Off topic watch chat for the horologists out there

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:44 pm

There was a lovely one quite a few years ago with the mille miglia logo embossed into the case - outside the glass - again it had the tyre tread straps - I remember it being on the back of the classic car mags

40 scout · Post by **40 scout** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:15 pm

Steve McQueen once wore in a film that was not worth watching

Please advise if this is a serious investment or just a bit Mickey M-----

Get it im sure you'll be happy! You can wear it when you go to Euro Disney and were all at Classic Le Mans

Buy what you like personally - if it comes off financially in the long run so much the better.

Personally I love big ben size watches from the 60's and 70's

Steve

sjm · Post by **sjm** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:23 pm

So what is a GMT Movement then? Sorry for the doubtlessly daft question...

964RS · Post by **964RS** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:10 pm

sjm wrote:So what is a GMT Movement then? Sorry for the doubtlessly daft question...

It has an additional hour hand that you can set separately and tracks the normal hour hand - so you can tell the time in 2 different timezones.

sjm · Post by **sjm** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:45 pm

Thank you - makes perfect sense now

smallspeed · Post by **smallspeed** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:54 am

its also usually a 24hr hour hand (if that makes any sense) so it goes around once every 24hrs rather than twice like the standard hr hand..

i think the rolex gmt was introduced for pan-am pilots, for tracking two different time-zones

left4dead · Post by **left4dead** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:03 pm

sjm wrote:So what is a GMT Movement then? Sorry for the doubtlessly daft question...

On a similar note could I ask what 'tourbillion' means? Or whatever that word is that sounds something like what I spelt?!

This confuses the hell out of me when people mention it!

Much obliged

Post by **Bootsy** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:32 pm

left4dead wrote:
sjm wrote:So what is a GMT Movement then? Sorry for the doubtlessly daft question...
On a similar note could I ask what 'tourbillion' means? Or whatever that word is that sounds something like what I spelt?!

This confuses the hell out of me when people mention it!

Much obliged

Basically a movement where the escapement and balance wheel is in a rotating cage. This reduces (or removes as far as I understand) the effect of gravity therefore increasing accuracy.

smallspeed · Post by **smallspeed** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:02 pm

i think it removes it in two dimensions to improve accuracy, however its become a bit redundant recently as modern and well set-up movements are pretty damn accurate anyway.. ..there was a full 3-dimensional tourbillon somewhere but i think it was just to prove a point that it could be done; horrendously expensive and the size of a large carriage clock IIRC

nowadays it seems to be more of a "look what i can do" thing due to the added complexity, rather than an actual major improvement in terms of accuracy. also a bit of a "look what i can afford" for the owners from what i can tell

think of it a bit like ferrari having an N/A 4 litre engine with 500bhp and an automated manual gearbox that can shift in under 75ms.. ..its all very well, but a 4 litre turbo engine and a DSG box can do 500bhp and 75ms shifts without breaking a sweat, and doesn't colapse under its own complexity after 40,000 miles

b

ps.. im probably just jealous

smallspeed · Post by **smallspeed** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:06 pm

hmm.. did a few searches for 3 axis tourbillon and seems there are a few, including a jaeger le couture gyrotourbillon, which i can only imagine is the best part of 1/4mil euros?

here's quite a good link showing one in action, and the crazy guy who designed/built it

clicky

absolute engineering masterpiece

Del · Post by **Del** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:27 pm

http://www.prescher.ch/Portals/0/Prices ... %20HP1.pdf

smallspeed · Post by **smallspeed** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:32 pm

imagine what the price for a 3-axis tourbillon in platinum with a few customisation options looks like

left4dead · Post by **left4dead** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:37 pm

Thanks chaps - I'm a little wiser on the 'tourbillon' front

I can't say I'll be rushing out to buy me one though (like I could afford one anyway

)

If anyone could steer me in the direction of an independent service place that could handle an El Primero I would be grateful as LVMH were pretty poor the last time around (and not cheap either)

Cheers,

964RS · Post by **964RS** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:13 pm

left4dead wrote:Thanks chaps - I'm a little wiser on the 'tourbillon' front

I can't say I'll be rushing out to buy me one though (like I could afford one anyway )

If anyone could steer me in the direction of an independent service place that could handle an El Primero I would be grateful as LVMH were pretty poor the last time around (and not cheap either)

Cheers,

steve,

give steve burrage below a call and have a chat, he's a nice guy and tell him Jason graham gave you his number. He's been watchmaking for a looooooong time.

964RS wrote:Steve Burrage has always done smaller fixes and repairs for me.

http://www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk/

Never asked him about reluming hands but if you give him a ring and mention my name he's very helpful.

left4dead · Post by **left4dead** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:44 pm

964RS wrote: steve,

give steve burrage below a call and have a chat, he's a nice guy and tell him Jason graham gave you his number. He's been watchmaking for a looooooong time.

Thanks Jason - Steve sounds just the sort of recommendation I've been looking for. I'll give him a call tomorrow.

Incidentally, you wouldn't know of any place where I could buy a top quality croc or ali strap would you? What I have been offered on 'the high street' have been pretty pathetic!

Thanks again,