Perpetual Calendars: What They Do And What Most Of Them Don’t Do
Chris Malburg highlights some of the finest examples of perpetual calendar watches today and dives into their history.
Fast vs. Slow, Hertz vs. VPH: Your Watch’s Frequency Explained
You may be familiar with numbers such as 18,000 vph, 28,800 vph, and even 36,000 vph describing the frequency of a watch’s hairspring regulator, but few really know what those numbers mean. Watchmaker Ashton Tracy explains why watch frequencies matter, but he oscillates in choosing a winner. Follow the discussion here.
Equation Of Time: What Is It And What’s The Attraction? – Reprise
In its simplest form, the equation of time is defined as the difference between the time displayed by the position of the sun (as by a sundial) and the time displayed by any modern clock or watch. But that’s just the beginning; watchmaker Ashton Tracy explains more.
The Schmidt List: Top 5 Funky Clicks – Reprise
The click spring is one of the smaller components of a mechanical watch, but it is of enormous importance. Ever wondered why the crown doesn’t retaliate furiously and unwind every time you crank it? Without the click spring, a wound mainspring would immediately – and explosively – uncoil like a raging viper in a hat box.
Annual Calendars Are Goldilocks Complications: Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold, Just Right – Reprise
When perpetual calendars are too complicated but a simple calendar just doesn’t cut it anymore because nearly half the months have less than 31 days, it’s five adjusts a year too many for some. But don’t fret, there is a middle ground between the most basic calendar watches and complex perpetual calendars. The annual calendar automatically adjusts for each month with 30 or 31 days, meaning just one adjust for the owner in February. Here’s a brief history of the complication.
My Top 5 Favorite Watches With Helical Hairsprings
Out of all the “traditional” styles of hairsprings, the helical hairspring is Joshua Munchow’s favorite because it adds three-dimensionality to the watch. These oscillators are so rarely seen that if you are only aware of five watches with helical hairsprings you already know a significant portion of the modern watches using them. Here are Joshua’s favorite five.
Here’s Why: Manual Winding Watches Are For Horological Connoisseurs – Reprise
Joshua Munchow explains why he thinks manual winding watches are for horological connoisseurs and why more complexity isn’t necessarily better in some cases.
The Truth About Magnetism And Watches – Reprise
General everyday contact with magnets isn’t going to cause your beloved wristwatch any real harm, but overdoses of magnetism may still present a problem, causing erratic timing and even stoppage altogether as watchmaker Ashton Tracy explains. What to do when this happens?
It’s A Date! Taking A Closer Look At The Most Popular Complication Of Them All: The Calendar – Reprise
Date windows on wristwatches can be a touchy subject. Many feel they are downright ugly and destroy the look of a good watch, while others swear by them as the most useful and affordable complication. Whatever camp you may be in, the date function can be the cause of considerable grief, particularly the rapid-set mechanism.
Understanding Ceramics: Now Used For Watch Cases, Bezels, And Much More – Reprise
There has been a lot of talk and promises made by the watch industry about ceramics and their use in timepieces, so it would seem that a primer on the subject might make us much more informed consumers. Joshua Munchow delivers that right here.