Can a watch be wound by the bezel?!
Ok. I haven't gone crazy. Just hear me out. I watched a video with Nico taking about symmetry in a watch, and it got me thinking. Could a watch be built where rotating the bezel one direction wound the main spring?
Setting the watch is another problem. Could be pushers to change the bezel function?
Let's see. Has this been done? Anyone think it could be? Do I need to see a doctor? 😂
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Mark
A computer programmer that loves the mechanisms, the details, and the stories about watches... and at affordable prices!
Brighton, UK
Member since
Last active: 3 months ago
It can certainly be done. One that immediately comes to mind is the Belgian brand Ressence. They have gone over a few iterations over the years, from flipping up a tab you can turn on the back of the watch to now turning the entire case back to wind the watch.
They have some extremely interesting watches. Apparently not the easiest to wind and set but it does give the watch the symmetry and an aesthetic that goes with the futuristic oil filled dial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z38NKCjXfQI
Should be absolutely doable. The first way that came to my mind was having the underside of that bezel incorporate a ring gear with the teeth facing downwards and the gear that sits on the stem that normally interacts with the crown wheel being exposed at the top side, so it can be turned by moving the bezel. that way you dont have to reorganize the whole movemenot struture and a crown could still be used.
why would you want that? I don’t know but your Idea is cool.👍
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z38NKCjXfQI
So basically that's exactly what I imagined. Thanks! I wonder what stops it being a more popular technique 🤔
I'm old fashioned,if it ain't broke don't fix it ,think I'm stuck in the past
I'm old fashioned,if it ain't broke don't fix it ,think I'm stuck in the past
Haha. Hopefully not so far in the past you only have manual winding and +/- 60s 😉
That makes a lot of sense. I think of winding as integral, but you're right, I don't wind my automatics!
Haha. Hopefully not so far in the past you only have manual winding and +/- 60s 😉
Not that stuck ,I have a petrol car and auto watches 😊
I'm waiting for the day I can spin the hands around with my fingers to wind the crown
I think waterproofing the rotating bezel function is the issue more than the mechanics.
Extra holiday reading bonus on why bezel seals are hard...
https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=504
Just for the record, if it's about symmetry, or a crownless design: many old Timex Electrics have the crown on the caseback. Being electric, they're not for winding, though.
There is a watch out there that does wind via the bezel....I cant remember the brand though..