A Thought on Parts Compatibility
So, I had this NH35 movement that was running okay, but not great. (Beat error was horrible, and couldn't be effectively adjusted.) I removed the balance assembly, and the rest of the movement seemed healthy. The pallet fork moved as it should.
However, the hairspring looked a little wonky to me. What do I do? I order a $5 hairspring/balance combination on AliExpress.
It's a little swap that I hadn't tried before, so I remove the existing balance/hairspring from the balance cock, and install the new hairspring to complete the balance assembly. So far, so good.
I install the balance assembly, and the balance wheel is a little hard to place, but I succeded at last. The watch runs, but at a very low rate. (What the Formex?)
I take the balance assembly back out and look at the pinion. Under 10x magnification I could tell that the lower pinion is a little bit more conical and wide than the one for the original balance wheel. It would never fit correctly.
Makes me wonder what variations exist for a given watch movement.
It’s a good question. Variations definitely exist for many movements of the same model. The higher the grade the better the metal used to finish, decoration, and yes quality of components. You’re already braver than I am messing with a mainspring. ETA for example, in the 2824 a top grade costs up to 3x as much as entry, with differences like shock resistance on the balance wheel. This is where you get those new to the hobby that will say “How dare X brand charge $1500 for a watch with <insert movement> when Y brand charges much less.”
For an NH, if it were me, I’d try to source the best one I could, but as a whole they have minimal QC on them, the machines that build them, etc, so I imagine it’d be tough. I applaud what you’re doing, which is taking modding to a different level.
It’s a good question. Variations definitely exist for many movements of the same model. The higher the grade the better the metal used to finish, decoration, and yes quality of components. You’re already braver than I am messing with a mainspring. ETA for example, in the 2824 a top grade costs up to 3x as much as entry, with differences like shock resistance on the balance wheel. This is where you get those new to the hobby that will say “How dare X brand charge $1500 for a watch with <insert movement> when Y brand charges much less.”
For an NH, if it were me, I’d try to source the best one I could, but as a whole they have minimal QC on them, the machines that build them, etc, so I imagine it’d be tough. I applaud what you’re doing, which is taking modding to a different level.
Yes, with the NH35 I would suspect that versions from Japan, Malaysia and China will have more than superficial variations. With the prices that they are, this is more or less an incentive to buy a complete movement, if necessary.
Right, the ETA variants and their grades are another question. While the Sellita SW200 and the ST2130 are technically clones, I wouldn't count on parts compatibility, either. (I have no idea where the Soprod P024 lands.) And you are right, the different grades of these movements are more than skin deep. However, looking at reseller sites, they seem to use the elabore-label fairly creatively.
I just started with my first ST2130, and the dial I ordered had dial feet that fit neither the ST2130, nor an NH35. (The date window position was also off.) The AliExpress vendor simply stated that I should "look at the dial feet". (Somebody has a sense of humor.) I have another dial coming in, and I'm wondering what will arrive. 😎
Yes, with the NH35 I would suspect that versions from Japan, Malaysia and China will have more than superficial variations. With the prices that they are, this is more or less an incentive to buy a complete movement, if necessary.
Right, the ETA variants and their grades are another question. While the Sellita SW200 and the ST2130 are technically clones, I wouldn't count on parts compatibility, either. (I have no idea where the Soprod P024 lands.) And you are right, the different grades of these movements are more than skin deep. However, looking at reseller sites, they seem to use the elabore-label fairly creatively.
I just started with my first ST2130, and the dial I ordered had dial feet that fit neither the ST2130, nor an NH35. (The date window position was also off.) The AliExpress vendor simply stated that I should "look at the dial feet". (Somebody has a sense of humor.) I have another dial coming in, and I'm wondering what will arrive. 😎
Spot on Marty. With NH’s being under $30, almost half of that if one looks around enough, one has to really want to use it to learn instead of replacing the whole thing. From what I hear, the parts are largely compatible with ETA, Sellita, and even the LPJ, but will leave that to the expert builders here to confirm. I think it can vary depending on grade of each.
On the topic of grades, you are spot on, some people decorate one part of it and try to say it is a different grade. Or cover it up with a custom rotor and claim top grade, because so few actually care, nevermind know enough to call them on it.