This makes sense. But was Omega seeking a Geneve seal, either because they simply wanted the recognition or because they were being required to have a seal? (I don't know anything about the Geneve seal and had to look it up.)
I actually had a watch with a busted column. It would work fine until it spun to the missing pillar. So I'm a believer.
Nope, they did not want the seal and all the BS that goes with it. I think the change to the cam based actuation was for reliability and cost cutting.
simple explanation which includes scope - https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-meaning-of-the-coat-of-arms-on-the-geneva-seal
detailed explanation - https://poincondegeneve.ch/en/craftsmanship
The cost savings from eliminating the column wheel (if there actually was any - not convinced there was) is minor.
From a capped wheel though? The capped wheel is more reliable since one of the things they wanted out of the 861 is that it is more reliable than the 321. Not a primary concern at all, I'm just wondering if it was part of the equation.
This makes sense. But was Omega seeking a Geneve seal, either because they simply wanted the recognition or because they were being required to have a seal?
Of course there are other arrangements out there for minute counter - the central minute counters are a different animal, and the minute counters that constantly turn are also, but I'm referring to those that are tripped once per minute.
There is no capped wheel on a 321, so I'm not quite following why this is even in the discussion...
Sorry. If Omega wanted a more reliable movement which I thought was one of the three claimed reasons. Cost, reliability, and ease of construction.
then a weak spot would have been the column wheel. Hence 2 options cap it at additional cost or move to a cam system.
I thought Omega watches were made in Bienne so I can’t fathom how the Geneva seal is remotely pertinent to this discussion. Were they made in Geneva at the time of this change? (Excuse the newbie question).
My understanding is that the cap provides 2 attachment points for the columns making it significantly harder for one of the columns to snap.
I thought Omega watches were made in Bienne so I can’t fathom how the Geneva seal is remotely pertinent to this discussion. Were they made in Geneva at the time of this change? (Excuse the newbie question).
I could be wrong, but I think that the cap is a separate piece and there is a regular column wheel underneath.
