Seconds hand hitting the indices.
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Jacob
I don’t know if I would call myself a watch collector. I am a watch fan and have had many watches over the years. Watches have always been something I enjoyed.
Chicagoland area
Member since
Last active: 1 month ago
7.00” / 17.78 cm
That’s mass production for you. Combined with some lacking in QA or them not caring about that specific thing in QA
I don’t think they care.
What I'd appreciate knowing is; how can one assure they hit the markers?
Is this a movement QC issue or a watch assembly issue?
What I'd appreciate knowing is; how can one assure they hit the markers?
Is this a movement QC issue or a watch assembly issue?
That I don’t know. I figured someone could enlighten us
That I don’t know. I figured someone could enlighten us
It's a good question. I hope someone knows.
Personally, it doesn't bother me.
I don't use the seconds hand to time things.
The only time the seconds hand could remotely matter would be if I was dashing to catch a train and even then missing the marker by 0.5s wouldn't make a difference.
So for me the only function is to indicate that the watch is working and for that it doesn't matter whether it hits the markers or not.
Personally, it doesn't bother me.
I don't use the seconds hand to time things.
The only time the seconds hand could remotely matter would be if I was dashing to catch a train and even then missing the marker by 0.5s wouldn't make a difference.
So for me the only function is to indicate that the watch is working and for that it doesn't matter whether it hits the markers or not.
Not a bad take on it. I just feel it is a simple thing to get right but maybe I am wrong and there is a lot more to it.
I agree. I have a newish Citizen Nighthawk Blue Angels which misses most of the markers. Frustratingly I didn't really take it in from new as I just really loved the watch. Interestingly it doesn't consistently miss the markers by the same distance all the way round. That suggests to me it's not even fixable.
Although it riles me slightly it's become a bit of a beater watch for me so that's a positive.
At the end of the day it's a first world problem 🙂
I agree. I have a newish Citizen Nighthawk Blue Angels which misses most of the markers. Frustratingly I didn't really take it in from new as I just really loved the watch. Interestingly it doesn't consistently miss the markers by the same distance all the way round. That suggests to me it's not even fixable.
Although it riles me slightly it's become a bit of a beater watch for me so that's a positive.
At the end of the day it's a first world problem 🙂
Yes sir it is a first world problem. Same as you It bothers me a bit but not enough to not by the watch. It was more a question to see if anyone knows why it is so hard to do.
This is not a knock on Citizen. I think they make a great watch.
Yes sir it is a first world problem. Same as you It bothers me a bit but not enough to not by the watch. It was more a question to see if anyone knows why it is so hard to do.
👍🤝
This is Vaer’s site’s answer:
https://vaerwatches.helpdocs.io/article/2oq6u3pxxi-why-doesn-t-my-second-hand-hit-directly-on-the-markers
This is Vaer’s site’s answer:
https://vaerwatches.helpdocs.io/article/2oq6u3pxxi-why-doesn-t-my-second-hand-hit-directly-on-the-markers
You are the man that’s exactly what I was looking for.
I agree. I have a newish Citizen Nighthawk Blue Angels which misses most of the markers. Frustratingly I didn't really take it in from new as I just really loved the watch. Interestingly it doesn't consistently miss the markers by the same distance all the way round. That suggests to me it's not even fixable.
Although it riles me slightly it's become a bit of a beater watch for me so that's a positive.
At the end of the day it's a first world problem 🙂
My Bertucci A-6A does this too. It’s kind of annoying, but it keeps great time so I try not to worry about it! My two Timexes, my Militado, Bertucci A-2S, and my Citizen all hit the indices right on!
This is Vaer’s site’s answer:
https://vaerwatches.helpdocs.io/article/2oq6u3pxxi-why-doesn-t-my-second-hand-hit-directly-on-the-markers
Good article. I think this explains it well!
Good article. I think this explains it well!
Glad it helped. Info was new to me, too
As stated in the article linked in another reply, this is a problem inherent to the construction of inexpensive quartz movements.
What the article doesn’t mention is that this can be overcome. Grand Seiko equips their 9F6 and 9F8 quartz calibers with under-geared step motor drives (the second hand actually moves twice by 0.5 seconds in quick succession) and a compensating mechanism with a hairspring-like component that ensures that the seconds hand hits 100% on each index. Other high-end quartz calibers from other manufacturers may also do this in a similar fashion.
My Bertucci A-6A does this too. It’s kind of annoying, but it keeps great time so I try not to worry about it! My two Timexes, my Militado, Bertucci A-2S, and my Citizen all hit the indices right on!
Crazy isn't it. In a not too concerning way! 👍
As stated in the article linked in another reply, this is a problem inherent to the construction of inexpensive quartz movements.
What the article doesn’t mention is that this can be overcome. Grand Seiko equips their 9F6 and 9F8 quartz calibers with under-geared step motor drives (the second hand actually moves twice by 0.5 seconds in quick succession) and a compensating mechanism with a hairspring-like component that ensures that the seconds hand hits 100% on each index. Other high-end quartz calibers from other manufacturers may also do this in a similar fashion.
Thanks for this extra info. Interesting. As with most things, you get what you pay for
Thanks for this extra info. Interesting. As with most things, you get what you pay for
No problem. I know it sounds pretty crazy to go to these lengths, but, as you can see below, when it works it is pretty awesome: