Regarding the lack of adjustability of silicon hairsprings I just heard this week Omega new model just cracked this issue. Great video and really superb tech info.
Here is my take on why great watch makers like lower frequencies, it allows for more creativity utilizing various constant movement approaches and it creates a real threshold for creating a movement that provides exceptional accuracy. I like how you explained “you can see it” and “they last longer”, just the same. Top watchmakers are artists, their desire to use movements below 4Hz allows for the true artistry and engineering acumen to come out. As a comparison, turbo charging is significantly more efficient than traditional naturally aspirated engines; yet I would prefer to drive a naturally aspirated engine any day of the week!
Good insights Michael. In many ways to comes down to mass-produced accuracy and sameness or craftsmanship and low frequency. I'll take the latter. Take care, Bill
Great video Bill. If I remember correctly you did a similar video a few years ago regarding the slower movements and that they were a favorite of many of the great watchmakers. You also explained the virtues of manuall
@@watchartsci I'm sorry that my original comment to you was cut off. I was waiting for my daughter to get out of an after school program and the tablet I was using fell from my lap and I inadvertently sent the incomplete comment. Just to finish my thought, that original video, backed up by this video is why I developed a great respect for low beat, manual movements. Who doesn't like playing with wood! Best regards, Brian
Thanks for another highly informative video! Always a pleasure to learn new things, specially explained in a easy to understand way. Best wishes from Bulgaria Sir!
Thanks to Professor Sanders for the excellent demonstration of the inner workings of a mechanical watch. Agree completely Bill about the wonders of the lower beat rate. My best watches run at 21,600. Thanks again for another informative video Bill.
Hi Bill I always wondered what you meant by "adjusting hairsprings", so thanks for explaining. I presume a silicon hairspring escapement can be adjusted in other ways. For instance, by adjusting the weights on the balance wheel, or by adjusting the swan neck regulator if the watch has one. I presume said adjustments are limited in scope. Would you consider doing a video that explains all the ways an escapement can be adjusted? It would be awfully interesting.
That is correct Meson. Free sprung balances can be adjusted with weights and the new Omega Spirate system can make fine adjustments without breaking the silicon spring. Their challenge was in mass producing the system, and they worked out how to do it. Not quite up to snuff with a $10 quartz watch, but quite an improvement. Take care, Bill
Bill, yesterday Omega released a super-Speedmaster with adjustable silicone hairspring and a coaxial escapement. The trick they use is the influence the stiffness of the spring.
Hi Erik, their biggest trick was working out how to mass produce it, and they were successful. Not as accurate as a $10 quartz watch, but very accurate. The logical conclusion in chasing accuracy with silicon is the Apple Watch, which are very accurate. Take care, Bill
Just subscribed to your Channel Sir! I'm one of your fan when it comes to watches, and the fact that you explained it so well! Also not a Fan of Silicone hairspring! Godbless Mr.Bill Sanders! Take care always from your Fan from Manila 😊
This inspired me to take the DIY plunge. I just ordered an ETA 6497 movement with a nice dial and breguet hands! I have no idea how to put it all together, nor any tools at this point. Decided to skip the kit prepacked options and look on UA-cam for some good how-to’s. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. One thing I know I did right was getting comparable size components. Off to a brave and fun start.
Hey Snorkel... great to go. Here's a video to get started: ua-cam.com/video/rDfde-nmtKg/v-deo.html as for tools... here's a starter kit with more than all the tools you need. (www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z8SC4GL/ref=syn_sd_onsite_desktop_266?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_p=2456981b-cf83-4581-a847-6648b497ed81&pf_rd_r=6D6B2B3M0E1SZ5HQG2DY&pd_rd_wg=b8kMG&pd_rd_w=yk9Vf&pd_rd_r=b5a7907e-e850-4888-805c-b0473a1f6d2d&th=1 ) ... or just get the minimum recommended in the video, but get good quality. Take care, Bill
@@watchartsci Hi Bill, I finished it! There is a photo of it on “Pretentious Watchmakers”. Thanks for the links and your how-to videos in the first place. It was a fun project.
Hi Bill, thanks for the deep dive into the mechanical wonders of our ‘toys’! I also prefer the lower hertz, you also get the extended maintenance windows! Question for you, what are your thoughts on the Omega announcement yesterday of their spirate movement system? It allows for adjustment on a silicon based hairspring movement, Metas certified to run 0/+2 seconds, seems like they’ve made a good leap with their technology. The downside is, the adjustment is happening with an omega proprietary key of sort to adjust the stiffness of the movement, not the hairspring itself. Omega doesn’t want non-Omega watchmakers working on their movements and customers will have to continue to pay top $ for an in-house service. I’m not a fan of this practice, I despise it when automakers do this in the car industry. Many thanks for your insight, take good care!
Hi Big Sal, that's very impressive. It appears that they figured out a way to adjust the silicon spring just enough to make adjustments but not enough to break it. However, I still noticed they had the adjustable weights on the inside of the balance wheel. Beat adjustment?🤔 It looks like they've also worked out a way to mass produce them. Cannot see the craftsmanship, but these watches are about mass production and accuracy ... no where near as good as an Apple Watch, though. Take care, Bill
This is very good information. Thanks, Bill. I like hand wound watches more than automatic because there is no rotor obstructing the view of the movement so I can enjoy it a lot more. How come the latest models of Gronefeld are automatic? They should make them hand wound so people can see the movement without any obstruction.
Eugene, as you know Grönefeld watches are $$$$ and some clients may have requested an automatic. Generally, though they, like all good watchmakers, prefer hand-wound. Take care, Bill
My great grandfathers Waltham pocket watches both have that slow 18,000 chug chug and after well over a 100 years there still going. I guess Bill's got a good point! Nice shirt by the way. Reminds me of my PJ's in the 60's. lol Have a good one!
Hey Leigh, yes indeed a Waltham pocket watch indeed would run at 2.5 Hertz ... and not surprised it's still running! My new shirt has a bear, wolf, sticks of dynamite, a wooden bucket and everything else you'd expect to find in the Yukon mining for gold! Take care, Bill
Hi Bill, thanks for the video. I’d be very interested in knowing your thoughts on Omega’s brand new ‘Spirate’ silicon hairspring which can now allow regulation by adjustment for tension.
Shave Ray, I understand it's almost as accurate as a $10 quartz watch. Accuracy and silicon can be found it its ultimate form in an Apple Watch ... with lots of silicon. Take care, Bill
Harry, Hertz are measured in oscillations per second; vph (so/hr) are measured in hours. 4Hz [8 semi-oscillations] per second= 28,800 semi-oscillation per hour. Take care, Bill
Hi Andres, it's certainly important for Omega that they worked out a way to mass produce both the Spirate springs and regulator. Almost as accurate as a $10 quartz watch I understand. Take care, Bill
G'morning my friend ☕☕ 😋 . Is it just me or are you releasing these videos before you go to bed 🙃 . I'm a night owl and it seems to me you're pretty consistent about releasing them around 1:30 - 2:30 am my time 😃
In our crazy world, this presentation is yet another excellent interlude of horological sanity. Thank you kindly Bill.
As always, my pleasure Tuna! Take care, Bill
Regarding the lack of adjustability of silicon hairsprings I just heard this week Omega new model just cracked this issue. Great video and really superb tech info.
Yes, they did Migfed... very minor adjustments but possible.Take care, Bill
Here is my take on why great watch makers like lower frequencies, it allows for more creativity utilizing various constant movement approaches and it creates a real threshold for creating a movement that provides exceptional accuracy. I like how you explained “you can see it” and “they last longer”, just the same. Top watchmakers are artists, their desire to use movements below 4Hz allows for the true artistry and engineering acumen to come out. As a comparison, turbo charging is significantly more efficient than traditional naturally aspirated engines; yet I would prefer to drive a naturally aspirated engine any day of the week!
Good insights Michael. In many ways to comes down to mass-produced accuracy and sameness or craftsmanship and low frequency. I'll take the latter. Take care, Bill
Great video Bill. If I remember correctly you did a similar video a few years ago regarding the slower movements and that they were a favorite of many of the great watchmakers. You also explained the virtues of manuall
@@xpdchief7698 Yes I did, but I wanted to provide a larger context in this one ... and play with wood.
@@watchartsci I'm sorry that my original comment to you was cut off. I was waiting for my daughter to get out of an after school program and the tablet I was using fell from my lap and I inadvertently sent the incomplete comment. Just to finish my thought, that original video, backed up by this video is why I developed a great respect for low beat, manual movements.
Who doesn't like playing with wood!
Best regards, Brian
Thanks for another highly informative video! Always a pleasure to learn new things, specially explained in a easy to understand way. Best wishes from Bulgaria Sir!
Hi Vlad, greetings to Bulgaria! Some years back, I did a live stream on computer programming to a Bulgarian university. Great people! Take care, Bill
Bill, your visual aids are both charming and informative! Thanks for all that you do.
Thanks Relsanat! Also, wood is as non-magnetic as silicon! Take care, Bill
Thanks to Professor Sanders for the excellent demonstration of the inner workings of a mechanical watch. Agree completely Bill about the wonders of the lower beat rate. My best watches run at 21,600. Thanks again for another informative video Bill.
My pleasure Jeffrey! Take care, Bill
As always, easy to understand and great explanation of advantages and disadvantages depending on frequency.
Glad it was helpful, Javi! Take care, Bill
Hi Bill
I always wondered what you meant by "adjusting hairsprings", so thanks for explaining. I presume a silicon hairspring escapement can be adjusted in other ways. For instance, by adjusting the weights on the balance wheel, or by adjusting the swan neck regulator if the watch has one. I presume said adjustments are limited in scope.
Would you consider doing a video that explains all the ways an escapement can be adjusted? It would be awfully interesting.
That is correct Meson. Free sprung balances can be adjusted with weights and the new Omega Spirate system can make fine adjustments without breaking the silicon spring. Their challenge was in mass producing the system, and they worked out how to do it. Not quite up to snuff with a $10 quartz watch, but quite an improvement. Take care, Bill
@@watchartsci Thanks, Bill
Bill, yesterday Omega released a super-Speedmaster with adjustable silicone hairspring and a coaxial escapement. The trick they use is the influence the stiffness of the spring.
Hi Erik, their biggest trick was working out how to mass produce it, and they were successful. Not as accurate as a $10 quartz watch, but very accurate. The logical conclusion in chasing accuracy with silicon is the Apple Watch, which are very accurate. Take care, Bill
@@watchartsci 🤣
Just subscribed to your Channel Sir! I'm one of your fan when it comes to watches, and the fact that you explained it so well! Also not a Fan of Silicone hairspring! Godbless Mr.Bill Sanders! Take care always from your Fan from Manila 😊
Hey Frampton, thanks man! Take care, Bill
This inspired me to take the DIY plunge. I just ordered an ETA 6497 movement with a nice dial and breguet hands! I have no idea how to put it all together, nor any tools at this point. Decided to skip the kit prepacked options and look on UA-cam for some good how-to’s. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. One thing I know I did right was getting comparable size components. Off to a brave and fun start.
Hey Snorkel... great to go. Here's a video to get started: ua-cam.com/video/rDfde-nmtKg/v-deo.html as for tools... here's a starter kit with more than all the tools you need. (www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z8SC4GL/ref=syn_sd_onsite_desktop_266?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_p=2456981b-cf83-4581-a847-6648b497ed81&pf_rd_r=6D6B2B3M0E1SZ5HQG2DY&pd_rd_wg=b8kMG&pd_rd_w=yk9Vf&pd_rd_r=b5a7907e-e850-4888-805c-b0473a1f6d2d&th=1 ) ... or just get the minimum recommended in the video, but get good quality. Take care, Bill
@@watchartsci Hi Bill, I finished it! There is a photo of it on “Pretentious Watchmakers”. Thanks for the links and your how-to videos in the first place. It was a fun project.
Learning so much on your channel! Many thanks! J
My pleasure, Boss! Take care, Bill
Thaks a lot. Very didatic video. You are an excelente teacher.
My pleasure José! Thanks man! Take care, Bill
Hi Bill, thanks for the deep dive into the mechanical wonders of our ‘toys’! I also prefer the lower hertz, you also get the extended maintenance windows!
Question for you, what are your thoughts on the Omega announcement yesterday of their spirate movement system? It allows for adjustment on a silicon based hairspring movement, Metas certified to run 0/+2 seconds, seems like they’ve made a good leap with their technology. The downside is, the adjustment is happening with an omega proprietary key of sort to adjust the stiffness of the movement, not the hairspring itself. Omega doesn’t want non-Omega watchmakers working on their movements and customers will have to continue to pay top $ for an in-house service. I’m not a fan of this practice, I despise it when automakers do this in the car industry.
Many thanks for your insight, take good care!
Hi Big Sal, that's very impressive. It appears that they figured out a way to adjust the silicon spring just enough to make adjustments but not enough to break it. However, I still noticed they had the adjustable weights on the inside of the balance wheel. Beat adjustment?🤔 It looks like they've also worked out a way to mass produce them. Cannot see the craftsmanship, but these watches are about mass production and accuracy ... no where near as good as an Apple Watch, though. Take care, Bill
This is very good information. Thanks, Bill. I like hand wound watches more than automatic because there is no rotor obstructing the view of the movement so I can enjoy it a lot more. How come the latest models of Gronefeld are automatic? They should make them hand wound so people can see the movement without any obstruction.
Eugene, as you know Grönefeld watches are $$$$ and some clients may have requested an automatic. Generally, though they, like all good watchmakers, prefer hand-wound. Take care, Bill
My great grandfathers Waltham pocket watches both have that slow 18,000 chug chug and after well over a 100 years there still going. I guess Bill's got a good point! Nice shirt by the way. Reminds me of my PJ's in the 60's. lol Have a good one!
Hey Leigh, yes indeed a Waltham pocket watch indeed would run at 2.5 Hertz ... and not surprised it's still running! My new shirt has a bear, wolf, sticks of dynamite, a wooden bucket and everything else you'd expect to find in the Yukon mining for gold! Take care, Bill
Hi Bill, thanks for the video. I’d be very interested in knowing your thoughts on Omega’s brand new ‘Spirate’ silicon hairspring which can now allow regulation by adjustment for tension.
Shave Ray, I understand it's almost as accurate as a $10 quartz watch. Accuracy and silicon can be found it its ultimate form in an Apple Watch ... with lots of silicon. Take care, Bill
Thanks Bill.
Any info somewhere on why Hz is measured in so many semi oscillations per hour instead of oscillations per hour please?
Harry, Hertz are measured in oscillations per second; vph (so/hr) are measured in hours. 4Hz [8 semi-oscillations] per second= 28,800 semi-oscillation per hour. Take care, Bill
@@watchartsci Thanks Bill. That has cleared it all up for me. Regards, Harry.
thanks for the information and so nice i like you to explaining this things 😍💯💯💯
My pleasure 😊 Jsjassem! Take care, Bill
Bill, what's your thoughts on the new Spirate technology from Omega that apparently let the watchmakers adjust the silicon hairsprings?
Hi Andres, it's certainly important for Omega that they worked out a way to mass produce both the Spirate springs and regulator. Almost as accurate as a $10 quartz watch I understand. Take care, Bill
@@watchartsci long way to go Bill. Quartz can be accurate to 5 seconds a year. This is 2 seconds a day.. so many times less accurate 😂
@@andresfg6788 You're right!
Don't forget the 1 hertz slow runner by Antoine Martin.
I would not forget it...great example 9804215. Take care, Bill
G'morning my friend ☕☕ 😋 . Is it just me or are you releasing these videos before you go to bed 🙃 . I'm a night owl and it seems to me you're pretty consistent about releasing them around 1:30 - 2:30 am my time 😃
They're released at 4:30 am New York time ... it's in the middle of the day in Switzerland. Take care, Bill
I just checked my Datejust 1575 movement 2.75 Hz
You got a sweet one Junior! Take care, Bill
What does a hairspring do
Hi Phillip-hairsprings regulate the timing of the movements. See if this video helps: ua-cam.com/users/live_Gvs69eccOU Take care, Bill
👏👏👏
Hey Andrei, thanks man! Take care, Bill