Archive for February, 2007
photo credit: 5mal5
What makes that Mechanical watch run? You hear people rattle on about different watches they own, but do they really know what makes these little machines tick? Let me break it down for ya! You have an energy source, gear train that lets that power flow–regulating tools and a display. That is the nutshell version! Your power source is your mainspring, it is wound by an oscillator or by hand, hence automatic or manual wind –and you thought latin wouldn’t come in handy! Your mainspring feeds the gear train (a series of wheels) which leads to the escapement (heart beat of the watch see: Striking balance). This whole cycle takes place so that power from that mainspring is sent in a captured manor and lessened. The hands on the display are attached to a series of pinions and posts set into the gear train that poke up. The wheels rotate at different intervals because of their size, making a hour wheel, second wheel etc. Viola, time is made. CTWG
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February 23rd, 2007
Yes, the grand-daddy of all watch shows, BaselWorld 2007 is nigh. For CTWG, it is a pilgrimage to the holy land, building after building of the world’s finest timepieces all laid out for eye-popping viewing. Let me know what interests you, and I will do my darndest to cover it with pictures etc. Maybe this year I will finally learn to pronounce Feldschlösschen? CTWG
February 20th, 2007
Should I use a winder? Hmmm? Loaded question, but a good one. Here are CTWG's thoughts on watch winders. If use can afford them --and they cost less than the watches that you put on them, they are an okay purchase. Will the oils in your watch seize up like old bacon grease left to settle? Definitely not. Watch winders have their place. I recomend Perpetual Calenders owners, collectors with multiple pieces, and less than active people use them. I am of the school that says, "Buy a new watch with your disposable income --if any runs over, shop for a good winder." Good pick options are the Sparta from Orbita and Wolf Designs Module 3.0, both do the job at a nice price. CTWG
February 1st, 2007