anon438
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The infamous cal. K1001 vs K1040 argument
Jan 31, 2019,12:03 PM
There have already been serious discussions about the valuation and reception of the V&C K1040 movement and in my opinion they are both quite worth to reflect on.
First of all I would like to mention the article
'The Decay of the Angel' by Carlos Perez, July 2002
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As a premier maker of gentlemen’s wristwatches, the foundation of its line has ever been the simple hand-wind, typically with subsidiary seconds, and it is here where I think the saddest decline occurred. Since the 1930s at least, most Vacheron & Constantin wristwatch calibers were essentially more refined variants of movements used by Jaeger-LeCoultre for its own watches. The gap in quality grew over time, until the raw ebauches supplied to Vacheron & Constantin could be seen to have only a little in common with their Jaeger-LeCoultre counterparts, and with the finished movements being a world apart. Such a case were the calibers 1001 and 1002, which were provided exclusively to Vacheron & Constantin and Audemars Piguet. Other high-grade calibers like the 1003, 1171, and 1120, had no in-house counterparts at Jaeger-LeCoultre, which served only as a supplier of the raw ebauches.
An elegant caliber in five bridges, the sub-seconds 1001 and the center-seconds 1002 had formed the basis of Vacheron & Constantin’s reputation in the 1950s and 60s. They were matched only by the peak 10 and 12 ligne hand-winds of Patek Philippe, and I would not hesitate to classify the 1002/2 as one of the very finest indirect center-seconds hand-winds ever produced. The contemporary counterparts to these movements used by Jaeger-LeCoultre and LeCoultre were the calibers 818 and 819. Sharing the same basic “footprint” as the 1001, the 818 was a simplified economy design never intended for use in fine watches. It might be most appropriately compared to the present ETA caliber 7001, a solid and reliable extra-flat hand-wind used in inexpensive watches. The elegant curve and sweep of five bridges in the 1001 as largely destroyed by the crude joining of the center and third-wheel bridges in the 818. With the addition of a free-sprung Gyromax balance in the 1001/1 and 1002/2, full Genevois finishing, adjustments, and the Geneva hallmark, there could really be no comparison.
Alas it appears that in the late 1970s (or early ’80s) that Vacheron Constantin either elected, or was forced to give up the 1001 and 1002, and take up the inferior 818 which it re-dubbed caliber 1014. This movement did not feature the option of a free-sprung escapement, and it does not appear that Vacheron Constantin would often elect to brand it with the Geneva hallmark, if ever. It was of course finished to the high Genevois standard in all other regards. Caliber 1014 has formed the backbone of Vacheron Constantin’s production of hand-wound wristwatches (as shown above) for nigh on a quarter-century, a movement which in recent years it has had to share with Chopard, Breguet, and perhaps others, though Jaeger-LeCoultre itself elected to stop using it several years ago. The shift from the 1001 to the 1014 is akin to the technical and aesthetic decline of Patek Philippe’s 23-300 PM to their present 215 PS, if only steeper.
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Secondly I would like to mention the answer on a question about this article
by Dr. Roland Ranfft, February 2012
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Obviously the author believes that kind of evolution after Darwin's laws takes place in a certain watch company. I don't want to steal him his religion, but my view is different: Movement designs are updated or completely replaced to enhance the the profit within short, medium or long term.
Redesign of a movement is a balance between enhancement at moderate effort to achieve a reasonably higher price, and degrading with remarkable savings, leaving the reputation of the brand to advertising.
An odd job though to compare movements. I don't feel able to do so, because there are too many variables, and a comparison after my preferences would likely be bull...t for others. So why boring them?
Back to the LeCoultre 818. It is a straight forward design after best watch school education, nothing really exciting though, but also no visible deficits. But what more should I expect? Flower decorations? Curled bridges? 1mm height? I if I compare with some new designs with their decoration overkill and ridiculous balances I know well what to prefer.
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