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Horology 101: the 5 Most Influential Automatic Wristwatch Calibers

  1. gostang9 Jun 10, 2018

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    You know, I actually typed “holding my breath” first, and then deleted and changed it preemptively...
     
    time flies likes this.
  2. gostang9 Jun 10, 2018

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    delete: duplicate
     
  3. gostang9 Jun 10, 2018

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    delete: triplicate
     
  4. tuancele Aug 15, 2018

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    You are very understanding. I also like the way 5 bearings move. Can appreciate the good impression of the design at that time.
     
  5. Professor Aug 16, 2018

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    What can you tell me about this Movement a ETA 2453 25 Jewel automatic?
    Are some jeweled bearing missing from these wheels?

    s-l1600 (37).jpg s-l1600 (36).jpg
     
  6. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Aug 17, 2018

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    What do you want to know?

    What makes you think anything is "missing"?
     
  7. Professor Aug 17, 2018

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    Anything you can tell me would help.
    Haven't found anything on the Midland brand, only thing I've found on the movement was that Hamilton used the 2452 calendar version with some of its products and the series , at least the 52 and 53 variants ,was well respected and popular. Sounds like a high quality movement.
    If you'll look closely at those wheels one appears to have four jewel bearings while the other has only two . Seems like if these were intact they would both have four or more evenly spaced. Perhaps all the holes filled with bearings.

    If there are 25 jewels in the self winding variant and the basic movement is a 17 jewel then four bearings on each wheel would add up to 25 jewels total.
     
  8. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Aug 17, 2018

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    Sorry, but unless you have specific questions, there's not much I can help you with. It's a pretty common movement used in it's day, and part of the 2450 family.

    Remove the 2 screws holding the automatic bridge in place, unscrew the rotor from the underside (1 screw) then turn the eccentric and remove the reversing wheels. You can look for yourself then...
     
  9. Peter Marsh Dec 11, 2018

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    Very interesting, thanks.
     
  10. dputydwg1 Jan 28, 2019

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    Interesting topic and so much history to be explored.
     
  11. nttisch23 Feb 2, 2019

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    Great write up! Thanks for taking the time to do this
     
  12. TimtimeIntl Feb 2, 2019

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    Wow, just saw this thread and great write up and informative replies. Thx for sharing all.
     
  13. TimtimeIntl Feb 4, 2019

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  14. kcbbq Feb 17, 2019

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    I love learning new stuff! Keep it coming. Thanks!
     
  15. bobbee Feb 18, 2019

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    First, an amazing thread with great information for all. Many thanks to all contributors.

    Regarding the winding method made (or not) by Rolex, I too was told that they have not given any proof.
    After looking at their first patent though, and viewing a translation from the French (given on the Espacenet search site), it appears to clear things up a little.

    https://worldwide.espacenet.com/pub...KC=A&FT=D&ND=3&date=19321031&DB=&locale=en_EP



    IMG_20190218_101655.jpg


    As you can see, the claims mention two methods of energy generation, one in the conventional way i.e. the crown, and the other being a: "pinion driven by a mass that moves relative to the ratchet,
    built during accelerations imposed on the watch."

    The 'mass' being the rotor weight , and the 'accelerations' the spinning of it during movements of the watch.
    That is my understanding, but YMMV. ;)
     
  16. JimInOz Melbourne Australia Feb 18, 2019

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    Thankyou for your input.

    As I understood the Rolex patent (post Harwood), the "perpetual" rotor, although able to rotate through > 360º, only wound the mainspring in one direction of its rotation.

    Thus my belief that Felsa was the first to design/market the fully bi-directional winding automatic rotor wound movement.

    I welcome any information to clarify the situation.
     
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  17. bobbee Feb 18, 2019

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    Here is a patent issued earlier than the Rolex patent for a non-bumper rotating automatic watch.
    Max Reiner patented four self winding watch patents between 1931 and 33, all registered the PERPETUAL SELF WINDING WATCH CO. Of U.S., owned by Emil Frey.

    https://patents.google.com/patent/US1853637?oq=self winding watch M. Reiner

    IMG_20190218_165413.jpg


    I posted these and other auto patents here:

    https://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/self-winding-wrist-watch-patents-1817074.html

    I even discovered a patent and newspaper articles concerning an 1890 patent for a 'self winding' watch not before known.
    As can be seen in the patent diagram, it was wound by the opening and closing of the bracelet, very ingenious if not exactly 'self winding' as we know it!



    1890 t g hull automatic wristwatch (1).jpg

    Here are three of the 1890 newspaper articles.



    IMG_20190202_112112.jpg IMG_20190202_111618.jpg 1890 clasp w (2).jpg
     
    Edited Feb 18, 2019
  18. rolokr Feb 24, 2019

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    What avout the Patek Philippe 12-600 automatic ?
     
    20171207_161853.jpg
    Edited Feb 24, 2019
  19. rolokr Feb 24, 2019

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    Another awesome automatic movement IMHO
    did have some issues however is the Jaeger Lecoultre Futurematic !
     
    20171030_115429.jpg
  20. gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Feb 24, 2019

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