My biggest watch pet peeve

I believe this has been discussed a few times… I’m too lazy to search for you but try searching there’s been some good info there… happy searching…

You can track a different timezone like that with some watches. Pretty cool imo, probably wears the movement down horribly tho.

Vertical clutch = no wear

Horizontal clutch = some wear

But, you know, ultimately the chronograph was designed to be run. Not really gonna create all that much more wear or tear than you do in a typical mechanical movement by having your mechanical watch run.

Personally, I like seeing that hand moving. I don’t always, but sometimes I leave the Speedy running.

No way! 😮 I’m a fascinated to hear more! @ChronoGuy Mel, pipe in here with your plethora of knowledge as well, if you don’t mind. Your @name popped in my head as the guy to inquire with on this subject 😄

In videos featuring Chronographs, they are always pictured with the chronograph running.

I thought it was an aesthetic decision for the video. That an inactive chrono hand kind of blocks the logo, and subdials look boring when immobile, so best to only show it running.

I thought that, Despite the videos, nobody walks around with their chrono running constantly. Whenever you glance down, logo is partially blocked by a parked chrono hand.

I assumed running it constantly drains the spring quickly, and results in shorter service windows. So not advised.

But apparently I’m totally clued out!

Are most people with chronos letting them run constantly when they wear the watch?

Apologies for knowing nothing!

Sign of a maturing forum I guess. Topics/questions starting to be repeated multiple times and folks who’ve seen them many times starting to get irritated by it and pointing to the search function.

I don’t let my chronos run for no reason, for no reason other than it would be for no reason.

As @Mr.Dee.Bater states, it's actually better to run a chronograph with a vertical clutch because there is more pressure on the chronograph hand when it is not running because the brake is applied.

However, there are two types of chronograph movements to start with:

1) Column-Wheel System

2) Cam-Actuated System

The Column-Wheel System can be operated by either a Vertical Clutch or a Horizontal Clutch.

Cam-Actuated Systems are much cheaper to produce so are much more common and are what you find in most mid-tier automatic chronographs primarily using the Valjoux 7750 or the homages made by Sellita and others.

Think of Cam-Actuated Systems as less elegant and more brute force movements that do not have the smooth operating capability of a Column-Wheel System. Continuously running a Cam-Actuated chronograph will create greater wear on the movement and result in shortening the life of the movement.

I quote from the Revolution Watch article linked below:

"The operation of a cam system is firmer, requires more effort to engage, and many users have claimed that it is not as pleasant to the touch. Also, it is not recommended to use the function for long periods because of the constant wear between the coupling wheels and the higher energy expenditure."

On the other hand, the ideal Column-Wheel System with a Vertical Clutch is considered the best functioning chronograph movement (and the most expensive to produce). To summarize the point from the Revolution Watch article below:

"The vertical coupling clutch employs a pair of levers or arms that keep the chronograph wheel “floating” above the ever-rotating calibre drive wheel. When released, both arms allow the clutch to fall on the seconds wheel, which then starts to rotate, thanks to the friction between them. Inside the watch, when the clutch drops, both wheels begin to turn simultaneously. This offers significant advantages: precise starting and stopping of the seconds hand and the ability to use the chronograph function for long periods without affecting the watch’s accuracy due to minimal wear. Also, there is no loss in the balance wheel’s amplitude."

Conclusion

"All things considered, though, the vertical-clutch and column-wheel system seems to strike the best balance between haute horlogerie savoir faire and practical use because of lessened wear on the components."

Here is a link to the Revolution Watch article:

https://revolutionwatch.com/rules-chronograph-engagement/

The Speedmaster pictured at the top of this article uses the Omega caliber 1861 which is based on the Cam-Actuated Lemania 1873 which is a manual chronograph movement.

I would not recommend continuously running the Speedmaster pictured since it is a Cam-Actuated System and continuous use of the chronograph function will result in excessive wear of the movement. See my earlier comment above.

I don’t wear a chrono often but I do not leave the function running for no reason. I do have a coworker who does that, and wears them often. I like the way that hand looks just pointing at the top. I don’t know why but running it while timing nothing in particular is just wrong.

Very useful and interesting information folks. Thank you for that. Now the next challenge is figuring out what type of system is in each watch!

I only have 1 chronograph - the SBGC249 - and it's a column wheel vertical clutch, so I leave it running all the time.

@ChronoGuy, per his namesake, really knocked it out of the park, with that Revolution article!

There are a number of great resources on the internet you can use to delve into the different movements to do your research.

These have been mentioned before, but for the sake of not having to search The Crunch...

https://reference.grail-watch.com/

https://calibercorner.com/

http://www.ranfft.de/uhr/info-e.html#M3

https://watchbase.com/

Excellent summary and citations. Jack Forester also said as much in an older Hey, Hodinkee segment but your sources are more detailed, as expected.

Thanks so much my friend! That looked like a lot of typing. I delve into a lot of horological wormholes but have traditionally glossed completely over anything about chronos.

Knowing this makes me dislike chronos less. I like to see some action on my wrist when I glance down and wouldn’t get a watch with no seconds hand for that reason. Even a subdial seconds is a bit annoying as it’s its harder to perceive it’s motion.

Like @Mr.Dee.Bater I’d have a chrono timing time itself when it’s on my wrist, for the pleasure of seeing a big sweep second hand and a bunch of subdials in action 🙂👍

Remember you could also get something like the Bulova Precisionist that works off a hi-frequency quartz-based movement so it will not "tick" but have a smooth motion and costs significantly less than a GS Spring Drive. Then you can run the chronograph hand with no worries about the mechanics...just the drain on the battery.

The Bulova Lunar Pilot is a bit of a beast at 43.5mm but it has that great hi-frequency chronograph movement and you can pick one up for less than $800.

https://www.bulova.com/us/en/product/98K112.html?cgid=mens

Let it run