Movement Quirks
Movement Quirks
None of us on here will have owned every singe movement out there. In the interest of furthering all our knowledge, I thought it would be good to share all those movements we’ve owned with little quirks that are outside the norm.
These can be good, bad, or indifferent but should be part of the design. I’m not asking about flaws and failure rates here. So don’t mention sticking rotors....
I’ll start. My Zenith El Primero is a high beat movement which runs at 36000 vph, or 10 ticks a second. It’s a non hacking movement which isn’t a problem, however the strange quirk is the reversing of the time set and date set positions with the crown. Many a time I’ve pulled the crown out to the first click to set the date and adjusted the time instead. The date set is actually the second click on the EP.
So what movements have something unique about them that you want to share? I can think of a few others I’ve owned but won’t mention them to give others a chance to contribute.
These can be good, bad, or indifferent but should be part of the design. I’m not asking about flaws and failure rates here. So don’t mention sticking rotors....
I’ll start. My Zenith El Primero is a high beat movement which runs at 36000 vph, or 10 ticks a second. It’s a non hacking movement which isn’t a problem, however the strange quirk is the reversing of the time set and date set positions with the crown. Many a time I’ve pulled the crown out to the first click to set the date and adjusted the time instead. The date set is actually the second click on the EP.
So what movements have something unique about them that you want to share? I can think of a few others I’ve owned but won’t mention them to give others a chance to contribute.
Iain’s Law: Any discussion on the Christopher Ward forum, irrespective of the thread title or subject matter, will eventually lead to someone mentioning the Bel Canto if the thread continues for long enough.
Re: Movement Quirks
On Swatch's automatic Sistem 51 movement the crown winds anti-clockwise to get the watch going. I thought it was faulty when I wound it for the first time. Note to self: read the flipping manual.
Re: Movement Quirks
No more? What about simple quirks that are just something that comes with a particular movement?
I’ve only owned one, but the valjoux chronograph movement in one of my Bremonts had the wobble. I didn’t know what it was when I read about it until I experienced it first hand but I quite liked it.
I’ve only owned one, but the valjoux chronograph movement in one of my Bremonts had the wobble. I didn’t know what it was when I read about it until I experienced it first hand but I quite liked it.
Iain’s Law: Any discussion on the Christopher Ward forum, irrespective of the thread title or subject matter, will eventually lead to someone mentioning the Bel Canto if the thread continues for long enough.
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Re: Movement Quirks
I’ll include a picture of my Zenith Defy high speed Chrono. This model has the Chrono that measures 1/100th of a second. With a completely separate barrel, movement and PR indicator for the chronograph. No date here, so the crown doesn’t pull out at all. Turning the crown clockwise advances the PR indicator for said chronograph. Turning it counter or anti clockwise winds the barrel powering the watch.
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- iain
Time and money? I’ve spent most of mine on booze and women. The rest I just wasted…
Dwight
Dwight
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Re: Movement Quirks
With reference to a couple of earlier posts. I’ve had a couple of Valjoux 7750 and can honestly say, I’ve never noticed/felt the “wobble”
So much so that quite awhile back in another thread, I had to ask someone to explain what it was. Even though I was the owner of one at the time. And currently own the C60 Trident Pro 600 Chronograph Automatic (The Beast)
So much so that quite awhile back in another thread, I had to ask someone to explain what it was. Even though I was the owner of one at the time. And currently own the C60 Trident Pro 600 Chronograph Automatic (The Beast)
Basically, I'm for anything that gets you through the night. Be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniels, Frank Sinatra
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All You Need Is Love, The Beatles
Too much of anything is bad. But too much of good whiskey is barely enough, Mark Twain
Re: Movement Quirks
^^^ I really like the Beast with its 'breather' second hand! When I have the funds I'd love to track a second hand one down. It will be interesting to compare movements - wobbles, or lack of - considering it's the same as the Bremont.
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Re: Movement Quirks
Ulysse Nardin San Marco GMT +/-
It’s a proper traveller’s GMT because you can advance or retard the independent hour hand via the pushers at 8 and 10. The clever bit is that if you take the hour hand back through midnight the date changes back as well with no damage. Good trick, though I’ve never had cause to use it in anger.
It’s a proper traveller’s GMT because you can advance or retard the independent hour hand via the pushers at 8 and 10. The clever bit is that if you take the hour hand back through midnight the date changes back as well with no damage. Good trick, though I’ve never had cause to use it in anger.
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
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Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
- jkbarnes
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Re: Movement Quirks
Does the crown need to be pulled out to engage the pushers, or are they fully function all the time?Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Mon Sep 26, 2022 4:57 pm Ulysse Nardin San Marco GMT +/-
It’s a proper traveller’s GMT because you can advance or retard the independent hour hand via the pushers at 8 and 10.
Drew
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Re: Movement Quirks
Crown stays screwed down, pushers adjust hour hand on the fly.
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Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
- jkbarnes
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Re: Movement Quirks
That’s pretty convenient. Like you said, a true traveler’s watch.Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Mon Sep 26, 2022 5:16 pm Crown stays screwed down, pushers adjust hour hand on the fly.
Drew
Re: Movement Quirks
I wouldn’t call it a quirk, as it was designed to do what it does.
But on the basis that most chronograph dials/movements tend to follow one of a small number of formats, I give you something different.
The JLC caliber 859, as used in the Reverso Gran Sport chronograph. A rectangular 317 part movement (most movements are round, including those that most brands stick in rectangular dial watches).
Rather cool as the chronograph is a 30 minute retrograde, on the reverse of the dial, with an indicator on the front dial to remind the wearer when the chronograph is running.
Non chronograph side. Chronograph, just before it reaches the 30 minute retrograde reset. Chronograph, just after it has reached the 30 minute count and reset. Neil
But on the basis that most chronograph dials/movements tend to follow one of a small number of formats, I give you something different.
The JLC caliber 859, as used in the Reverso Gran Sport chronograph. A rectangular 317 part movement (most movements are round, including those that most brands stick in rectangular dial watches).
Rather cool as the chronograph is a 30 minute retrograde, on the reverse of the dial, with an indicator on the front dial to remind the wearer when the chronograph is running.
Non chronograph side. Chronograph, just before it reaches the 30 minute retrograde reset. Chronograph, just after it has reached the 30 minute count and reset. Neil
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Re: Movement Quirks
^^ ^^
That a forum fav from me Neil. Just lovely.
Des
That a forum fav from me Neil. Just lovely.
Des
Does melancholy count as two of your five daily servings?
Re: Movement Quirks
This isn’t really a quirk but is more a case of a watch doing what it’s supposed to do. Whereas almost every other watch I’ve owned doesn’t do it.
I’ve been scratching my head with my JLC Polaris whenever I set the watch. We all know how to set a watch, give it a few winds to get it going, pull the crown out when the second hand reaches 12 and set the watch. However I always move the hands to just past the time and then wind them back to remove any play in the movement. I’ve set hands exactly before and pushed in the crown only for them to take a while to start to move and the result being the minute hand is then about 30 seconds behind. I’ve even had user manuals that tell you this is how to do it.
So back to the JLC. I’ve been setting the watch the exact same way but every time I wind the hands back and release the crown, the minute hand either drifts back again or when it doesn’t drift, it jumps a minute when I push back the crown.
Anyway after some trial an error I decided to just wind the hands to the minute and push the crown back. Perfect, no jump, no drift and no slack in the movement.
It’s like the movement is so well made you don’t need to worry about playing with the hands to overcome things like play in the gears. It just works perfectly every time. Well done JLC.
I’ve been scratching my head with my JLC Polaris whenever I set the watch. We all know how to set a watch, give it a few winds to get it going, pull the crown out when the second hand reaches 12 and set the watch. However I always move the hands to just past the time and then wind them back to remove any play in the movement. I’ve set hands exactly before and pushed in the crown only for them to take a while to start to move and the result being the minute hand is then about 30 seconds behind. I’ve even had user manuals that tell you this is how to do it.
So back to the JLC. I’ve been setting the watch the exact same way but every time I wind the hands back and release the crown, the minute hand either drifts back again or when it doesn’t drift, it jumps a minute when I push back the crown.
Anyway after some trial an error I decided to just wind the hands to the minute and push the crown back. Perfect, no jump, no drift and no slack in the movement.
It’s like the movement is so well made you don’t need to worry about playing with the hands to overcome things like play in the gears. It just works perfectly every time. Well done JLC.
Iain’s Law: Any discussion on the Christopher Ward forum, irrespective of the thread title or subject matter, will eventually lead to someone mentioning the Bel Canto if the thread continues for long enough.
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