Great Video, Cameron! Heard you recently on SPIKE'S CAR RADIO- glad to locate your UA-cam channel. Am now subscribed. Sent you a blurb several yrs. ago when the Nov., '18 issue of AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE did a write-up on your (then new) Hand Wound 38mm Field Watch. Should have gotten one back then...: Values through the roof! Congrats!
Regarding a watch's maintainability far in the future, I recall a Roger Smith video where he explained his case tube was attached by a flange with two screws so it would be easy to remove & replace a century from now.
Thank you for sharing the insights into why these alloys are used. What alloys are used with the drive train gears? They're colored like brass, however, c360 seems too soft for something like a gear that receives constant friction. Thank you.
@@WatchEnthusiast160 The alloy will depend on the manufacturer and the country of alloy production too. 330, 360, or 385 would be good for watch wheels. Some will use beryllium copper too.
You have some great videos. Question: I read that vintage watch pinions were mechanically hardened through compression, but modern watch pinions are hardened electrically. The downside of the latter is that the hardening is superficial, so that if the hardened outside layer of the pinion is worn, the softer interior can wear much more quickly. Is this true?
Hardening depends on the alloy being hardened, but pinions where traditionally hardened with heat in a furnace (this is still pretty standard practice in the watch industry). Depending on the alloy and the application a part could be work hardened or forged. Electrically hardened parts are still using heat, but the heat is from induction. Ideally for a pinion we want the heat treatment to hardened our watch pinions all the way through the part so that leaves on the pinion don't break off.
Regarding unplated brass tending to discolor unpleasantly, I hear bronze has become a popular case material because the eventual discoloration is attractive and makes it look like you've been on adventures. Do you keep any of your dials out in the sun for years to test whether they become a desirable tropical shade?
I do have some real life tested samples of our painted dials that show some color change from sun exposure. It is very interesting to me, because I love things that show signs of age with real use.
Excellent! This definitely increased my appreciation for the craft, engineering and art of watchmaking! So much to learn from your videos.
Thank you very much!
so much helpful information...
I still smile at H. Moser's 100% Swiss watch they trolled that had a case made of cheese.
Great info! The delivery made it hard to watch. 1st video I've ever considered speeding up.
Great Video, Cameron! Heard you recently on SPIKE'S CAR RADIO- glad to locate your UA-cam channel. Am now subscribed. Sent you a blurb several yrs. ago when the Nov., '18 issue of AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE did a write-up on your (then new) Hand Wound 38mm Field Watch. Should have gotten one back then...: Values through the roof! Congrats!
Awesome! Thank you!
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing Cameron! What would you say would be the perfect all round case material?
I really like mixing titanium and stainless components. for me this is the best balance of weight to strength and also durability.
Regarding a watch's maintainability far in the future, I recall a Roger Smith video where he explained his case tube was attached by a flange with two screws so it would be easy to remove & replace a century from now.
Thank you for sharing the insights into why these alloys are used. What alloys are used with the drive train gears? They're colored like brass, however, c360 seems too soft for something like a gear that receives constant friction. Thank you.
The golden colored wheels inside a watch are typically made from a brass alloy. Some manufacturers will use a beryllium copper instead.
@thewatchmakersworkshop Would you know what type of brass alloy? Thanks again for the response. It's very interesting.
@@WatchEnthusiast160 The alloy will depend on the manufacturer and the country of alloy production too. 330, 360, or 385 would be good for watch wheels. Some will use beryllium copper too.
@@thewatchmakersworkshop Thank you 🙏
You have some great videos. Question: I read that vintage watch pinions were mechanically hardened through compression, but modern watch pinions are hardened electrically. The downside of the latter is that the hardening is superficial, so that if the hardened outside layer of the pinion is worn, the softer interior can wear much more quickly. Is this true?
Hardening depends on the alloy being hardened, but pinions where traditionally hardened with heat in a furnace (this is still pretty standard practice in the watch industry). Depending on the alloy and the application a part could be work hardened or forged. Electrically hardened parts are still using heat, but the heat is from induction. Ideally for a pinion we want the heat treatment to hardened our watch pinions all the way through the part so that leaves on the pinion don't break off.
Interesting. Thanks for your response.@@thewatchmakersworkshop
Regarding unplated brass tending to discolor unpleasantly, I hear bronze has become a popular case material because the eventual discoloration is attractive and makes it look like you've been on adventures.
Do you keep any of your dials out in the sun for years to test whether they become a desirable tropical shade?
I do have some real life tested samples of our painted dials that show some color change from sun exposure. It is very interesting to me, because I love things that show signs of age with real use.
I wonder if watches like having owners with tropical faces?
I figure crystals filter out some or all of the UV light and slow down or prevent tropical dials.