Enicar and the hierachy of striking watches

Jul 27, 2007,01:41 AM
 

I've heard several, and some sounded excellent while others were lousy. It will be best to sample several before purchasing. 
 
The Chronoswiss is based on an Enicar calibre, it is not ETA, rather it is an old movement that Chronoswiss acquired and now uses as its in-house base movement. Enicar was an old brand that went bust during the quartz crisis, althought I believe it is back in business making low to mid range watches which are ironically based on ETA movements.

And yes, minute repeaters are far more complex than quarter repeaters. The hierachy of striking watches goes like this, in ascending order of complexity:
 
quarter repeater
half quarter repeater (only found in old pocket watches I believe)
five minute repeater
minute repeater
grande sonnerie
carillon (grande sonnerie with 3 or more gongs, only Gerald Genta and AP have done this in wristwatches)
 
- SJX
This message has been edited by SJX on 2007-07-27 01:42:45

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

Chronoswiss Quarter Repeater

 
 By: Manutd_MP : July 26th, 2007-19:26
Hi all, I had the chance to take a closer look at the Chronoswiss repeater few days ago. The chime is amazingly sweet and beautiful. Since i am no watch expert, may i summrise that the minute repeater is actually more complicated than the quarter repeater... 

Enicar and the hierachy of striking watches

 
 By: SJX : July 27th, 2007-01:41
I've heard several, and some sounded excellent while others were lousy. It will be best to sample several before purchasing. The Chronoswiss is based on an Enicar calibre, it is not ETA, rather it is an old movement that Chronoswiss acquired and now uses ... 

Maybe I'm wrong,>>>

 
 By: amanico : July 27th, 2007-04:03
But Girard Perregaux also produces a carillon, right? The Opera 3, for example. BTW, thanks for these complete precisions.Amazing, as always! Nicolas

You're right, I forgot that

 
 By: SJX : July 27th, 2007-04:21
The Opera 1 and 2 are Westminster Carillon with 4 gongs. Along with the Gerald Genta grand sonnerie, they have the most number of gongs in a wristwatch. In recent years only the Patek Star Calibre supercomplication pocket watch has more gongs, 5! The Oper... 

Carillon vs. grande sonnerie

 
 By: SJX : July 27th, 2007-09:09
Now that you mention the Genghis Khan, I realised I made a mistake in my terminolgy. A carillon is not necessarily a grande sonnerie, as a grande et petite sonnerie strikes the time en passant , or as it passes, in other words a minute repeater that runs ... 

Excellent info!

 
 By: HW : December 20th, 2007-06:25

You learn something every day here...!!!

 
 By: Andy : July 27th, 2007-08:12
Thanks for the list. Andy.

Thanks a million

 
 By: Manutd_MP : July 29th, 2007-18:29