From the Pirouette to Non-Round Wheels...
From the Pirouette to Non-Round Wheels, the 13th Journée d’Etude of the Société Suisse de Chronométrie, the SSC. This study day of the SSC, held the 16th of September at the Beauliex convention center in Lausanne, was dedicated to the theme “Complicated W...
some fabulous and historic pieces there Don.
i especially like the huge balance wheel with 1 second beat. that would be something very special if it could be incorporated in a wristwatch. best Graham
The Pouzait escapements are a wonder...
that huge balance wheel turns so slowly, you'd figure it will stop at any moment, but it doesn't. I am not really a collecting soul, but I was sorely tempted by a Pouzait pocket watch once... if only it hadn't been twice my budget. Don
What I find striking...
....is the raw finish of these magnificent movements. It would seem the creators were more interested in the function than the appearance, which based on the amazing functions you've presented, seems the correct aspect to emphasise. The challenge was in t...
Some are ebauches... not finished movements
Through the division of labour in the Swiss watch industry at the time different companies/people did the machining to make the parts and the "termination", finishing and making it work. Many of the movements shown are the ebauche produced by the machinis...
The chronograph mechanism seem to have a hammer in it.
Wonderful and fascinating pieces. Are they shown in any museum regularly? I love the non-circular gearing. Just image what you can build with those in a watch that doesn't tell the time! Crazy hours that speed up and slow down depending on the time of day...
The time pieces are all part...
of the collections of two museums where they are shown and the technical school in the Vallée de Joux. I do not know if the school collection is "visitable" or not. - Musée international d’horlogerie de La Chaux-de-Fonds (MIH) - Musée de l’horlogerie et d...
Thanks Don.
It seems that the Musée de l’horlogerie et de l’emaillerie de Genève has been closed since the theft in 2007.
Really nice pocket watches. Thanks Don.
After looking at those watches, I am wondering what are most of the watch brands doing nowadays. Regards Ling
Amazing post, Don!
Those are the most interesting gears I've ever seen. What odd shapes, but they do look like they seamlessly mesh together. I'll be curious to see what kinds of timepieces would utilize these eccentric gears. I particularly like the nautilus-shaped gear in...
