Horological Meandering

An Experiment on GS VFA

As you may remember my post on the "father of the modern GS" or "God of adjustment", he seemed to have "God's hands".  To prove or disprove what he claims he can, he and I agreed to do an experiment.

Read here=> interviews.watchprosite.com

Not that such a huge epoch-making experiment with big fanfare, but I just asked him to adjust my 40 some years old GS VFA and he agreed to do it.  Please note that he still is an employee of the company and he didn't take any money and he would NOT do this for anybody (but, wait until he retires... ).

This report won't need lots of words.  Just see it to believe it.  I swear the subject was not tampered or re-adjusted during the experiment.

- After I received the "adjusted" GS VFA, I decided to wear it for a while to see how it would really work.
- But I had to be away and I had to leave it on the winder for the last five days.
- Honestly, I was more than impressed.  About a second or two in 10 days (5 days fully worn, 5 days on winder).
- This particular model is way before his time, but he said that it was well designed and made and that is why he could adjust it so well. 
- Bottom line: he can adjust any watches, but it has to be GOOD one to begin with in order to achieve such super accuracy.

Okay, here you go!


The night I received the adjusted VFA.  Dial up.




Dial down




12h down




Crown up




Crown down




12h up - NOT included in COSC standard




Comparison with the reference watch - GS Quartz (+/- 10sec per year)
Before the start of experiment - Day 1 (2 sec late - didn't adjust after I got it back, meaning this has not been adjusted for more than a week in his bag )




After full day of wearing: Day 2 - 3 sec late




Worn all day: Day 3 - 1.5 sec late




Worn all day: Day 4 - 1.5 sec late




Worn all day: Day 5 - 1.5 sec late




Had to leave it on winder for five days - Day 10 - 2 sec late.




How stable this is!


Hope you like it!

Ken

Wonderful.

I share with you the joy to wear a watch that is working this way. Perfect.

Congratulations to you, your watch and, of course, for the "God" of adjustment,

Nilo

... I like the mechanical watch to be as accurate as possible.   Quartz is supposed to be accurate and it is good but not that exciting.  Mechanical watch with this level of accuracy is really exciting.  Especially for a watch 40 some years old.

Thanks!

Ken

. . . Andrew . . .  home.watchprosite.com /

I know, I know....
But I am not a perfectionist.  Well, maybe "a perfectionist to the extent practical"  

Ken

I'm actually a watchmaker, and that is very impressive timing. Not unheard of, but extremely rare. People who can time a 40 yr. old watch out to that spec
are very few indeed.

I speak Japanese, and would kill to meet the "God of Adjustment", buy him a bottle of Kubota Manjyu, and sit and talk timing for even 10 minutes.
I doubt I will ever get the chance, but it's somehow so encouraging to know that a mechanical can indeed reach such accuracy by human hand.

The knowledge this gentleman has is impressive indeed. You are very lucky!

-O

.. I might be able to arrange something
Besides, he travels a lot to train the service center watchmakers worldwide, so he may stop by your town....
Yes, indeed this is magnificent!

Ken

You're right, seeing is believing and the maestro knows a thing or two about regulating. Now you will cherish this piece even more I believe.

cheers

fernando

I expect accuracy (and clean face and case) even from the vintage watches and I actually wear them quite often

Thanks, fernando!

Ken

I'm going to Tokyo next week, just knowing I'm standing on the same patch of ground as him is enough for now.

.. meet up with a fellow PuristS.  Feel free to PM or email me anytime!

Best,
Ken

those results with a VFA GS and not the "ordinary" model?

.. all adjusted to that level or better.  Good movements are good movements, according to him

Ken

Saw you posted a while ago.

To have the watch adjusted by him is GREAT ! Something all GS lovers can only dream off.

If you still have the VFA when we meet up next year would love to see it!

I remember your post when you just had the VFA serviced (By Seiko?), it was running bout 5secs?

.. and this silver dial version is much better shape and I am determined to keep it.
This was once serviced by the "street" watchmaker, but decided to do this experiment and he was surprised, too.  If you made the good movement, some decades later, the movement is still solid!

Ken

that never case to amaze me...dedication and hard work

I would be happy to go through such process, if you indeed so desire

Ken

Fantastic story and watch. Actually the first time a see a VFA! Thanks for sharing

Yes, very, very well made movement and it certainly lasts decades with the initial spec, and it is incredible!

Welcome to PuristSPro!  Enjoy and share your passion, too!

Ken