alt.horology Google Group

Re: Why are consumer-grade quartz watches (deliberately set?) fast?

2009-12-17T23:20:00Z

Generally speaking, it is considered better for a watch to run fast than
slow - fast won't make you miss any trains. So mfrs (and watchmakers when
they service) shoot for slightly fast, never slow. A lot of mechanical
watches (cheap ones) leave the factory as much as 20-30 secs/ day fast .
Unless the movement is thermo-compensated (very few are) then the rate of

Re: Why are consumer-grade quartz watches (deliberately set?) fast?

2009-12-16T23:30:22Z

yes it does, thats why the quartz is set fast 0.1 to 0.15 second per
day, once the watch warms to body temp it will generally lose 0.1seconds
per day
basically how it is done on the better grade quartz, eeprom chip that is
reprogrammed, on the cheaper grade there are either extra tracks on the
circuit board that are cut to rate the movement or it has a once only

Re: Why are consumer-grade quartz watches (deliberately set?) fast?

2009-12-16T16:23:16Z

If its fast at room temperature, I wonder if it changes strapped to the wrist.
If it were a really cool clock with a computer, you could manually reset programming to add or subtract
clock pulses so it would stay on time.
greg

Re: Why are consumer-grade quartz watches (deliberately set?) fast?

2009-12-16T15:16:46Z

On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:03:04 -0800 (PST), NadCixelsyd
Well, to answer simply, it is better to come up for air a bit early
than a bit late. :)
I know, it's only seocnds, but it is probably an ingrained thing in
the watch industry that a watch should always be set a bit fast.
The mechanicals we always set a couple of seconds fast as well.

Why are consumer-grade quartz watches (deliberately set?) fast?

2009-12-16T15:03:04Z

Let me digress: When I was a child some 60 years ago, consumer-grade
watches were accurate to about twenty seconds per day. Then, Bulova
invented the Accutron with a tuning fork, which was accurate to two
seconds per day. Thirty (+/-) years ago, quartz watches typically had
an accuracy of better than one second per day.

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-16T12:49:57Z

Good.
I prefer my tail young.
It is, however, not the worst idea in the world to place a small
glass or saucer with plain water in the bottom of the case if
your residence happens to have central heating. Few things are
as bad for wooden antiques as central heating.

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T23:45:50Z

as Jack said, the stuff stinks, I won't even use it in my lamps for that
reason.
I had a little old lady you used to place a cotton ball soaked in kero
inside her Seth Thomas kitchen clock, yes it kept it going and there was
no rust inside the clock, but the movement was black, the kero caused
the dust to coat every part of the movement, the usual wear in the

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T21:09:01Z

If you like a kerosene scented air freshener, it's great . When your friends
ask what that funny smell is, call it eau de Rockefeller. It does nothing
for the clock though. To the extent it gives off oily fumes (which is not
much) it would coat the entire clock, which is exactly what you don't want.

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T20:13:45Z

Any truth in keeping a kerosene jar inside a large clock ?
greg

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T19:11:17Z

Forgot to add: it also depends on use. If it is a family
heirloom that is not wound and used every day, you can go decades
between cleaning and oiling them.

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T19:09:51Z

Depends somewhat on the location. The mantel clock in my study
where I smoke my cigars gets a clean and lube every three years.
Every other clock can wait for the full five.
$65 is too cheap.
Never trust the guy who quotes *way* below market prices.

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T12:07:21Z

a new movement from the 70s?, well if its a Hermle with its skinny
plates and lovely chrome plating on the steel work including the pivots
then you will probably find that every single hole has wear, the oil
what is left of it has by now turned into a thick grinding paste, I get
clocks like that all the time, hate them.

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T11:42:30Z

Hi,
I would be curious as to what he does for $65, in your case the hands
and dial will have to be removed to access the movement, and unless
he/she takes the movement right out of the case they will not be able
to oil the pivots on the back plate.
in practical terms, provided they have used a good grade of clock oil

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T11:33:24Z

In article
<999c7fcd-f7fa-41eb-8137-adeef 0c76...@z7g2000vbl.googlegroup s.com>, Linda
Hello, and while I'm certainly no expert, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Perhaps the exception, but years ago my father bought a grandfather clock
(from a company somewhere in New England) movement with Westminster chimes

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T11:12:17Z

yep total BS
yeah I give a 12 month warranty with extensions for simple stuff.
I say 5-6years between servicing depends on the clock, fine grade like
french and viennas clocks would be 5years or so, most American up to
10years, grandfather or longcase 10years.
with most of the jobs I see people just run them until they give trouble

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T09:08:00Z

On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:52:44 -0500, "Jack Denver"
Yep. Funny how my thought was also moving towards cars when i saw the
post.
Imagine Tony doing your 10,000KM service for 100 bucks, then asking
you to come back for a top up every 2.5Ks for a mere 35 bucks. What
exactly would you tell Tony ? Keep it clean now.. :)

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T08:14:47Z

I also gave customers a 1 year warranty, but often extended it unofficially.
My recommendation was 5 year service intervals. A person would have to live
in a very dusty area the require more frequent service. Just oiling it
without a cleaning is a way of making a very superior grinding paste! Five

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T07:52:44Z

YMMV - some people say 2 to 3 yrs for oiling. I've never heard of 18 mos.
being recommended. I think this is like oil changes in cars, where the oil
cos and gas stations say 3000 miles and the mfgrs say 5000 to 7500 - the
answer you give depends on where your economic interests lie.
Then again $65 for a house call is cheap. Just take a rain check and tell

Re: Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-15T04:44:18Z

On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:33:04 -0800 (PST), Linda <lj.we...@verizon.net>
wrote:
Sorry to top post, but utter, utter, utter, utter, bullshit !
Oh sorry about the B word too.. :)
Nice way to make an extra buck. The general recommendation is 5 years
between services, period. If they have done a proper job, there is no

Antique Clock Servicing Advice ...

2009-12-14T20:33:04Z

Hello ...
I am writing in reference to my E.N. Welch steeple clock.
I purchased it at an auction, and then about a year and a half ago, I
took it to a clock shop to get it to run. It was $260.00 to have the
clock overhauled/repaired.
I love the clock and want to keep it in working order.
I received a postcard from the repair shop that says (CAPITAL LETTERS

Re: SWATCH goes chronograph automatic!

2009-12-14T11:26:58Z

longevity, while the plastic used in the wheels is long lasting, they do
have to be handled with a bit more care during a service, quite easy to
crush a tooth with tweezers, as to the plastic used in the frame, well
that has the potential to crack up over time.
but I do like the design, apart from being robust, the chrono can be

Re: Casio WV58 DA

2009-12-14T00:45:39Z

Eh, it's a Casio, not an Omega or Longines with those stupid little
sleeves. I get the ocasional ones from shops with a note "we took out
two links, but can't seem to get the pin to get tight".
Drop the watch on the floor too, maybe the bits will reunite. :)

Re: Casio WV58 DA

2009-12-13T12:43:08Z

JJ wrote:
simplest thing to do is take to a casio agent or the store it was bought
from, generally they will adjust it for free,
this might help, just don't lose any bits ;)
[link]

Re: Casio WV58 DA

2009-12-13T11:33:49Z

Since I don't know exact type of links in your bracelet choose appropriate
link:
[link]
or for push-in type:
[link]
Remove links from both sides of bracelet (more or less symetrically).
!!! And last, don't do it today (it's 13th).

Casio WV58 DA

2009-12-13T05:48:32Z

Just received this watch as early x-mas gift and can't figure out how
to remove links from the band. Need to take out at least 2, maybe 3 to
get a good fit. Any advice?
JJ

Re: SWATCH goes chronograph automatic!

2009-12-10T10:09:44Z

A click of "BUY THIS WATCH" returns:
[link]
It appears the website was constructed by someone significantly
retarded.
-----
- gpsman

Re: What are the best digital or analog watches below $100?

2009-12-10T01:28:13Z

Casio W-800H. Looks great, digital, 10-year battery.

Re: SWATCH goes chronograph automatic!

2009-12-10T01:12:46Z

In article <hb97el$qh...@news.eternal-sep tember.org>,
Why do people always say this? The plastic is one of the things that
makes this movement nearly idestructable, that is taking a hit up
to s measured 9G's and not dying. No other material would work here
(maybe rubber, but you get the point)

Shifting this back to watches, was (Re: Information on old Bulova Watch)

2009-12-10T01:07:27Z

There are lots of cool Bulovas out there, and from certain periods they're more
rugged and accurate than Rolexes of the same period.
The 23 and 30 jewel movements in particular were quite quite something.
Need a picture to say more. As it happens, currently one of these is
my daily wearer.

Re: Information on old Bulova Watch

2009-12-10T01:04:21Z

In article <16597-4AB7E713...@storefull-3 171.bay.webtv.net>,
They didn't use a lot of fake diamonds. AFAIK they never used fake diamonds.

Re: Rectangular watch designs

2009-12-09T00:51:58Z

My old rectangular wristwatches, Benrus, Gruen, Bulova, one old
rectangular Timex wristwatch and one old Sears rectangular wristwatch.At
least two of them works if I wind them up.I think they date back to the
1940s, or maybe the 1950s.Nothing much to crow about, and I am not
crowing.
cuhulin

beautiful videos to entertain see and enjoy

2009-12-08T11:58:17Z

[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]

Re: Rectangular watch designs

2009-12-05T01:11:30Z

That doesn't say much, I think. After all, with a few wacky
exceptions, all dials are circular in that the hands describe a
360-degree rotation whatever the shape of the case.
Lst time I looked, the Jaeger leCoultre Reverso still used a
rectangular movement. Karsten Frasdorf makes rectangular
movements in small batches, as does Roger Smith. I believe

Re: What are the best digital or analog watches below $100?

2009-12-05T00:27:19Z

crap is right, I don't like working on them while parts are not
available, the better ones like seagull are ok if you ignore the brittle
screws, but for the others, I won't touch them
I know, I still get 70s seiko autos in that the owner has had since new
for service, couple of jewels for the barrel arbour holes and the watch

Re: What are the best digital or analog watches below $100?

2009-12-04T23:39:28Z

things like stems and rotors are compatible with the 2824 clones, screws
too, since the chinese ones are a bit on the brittle side, cost of a
seagull st21 is about $50AU which is way cheaper than the $140 eta wants

Re: What are the best digital or analog watches below $100?

2009-12-04T19:07:31Z

I gather that you could probably put (many if not all) ETA parts in the ETA
clones. But the clones are relatively new and only a small % of the Chinese
watches out there. As Frank says, they are not good about labeling the
calibers (but after a while you can recognize them). Assuming you can find

Re: Rectangular watch designs

2009-12-04T19:03:24Z

Not just the Japs - I had a round Tissot with sweep at 6 that used the ETA
"shape" movement - the horrid one with a whole bunch of wheels to bring the
seconds down.
Some of the smaller ladies rectangular watches do
Yes back in the day there were little ladies handwind movements for
"cocktail watches" - they usually had tiny balances and kept crappy time -

Zodiac

2009-12-04T14:52:55Z

Hello, all, and a question for the Zodiac wristwatch experts: Besides
the Astrographic models, did Zodiac ever use a rotating dial(s) on any
of their other past/present models? Thanks for your time and comment.

Re: What are the best digital or analog watches below $100?

2009-12-04T08:05:46Z

Hard ? Depends on which one. The better copies are not so bad, but the
ones with all the little "oops plate" addons are utter crap.
Other than that they look crap, feel crap and frankly, i don't want to
nor need to do crap. :)
With the movement swaps the problem is that often the hands don't even

Re: Fake Cartier Tank Series Women's Watch W260745

2009-12-04T05:56:19Z

Don't you know what you are doing is wrong?
Friend, please stay well away from this junk.
False in one thing, false in everything.

Re: What are the best digital or analog watches below $100?

2009-12-04T05:16:52Z

well if the 10year battery watch cost you $100 or under, keep it 10years
and then chuck it, depends on how hard people are on watches, some
watches a few years down the line specially ones worn by tradesmen like
brickies the watch is that bad it is cheaper to throw it.
yeah I find they are not too hard to work on, like the eta clones from

Re: Rectangular watch designs

2009-12-04T02:38:33Z

On Thu, 3 Dec 2009 15:48:41 -0500, "Jack Denver"
It's because of the aerodynamics. You can hardly expect to drive your
convertible sportscar fast with a rectangular watch on your arm
hanging over the side and creating drag.
Well there was a short stint of square watches after WWII. Remember
the start of the "digital" craze ? Both mechanical and the later

Fake Cartier Tank Series Women's Watch W2607456 www.PrettyReplica.com for sale all kinds of pretty replica watches! famous watches, luxury watches,discount watches,Christmasgifts,Cheap Watches,Luxury Watches,very nice watches,Discount Watches,Repl

2009-12-03T23:59:44Z

Fake Cartier Tank Series Women's Watch W2607456 [link]
for sale all kinds of pretty replica watches! famous watches, luxury
watches,discount watches,Christmasgifts,Cheap Watches,Luxury
Watches,very nice watches,Discount Watches,Replica for sale,Replica
Price,Watches Sale,AntiqueWatches,Watches Women

Re: Rectangular watch designs

2009-12-03T20:48:41Z

What's interesting is how few watches nowadays are rectangular - I would say
90+% of the watches I see are round. On the one hand, round is the
"natural" shape for the clock dial. OTOH, it's not really a natural shape to
wear as a bracelet on the wrist. Very soon after the earliest trench watches

Re: Rectangular watch designs

2009-12-03T11:45:16Z

I think we all assumed a certain price range, given the original
set of watches....
Of course, the Tank is the rectangular watch par excellence.
Alas, antique ones are worth more than my right kidney, and
modern ones can appear a bit flash.

Re: Rectangular watch designs

2009-12-03T11:36:06Z

Hello, and hey, how come nobody mentioned the "timeless" Cartier tanker
wristwatch?

Re: Rectangular watch designs

2009-11-27T16:27:26Z

It's a matter of personal taste - personally I prefer the Doxa but partly
out of nostalgia - my late father wore Doxas that he bought in Germany in
the early '50s.

Re: What are the best digital or analog watches below $100?

2009-12-03T00:13:50Z

A lot of good points have been made so far that I agree with and I
will add that some quartz models available now proudly boast of 10 yr
battery life which is great.
As far as the G Shocks with the solar feature they really are great
but when they do have a storage cell (battery) issue the battery has

Re: What are the best digital or analog watches below $100?

2009-12-02T11:33:55Z

Slightly non sequitur, but wandering through a major shopping
street yesterday gave me the thought....
Do also look at watches above your $100 limit. In the current
climate, all shop owners are desperate for the consumer dollar,
and some of them are going under. This means huge pre-Xmas
discounts and clearance sales where reductions of 50% are far

Re: What are the best digital or analog watches below $100?

2009-12-02T02:37:11Z

IMHO: Casio
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Seconded. For mechanicals the Invicata 8926 is a lot of watch for not much
money.
Fraser