Rosneathian
1471
Patek Philippe also avoids chronometry trials these days.
Oct 21, 2020,09:35 AM
It's quite a change. In the late 19th century it would enter observatories and trials, and win. Its performance chops were part of its allure. Perhaps it's the increase in volume that you mention, added to its pivot to stressing heritage and exclusivity, that accounts for its secrecy and competition-shy approaches today.
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Royal Oak Offshore movements are machine finished and not hand finished?
By: @Patek_Ambassador : October 17th, 2020-13:53
I watched a recent video by Tim Mosso from Watchbox where be reviewed a new release of an Offshore and in the video he said that AP ROO movements are hand assembled, but machine finished. Is this true? Does AP really not hand finish these movements? It is...
AP and Vaucher
By: Sho-nuff : October 21st, 2020-05:22
My understanding is AP uses the Vaucher base cal. 3002 on its new 34mm ROs, and has exclusive customisations done to it.
As far as I know, yup
By: batholith : October 17th, 2020-14:22
the only ones that get a substantial amount of hand finishing are the Jumbos. As our other colleagues have pointed out, pretty much standard practice for all but special models or small scale manufacturers.
Transparancy
By: Weems@8 : October 17th, 2020-14:37
Many crafts are a secret. It stop copying from each other. Transparency is important, but it can take away some magic. The same as an illusionist tell the trick.
Tim Mosso speaks the truth...
By: patrick_y : October 17th, 2020-14:39
It's all those Patek Philippe fan boys and Audemars Piguet fan boys who spread incorrect information and assume that because it's got a reputable name on the dial that things are always good. A lot of the AP RO Offshore Chronographs are just generic Frede...
Most Pateks are only machine finished, from time only through annual calendars, at least. At the upper end, both AP and Patek have some handwork.
By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : October 17th, 2020-14:53
Meanwhile, an entry-level Breguet dress watch, the 5177, has two interior angles as a little sign to those in the know that they do finishing by hand. Lange, of course, does hand finishing as well, so some brands are keeping the traditional skills alive.
This is not necessarily true anymore, unfortunately
By: skyeriding : October 18th, 2020-20:49
In some 5177 movements (I'm unsure if this applies to all new 777Qs), the interior angles are now replaced by rounded ones which are likely done by machine. This can be seen in this video at 0:41, officially from Breguet: Regards, skyeriding
I think this is just the video, not a change in production.
By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : October 19th, 2020-03:58
Here's an actual picture: We're not taking about Dufour, the interior angles are hand finished in both cases, though. Just here they are more shallow on the entry level Breguet. Also, it is likely the hand finishing on this Breguet is just that: The finis...
Just to explain this in a bit more detail....
By: jleno : October 17th, 2020-19:50
When people talk about machine finishing, what they're typically referring to is the anglage on the bridges. Machine finished anglage will often look flat and may have slight vertical striations visible left over from the machining process. What you ideal...
The real crime here is the opacity of the term 'hand assembled'
By: Rapwatch : October 18th, 2020-05:44
It's not factually false, but its not true to its implied meaning to the average watch buyer ether. The companies like to maintain the illusion of some decades experienced watchmaker obsessing over the perfect assembly of your 'precious'. Mass production ...
machine finishing is actually preferable
By: watch-er : October 18th, 2020-07:33
for a uniform perfect finish to eliminate irregular aspects from hand held tools. I suspect few if anyone hand finishes plates these days.
Patek Philippe also avoids chronometry trials these days.
By: Rosneathian : October 21st, 2020-09:35
It's quite a change. In the late 19th century it would enter observatories and trials, and win. Its performance chops were part of its allure. Perhaps it's the increase in volume that you mention, added to its pivot to stressing heritage and exclusivity, ...