality control beyond reproach. If the unit is sealed, you had better be bloody sure that what is inside it is working properly.

I dont think that it will bring down the price in future movements, ragher tighten up tolerances ans reliability.

However, as it stands, a Swiss mechanical with a 90hr power reserve for 108 quid is not to be sniffed at!
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