tony p
575
5111 redux
Readers will remember that I picked up my 5111 a few weeks ago and posted a few snaps on this forum (click here).
Some days later, I wound and reset the watch. Suddenly, to my horror, the hands wouldn't move. I hadn't actually felt or heard anything break - but with the crown in the "out" position, the hands wouldn't budge. I didn't try to force the issue, but just pushed the crown back in. The watch kept running - for a few seconds - then stopped. Oh dear.
Just got it back from service today. (Outstanding turnaround time - seven days exactly! Congrats to the Patek service agents in Sydney and to my dealer, who requested priority.) It appears that, while setting the time, I had managed to break four teeth off a wheel. Watch experts will probably know which wheel it was - I think it's mounted centrally.
In retrospect I may have turned the minute hand quite quickly. The watch had stopped, it was a few hours out. But I do this with my other watches and have never had a problem. (I'll be much more careful now - with all my watches!) My buddy Chris Launder told me that the calibre 215PS is an ultrathin, and fairly delicate. I've also heard that it's relatively easy to overwind these watches, and easy to pull the crown right off its stem.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining here. I didn't buy this watch to go surfing or parkouring. It's a magnificent timepiece and I couldn't be happier with it. But I would appreciate it if someone with more knowledge and experience than I could briefly explain why a simple time-only movement can't be made a little more robustly. There must be some type of design compromise going on. I'm curious to know: what are the specific advantages to be gained from this movement's oh-so-delicate nature?