Jump to content

Chronographs that no longer meeting the time spec


Ajohnw

Recommended Posts

There are plenty of old watches about ranging from say 10 to 30 years old that don't keep good time any more.One for instance that I have at the longer end looses 30sec a day. Another more recent probably 15+years old 15 secs a day.

I wonder how much of this is likely to be down to lack of servicing and or general wear and if that which parts are most likely to need replacing.

:mellow: Makes me wonder why people buy them other than this may be better than some new automatics.

John

-

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A well maintained watch can last many, many years without loosing their ability to keep time. Servicing on a regular basis is the key.  It was not unusual in past decades to have a watch serviced every year. More modern timepieces that are lubricated with modern oils can go much longer, five years is a decent rule of thumb. 

The problem with *not* servicing a watch is that dirt accumulates in the oil, the oil can also degrade, and if this is not addressed then there will be excessive wear on the parts. Dirty oil can become an abrasive instead of a lubricant :-). Once parts are worn it becomes more difficult if not impossible to bring a watch back to spec, parts might have to be replaced assuming that they can be found. 

As the number of complications in a watch goes up (i.e. chronograph) , it is even more important that they be attended too, as the basic movement often has to work harder to drive the extra components. 

I, along with other people here, have watches that are 75, 100, or even more years old, that are perfectly acceptable time keepers.  I don't have any old chronographs myself, but I am sure that other people here do.

Maybe someone here with an old well running chronograph will chime in!

David

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Same answer applies, minus the bit about complications :-)

A skilled watchmaker can usually bring a watch back to COSC specs, depending, of course, on the condition of the watch.  Even a basket case can sometimes be brought back given sufficient application of currency.

Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • people be honest.... Swatch is evil for the watchmakers and repairers, BUT not everything in watches from Switzerland is from the Swatch-Group. As far as i know, Selitta got sacked by Swatch as a Movement-Assembler for them and they started to produce Movements in their own Name with slight Modifications. As far as i know, they sell Parts to the Market for their Movements. In most cases, if a ETA-Movement fails, it is a valid Option to replace it with a Selitta Movement, which i consider the Solution for this Mess with the Swatch-Group...... I have no Connection to anybody at Selitta, but being a Swiss-Guy, i still like to have Swiss-Made Watches, but not from the Swatch-Group.   ok ? regards, Ernst
    • Just one more greedy act by Swatch. They started a number of years ago here in the US..cutting off supplies to watchmakers that could build complications that many Swatch houses couldn't even touch. Old school masters who had gone through some of the most prestigious houses in the world. Otto Frei has some statements on their page about it. I tell all my customers to avoid new Swiss watches like the plague,..unless they just want an older one in their collection that still has some parts out on the market, or they have really deep pockets and don't mind waiting months and paying through the nose to get it back. Plenty of others to choose from..IE Seiko,..or other non-swiss brands Even a number of Chinese brands are catching up with the Swiss,..and I think that in time, their actions will be their downfall
    • Yes. If that's not what you are experiencing...start looking for something rubbing. A 1st guess is that one of the hands is rubbing against the hole in the center of the dial. Especially if you now have lower amplitude in face up/ face down positions.
    • Once a movement has the dial and hands put back and it is recased, would you expect the assembled watch to have the same amplitude as when the movement is in a movement holder and is without hands and dial? Thanks
    • C07641+ not sure what the "+" is for after the last digit.
×
×
  • Create New...