Watch info for Dummies

ThebitterLemon

I am trying to learn more about the internal workings/mechanics of watches, I know almost nothing about it.

Can you guys recommend a site or some literature that would give a basic introduction. I would prefer it not to be overly technical.

Thanks.

TbL

Chuck_Norris

Ask any questions, and I'll try and answer as simply as possible. If that helps.

ThebitterLemon

Thanks Bedlam.

Chuck,

A very basic first one, when I bought my Breitling recently, I was told not to adjust the time between certain times of the day.

Do you know what is this time window,(I can't remember) does it vary by model and why shouldn't you change the time during this period.

TbL

Chuck_Norris

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Thanks Bedlam.

Chuck,

A very basic first one, when I bought my Breitling recently, I was told not to adjust the time between certain times of the day.

Do you know what is this time window,(I can't remember) does it vary by model and why shouldn't you change the time during this period.

TbL

First question first, yes it does vary by model. It even varies from watch to watch within specific models. It depends on how "good" the last watchmaker was that assembled the watch. Or should say, how the watch was last adjusted.

The window would be during the date change. This can be anything from 20.00- 02.00. With the date change mechanism being mechanical, it can start/ end during that period. Most high end watches, the date change window would be a lot smaller than that. But again, it depends on how it was last adjusted/ wear on parts/ how new rhe oil in parts is.

And the reason not to do it is that it can sometimes effect the date change mechanism. Doesn't happen often though.

As a tip, pull our crown out to time adjustmen setting, and adjust the time until about a half hour after you notice the date change. Check what tim it is.

Next, adjust the time backwards. You'll hear a little click, maybe even feel it. This is the engagement for the start of the date change mexhanism. Check what time it is on the watch. This will tell you when not to adjust your time.

Hope this Helps.

ThebitterLemon

Thanks Chuck,

Another query if I'm not being a nuisance, on the info Bedlam provided it said that a movement is a completed finished individual mechanism contained within the watch.

I think I understand the difference between in house movements and generic ones like ETA.

My question is that, as I understand it my Breitling doesn't have an in house movement, are there any components (within the casing) in addition to the movement that are a created by the manufacturer?

My point I think, is that if a manufactured uses a generic movement,mwhat else are they adding to the watch apart from aesthetic value?

Is there any way to tell if a watch has ts own in house movement?

Thanks for your time.

TbL

Nonoperational

They are adding the prestige of the brand and every other part really except the movement. Your paying a huge premium for the name when you buy an expensive watch.

You can tell if a watch uses it's own movement or not by researching the watch. Some brands use 100% their own movements, others use complete ETA etc movements and some are inbetween where they do some modifications to ETA movements.

Chuck_Norris

^^^^^
+1.

You're not only paying for the prestige of the brand. You're paying for human interaction. The more time a person spends on a watch, can be related to its price. The movement in your Breitling is going to be finished to a higher degree than our standard ETA movement. Trust me, a standard ETA movement isn't incredibly highly finished. Granted, you're not going to see alot of this finish, unless you've a crystal case back. But you're paying for it being there none the less.

The process of making a watch a chronometer is not something very easily achieved. There's a hell of a lot that goes into it. Not something easily done by machine. Most of this work centres around the balance wheel/ hairspring, where very, VERY fine adjustments can make a HUGE difference.

Then you've got the likes of bi- metallic balances. Free sprung Breguet hairspring a etc.

On top of that, marketing plays its part.

If you want to get an idea of what handmade is, click here.

peasant

The term "in house movement" means nothing more than the movement is made by the same company as the whole watch.

If you buy a Vostok Komandirskie for 30 -50 Euro you also get an in-house movement

Anjobe

I would have thought that the company with the best story as far as in house production goes is Seiko who, in Japan at least, make everything in house, all the way down to the lubricants and luminous paints!

Monty Burnz

Good video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=508-rmdY4jQ

flutered

the valjoux 7750 is one of the movements, if not d movement which this date change applys to.

Chuck_Norris

flutered wrote: »

the valjoux 7750 is one of the movements, if not d movement which this date change applys to.

Well the 7750 would be the base movement for most Breitling chronographs.