WatchProSite|Market|Digest
WatchProSite|Market|Digest

Horological Meandering

9 Comments view entire thread 
Comments:

Popped...argghhh!!!

 
 By: Gav : August 3rd, 2011-08:12
My ceramic JD..arrgg!!





Wow!!!

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : August 3rd, 2011-08:44
How did that happen?!

Emil

I have not the slightest clue Emil

 
 By: Gav : August 3rd, 2011-19:57
She was on my wrist in the office when I felt something amiss. Took her off and the casing came off the chamber. I had thought that the entire casing is one piece. Guess I was wrong.

Sorry to see this but at least J*D should rectify this for you

 
 By: mkt33 : August 3rd, 2011-09:09

since it looks like the ceramic chamber holding the movement and the dial was "friction" set into the ceramic case.

I always thought that bezel was one piece by itself.  At least that is what it looks like on profile.

 

And the base there were screws so I thought that the display back was also a separate piece

 

 

But your picture makes the construction seem simpler...a two piece construction.

I hope you can help my sense of curiosity by showing a few more pics of the "chamber"  top, side, and back.

Also you picture is a bit disturbing for other owners of this ceramic case.  Notice that if you crack/shatter the ceramic bezel...you're going to have to replace the whole chamber and not just the bezel piece!

But assuming that there was no damage involved and somehow the friction set failed, this should be completely rectified by J*D quickly and without cost...

Please keep us up to date.

 

Best, Mike

Mike, you're right.

 
 By: Gav : August 3rd, 2011-20:29
It's a two piece construction which I was also unaware of. I am fortunate that the entire casing did not fall off the chamber onto the floor as it was still held on by the crown. It would be a more costly damage on the movement.
I am unable to provide more pictures as this is the only one i took before rushing off to the AD after work. This is the first time that she is seeing!
There is no crack on the chamber and there were no knocks. Mind boggling that this had happened. Hope JD can get this fix soon.

Not good

 
 By: Davo : August 3rd, 2011-12:56
Hope J*D get that sorted out in good time. Good luck with that.

Thanks

 
 By: Gav : August 3rd, 2011-20:34
Crossing my fingers that it will not be too long before I can get her back.

Cheer up

 
 By: eugene.tan : August 3rd, 2011-21:17

Gav, do keep us posted when the watch is returned. Hopefully JD can also provide a resonable reply for their choice on the simple construction of this watch. When did you acquire this JD?

Cheer up. ET

Not too sure why JD chose this particular construction

 
 By: Gav : August 3rd, 2011-21:39
I am curious myself. Maybe someone here knows of the reason. I have only acquired this piece recently four months ago so I am flabbergasted that this has happened.

If I remember correctly

 
 By: mkt33 : August 5th, 2011-07:21
Mr. Emch described to me how difficult it is to form the Jaquet Droz case using ceramic

Remember that I consider J*D cases to be the best (simple form and beautiful design with minimal number of parts--of course I am very biased)

They have to use a special powder which is then pressed into a metal blank which is then heated.  When the powder melts, it takes on the shape of the mold.  I suspect that trying to make a one piece J*D case was problematic and this setup was choosen instead.  I recall seeing an IWC ceramic case broken before and seeing a metal movement chamber underneath as well.

Ceramic is very hard but it is brittle so I think if you tried to place screws to tighten things down, there will be quite a few accidents around these screw area....that is why I think it was friction set.

Anyways, please keep us up to date.  Would love to hear the explanation.

Best, Mike