Breguet Type XXII 3880 ST 10Hz Chronograph with Flyback

Jun 09, 2011,05:11 AM
 

Last year Breguet snatched the limelight announcing their High Frequency (HF), 10Hz  Chronograph, the  3880 ST. A production model and not prototyping. 
Breguet housed their first HF in the TYPE XXII collection.  The 10Hz  (72,000 VPH) movement with silicon escapement and flat balance spring is cased in a 44mm diameter 100m water-resistance rated steel case. 

HF movement ( 5Hz and above) is known to be more accurate and provide a higher resolution chronograph.  The 3880 ST records down to 1/10 of a second and its chronograph second-hand completes a single rotation in 30 seconds instead of typical 60 seconds.  Reading the timing , will need some practises.

Though the 3880 ST was launched last year, it is not easily seen.  However a finalised piece landed in Singapore Boutique recently and likely it has flown off the shelf.

Some pictures of the production model of the TYPE XXII 3880 ST 10Hz Chronograph with Flyback .....




44mm diameter steel case with fluted caseband.  Bezel is bi-directional and marked with 60-min scale.

Black dial with prints in red and white.

The hour indexes are printed in white and red to have sort of stereoscopic 3D effect like some Anaglyph images.

But it has a functional purpose too for the chronograph reading, which will revisit at the end of this post.




Subdial 9H is the small-second on a 30-second per round, Second time zone indicator is represented by sub-dial 6H with date and at 3H, it is 24 hour indicator.

For both the hands in the centre, the Red chronograph’s seconds hand runs on a 30-second basis, while the White hand with a diamond-shaped tip, is a half-minute totalizer,









Signed Breguet crown, with 4 positions. 

Positon #1 is the crown is screwed in, #2 is for manual winding, #3 is for the time-zone and date setting (which should be the time the city you are in) and #4 is for the reference time (your domicile location) .

The pusher at 2H is the Start-Stop of the chronograph while the ....



pusher at 4H which is marked with two red bands  is to reset the chronograph and also the flyback  actuator too.

Pushers tactile is smooth and positive.





As for the caseback, it has not much to see.  The steel caseback covers most of the automatic10Hz Breguet. Cal. 589F which has a 45-hour power-reserve. 
Per instructions, with about 40 rounds turning of the crown, will achieve full-winding of the movement.

A keyhole to peep at the escapement ...



In the crown up position, the rotor partially painted red will block the escapement....


Turning it over will expose the escapement, giving a view of the  ...


Silicon escapement and flat balance spring.





Taking the read out of the 3880 ST ....


A point to note the 3880 ST chronograph could accurately record under 1 hour ...




1) To read, first note the location of the centre minute-hand (white with red diamond tip, M60 ),  that's the direct minute reading.

2) Then note which colour it is pointing at.... (Red or White on the B60). 

If it is red, then the red centre second-hand  ( S30) is still within the 0 to 30 second  zone.  

Otherwise the red centre second-hand  ( S30) should be pointing at the white bar, indicating it is now in the 31 to 60 second zone.

3) Get the reading for second ...

and

4) Get the reading for 1/10 sec.








Two examples from Breguet Instruction manual ....







Reference to Diagram A and the steps mentioned above :

1) Note M60-hand location for minute reading.  Where it is pointing on the outer-most  band B60?
After 53 min

So the minute reading is  53 minutes!

2) What colour bar was M60-hand pointing at?

Pointing at the end of the red bar (ie before 30 sec).


3) Now see where is the red-hand S30 on the B30-band ?
28 Sec

4) Its not over yet.  Now for the 1/10 second ... where exactly is S30 pointing within the minute?
3.  Thus it is 3/10.

So the full chronograph reading is 53 mins 28 sec 3/10





One more example .... full reading is in the diagram  smile



A fast lume shot indicating which or what will illuminate at low light.  Beautiful Blue when fully charged.



A wristshot.


A video previously taken ....




At 44mm, some think it is big, but I felt it is wearable on my small wrist. The chronograph second-hand glides smoothly over the dial and the actuators are smooth. 
Reading where the markers are pointing is a bit challenging for me, (think hyperopia is setting in), and the reflective crystal does not help either.  Perhaps the crystal should be both sides anti-reflective coated to reduce glare.
Wonder how Breguet and others (brands attempting HF Chronograph) will redesign for faster and easier readout of the chronograph timing.

Before I end the post, another 2 pictures, see if you can interpret the readings correctly smile




Diagram # 1


Diagram #B


Thanks for viewing.

Kong





This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2011-06-12 12:19:50

This message has been edited by Kong on 2011-06-22 01:48:15

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Comments: view entire thread

 

I like the concept

 
 By: aaronm : June 9th, 2011-07:56
but I find the execution needlessly complex. I think if they hadn't included the second timezone and used that dial at 3 o'clock as a 15 min totalizer or something more chrono-centric. It just seems that they dropped too much of the chroo function to add ... 

Good inputs, A ...

 
 By: Kong : June 14th, 2011-10:54
It is not easy to read,and indeed, as you say, the subdial at 3H can be some of more chrono-centric. Thanks for viewing. Kong

Thank you!

 
 By: Mostel : June 9th, 2011-09:00
It's very cool. It has Breguet DNA. I find the dial very busy, but... this may be the idea... The peek a boo in back is fun. Also reminds the owner that this watch comes from a premier house... It's not my Breguet but I have to say they did a nice job, re... 

'...live in mad-fast times.' ....

 
 By: Kong : June 14th, 2011-10:59
Haha....Mostel, I like that. This HF / Hertz thingee, perhaps is a reason to a provide more value-added with silicium escapement than the typical need no oil, and at high 10Hz ,can measure at finer resolution Enjoy your Type 21! Thanks for viewing. Kong

looks Nice

 
 By: Tony A.H : June 9th, 2011-15:47
i like the Dial Layout and color scheme. thanks for posting

an intriguing watch [nt]

 
 By: playtime : June 9th, 2011-18:21
No message body

great post

 
 By: Cookies : June 10th, 2011-08:53
This is a powerhouse watch...I exceptionally like the way the second hand glides across the dial fluidly.

great post and thanks. owned the type xx for many years

 
 By: swjoseph : June 12th, 2011-09:19
this model retains the dna and takes a bold step to rival the zenith striking 10th...not my cup of tea but well done breguet!

The running Chrono-hand ...

 
 By: Kong : June 14th, 2011-11:04
of the Breguet 10Hz is smoother than Zenith Striking 10th from my observation. Thanks for viewing. Kong

Better

 
 By: nitediver : June 12th, 2011-13:28
Thanks for the instructive post. Considering that the type XXII wiht the HF movement features an impressive innovation, i think it has not received the attention it deserves. I find the 30 seconds totalizer way better than the solution with a small apertu... 

Great observations and inputs ...

 
 By: Kong : June 14th, 2011-11:21
Hi Stefan Thanks for the inputs,and hope Breguet and also other brands intending a 10Hz Chronograph will take note too. It is true with some practise, the readout could be easy. Strangely nobody answers my last two questions, perhaps I need to source for ... 

I like it!

 
 By: Davo : June 13th, 2011-18:05
Hot looking Breguet. Cool dial and caseback. Thanks for posting, Kong.

Indeed it is cool ...

 
 By: Kong : June 14th, 2011-11:25
Hi Davo See if you can check out this piece in metal. Pretty cool, now can do 1/10th second. But whoever can design a fast read-out should be the winner ...otherwise most will still prefer the G-Shock Thanks for viewing. Kong

Fantastic write-up...

 
 By: patrick_y : June 21st, 2011-17:55
Fantastic write-up Kong! Looking forward to seeing (and hearing) the other HF movements in the near future!

I love my XXII!

 
 By: popspin77 : April 20th, 2014-20:25
Hi; I started a search for a "low key" travel watch. I used to travel with my Daytona (Zenith) but feel it garners a bit more attention than I would like as a tourist is foreign countries. So I set off to get a watch a good friend has, the XXI. It seems h...