watch without fine Regulation adjustment
This was a question that i had some time now. Swatch Group has watches with an "high-tech" escapment. What this means is that the regulation organ of the watch is adjustest in the factory with lasers. That has the effect that no watch maker can regulate the organ by themselfe if the watch keeps bad time. (Popular movement with this tech is the powermatic 80)
The Question: can watches without a fine adjustment organ survive as long as watches that do have that feature?
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They might survive as long, but probably not on my wrist.
I've stayed away from the Powermatic 80, and it's ilk for two reasons. First, I don't buy into trading beat rate for power reserve. If you wear the watch every day (like most non-watch hobbyists) power reserve doesn't matter. If you don't wear it every day it's probably going to run down before you get back to it. I'll take the 4hz movement any day. Second, I want a movement I can regulate if I need to. That leaves out the Powermatic 80.
By chance, I'm wearing a watch with that type of movement (Hamilton H-10) as I'm reading this.
My take is that Swatch regards these movements as disposable. When mine went in for a service, they simply took out the original movement and put in a different one. New or refurbished, I am unsure, but it is definitely different to the one I sent it in with.
It runs well and keeps great time, and I have no real complaint... But it doesn't sit well with me. Watches are one of the very few things I own that I expect to maintain and repair and hold for the long term. They should outlast me. Maintaining only the case and switching out the innards really undermines this idea.
So while I still like this watch quite a bit, I won't be buying others with this type of movement in future.
By chance, I'm wearing a watch with that type of movement (Hamilton H-10) as I'm reading this.
My take is that Swatch regards these movements as disposable. When mine went in for a service, they simply took out the original movement and put in a different one. New or refurbished, I am unsure, but it is definitely different to the one I sent it in with.
It runs well and keeps great time, and I have no real complaint... But it doesn't sit well with me. Watches are one of the very few things I own that I expect to maintain and repair and hold for the long term. They should outlast me. Maintaining only the case and switching out the innards really undermines this idea.
So while I still like this watch quite a bit, I won't be buying others with this type of movement in future.
Yeah also a problem for me. I dont want the entire movement replaced in a service and of course i would like the feel of the watch i wear not to be a disposable item.
Its just a little disapoiting because the swatch group has a lot of great watches that for me dont make the cut the for me because i fear that when they once break down that it is just the end of the watch.
Thankfully in your place they dont let you in be in the rain that they cant service the watch. While not a perfect solution it is better then nothing.
They might survive as long, but probably not on my wrist.
I've stayed away from the Powermatic 80, and it's ilk for two reasons. First, I don't buy into trading beat rate for power reserve. If you wear the watch every day (like most non-watch hobbyists) power reserve doesn't matter. If you don't wear it every day it's probably going to run down before you get back to it. I'll take the 4hz movement any day. Second, I want a movement I can regulate if I need to. That leaves out the Powermatic 80.
I think that 4HZ is little bit overrated. For me a long powerreserve is always a very good feature. It just needs to keep good time which the powermatic does and should be not disposable, it should also be reliable.
I agree with the regulation part. For me it is also a deal breaker. I want the movement i bought with the watch and replace parts if it needs to be done. Dont want the entire movements replaced.
On the other hand i really like high beat movements but that is because the watchmaking in that watches are very interesting and in my experince high beat movements are the most interesting.