Comments:
I don't think we can really include super-long PR watches in a discussion of "normal" The Lange is about as thick as a tuna-can, and needs a special key to wind it, not to mention the price-tag. The only other >10 day watches are equally weird and expensive (Jacob the Jewelrt's Quentin jumps to mind).
That said, I have several automatics with longer than 3 day PRs, and like them just like that. I like the longer PR because it allows me to rotate watches and not reset them constantly, and the automatic so I only wind them when I want....
A
Automatics to disappear by 2015......
Hello All,
Now that I have your attention
, a thought has been bothering me for a few days and I thought I would ask for your opinions.
It seems that the power reserve on watches have been steadily increasing over the years. 3 days seems like a standard. 8 days on quite a few watches and Lange has one with 31 days! If watches can be built with a long power reserve, does the automatic mechanism serve any purpose? Would it be better to "lose" it for better viewing pleasure? I am assuming that these manual winders also are designed well to take care of the higher torque and keep the accuracy consistent through the entire power reserve period.
Do you think that manuals with long power reserve are going to dominate?
J.
Now that I have your attention
, a thought has been bothering me for a few days and I thought I would ask for your opinions.It seems that the power reserve on watches have been steadily increasing over the years. 3 days seems like a standard. 8 days on quite a few watches and Lange has one with 31 days! If watches can be built with a long power reserve, does the automatic mechanism serve any purpose? Would it be better to "lose" it for better viewing pleasure? I am assuming that these manual winders also are designed well to take care of the higher torque and keep the accuracy consistent through the entire power reserve period.
Do you think that manuals with long power reserve are going to dominate?
J.
Well...
I don't think we can really include super-long PR watches in a discussion of "normal" The Lange is about as thick as a tuna-can, and needs a special key to wind it, not to mention the price-tag. The only other >10 day watches are equally weird and expensive (Jacob the Jewelrt's Quentin jumps to mind).
That said, I have several automatics with longer than 3 day PRs, and like them just like that. I like the longer PR because it allows me to rotate watches and not reset them constantly, and the automatic so I only wind them when I want....
A
i do support...
what you said, and by the way i loved the exact discription of Lange, not all the watch buyrs out there are purists . i mean the ones who operate in that price range. unless the movement of long power reserave price will see a major drop, than thats another scenario . anyway
back in the days in 1969 and early 70's there was such a debate going about the mechanical watches and they quartz ones.... .
Faisal
i agree.....
Hi A,
I agree with you that the current long PR watches are not the best looking. But I am sure technology will keep improving.......
Do you have all your automatics on a watch winder full time? I do not currently do it since I am under the impression that it "wears" the watch out. Perhaps I am mistaken....
J.
I agree with you that the current long PR watches are not the best looking. But I am sure technology will keep improving.......
Do you have all your automatics on a watch winder full time? I do not currently do it since I am under the impression that it "wears" the watch out. Perhaps I am mistaken....
J.
No winders at all
That's why i like the 3,4 or 5 day automatics, they're ready to roll unless I've ignored them for a long time
A
A
I think automatics will continue to be the norm
with the availability of winders and most prefering the ease of operation, it's hard to see high power reserve watches become the standard. Outside of people like us, most with discretionary income will likely purchase expensive watches that also require less interaction. On the other hand, there are some beautiful automatic movements with great decorated rotors. Personally, I believe there is a trade-off.... I do agree that a manual movement is typically more visually pleasant and allows unobstructed viewing appreciation. A finely decorated automatic with a well-executed rotor allows one to see more of the 'life" of the movement due to both the balance and rotor activation. Just a few thoughts.
the CFB calibre comes to mind......
I thought that the new CFB caliber with peripheral rotor really bridged the gap between an automatic and the aesthetics of a manual.
J.
J.
Those are all quite exotic.
The most common long-running movement is the F. Piguet caliber 11.50 (or whatever the Swatch Group is now calling it) with a four-day power reserve. Even that is a relatively unusual and high-end movement. There are a lot of disadvantages to long power reserves, starting with size. The normal 40-hour or so reserve has become standard because it allows one to skip a day of wear without the watch's winding down. I don't think that many people will be interested in paying a premium (both at purchase and during maintenance) for more power reserve.
As for the trade-off between automatic and manual movements, it is partially aesthetic and there is much to recommend both approaches. (I happen to enjoy watching the rotor move on my display-back watches.) There are other factors: for example, I happen to find winding watches a chore and would certainly hate doing the amount of winding necessary to wind a long-running movement. Also, I just like the idea of watch recharging itself from my arm movements.
The bottom line for me is that I prefer automatic to manual watches and I don't feel any particular need for more than a 40-hour power reserve (although I do have a couple F. Piguet 11.50-based watches).
As for the trade-off between automatic and manual movements, it is partially aesthetic and there is much to recommend both approaches. (I happen to enjoy watching the rotor move on my display-back watches.) There are other factors: for example, I happen to find winding watches a chore and would certainly hate doing the amount of winding necessary to wind a long-running movement. Also, I just like the idea of watch recharging itself from my arm movements.
The bottom line for me is that I prefer automatic to manual watches and I don't feel any particular need for more than a 40-hour power reserve (although I do have a couple F. Piguet 11.50-based watches).
an aspect to keep in mind....
Hi everyone..
From a viewing standpoint manual wind movement is less clutter to the eye. From a service standpoint fewer parts to break and service... So for some WIS I can see the automatic could go the way of the Do do bird.
As a vintage collector I have done a lot of reading of old marketing materials from watch companies.. One that sticks out in my mind was Rolex and its founder Hans Wilsdorf. One of the most important aspects in making a daily waterproof wristwatch was the advent of a reliable automatic movement. His thoughts was most of the wear of the crown and screw down tube was from the daily winding of the watch. With the onset of the automatic movement, you can set the time and maybe adjust the time once a month or so.
Just a thought.
Good Hunting
Bill Sohne
From a viewing standpoint manual wind movement is less clutter to the eye. From a service standpoint fewer parts to break and service... So for some WIS I can see the automatic could go the way of the Do do bird.
As a vintage collector I have done a lot of reading of old marketing materials from watch companies.. One that sticks out in my mind was Rolex and its founder Hans Wilsdorf. One of the most important aspects in making a daily waterproof wristwatch was the advent of a reliable automatic movement. His thoughts was most of the wear of the crown and screw down tube was from the daily winding of the watch. With the onset of the automatic movement, you can set the time and maybe adjust the time once a month or so.
Just a thought.
Good Hunting
Bill Sohne