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Leave Chronograph Running?

  1. axl911 Jun 21, 2019

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    Well dang it. This gave me a whole new respect for the Valjoux 7750 which I used to consider an agricultural movement that is kinda ugly and equates to something of an AK-47.
     
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  2. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Jun 21, 2019

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    I understand your dilemma, but I can only present the information I have...I can't "make" you believe it. So at some point I have said all that I can say, and you have to decide for yourself what's right and what's not.

    Like I said in a previous post I've been correcting this misinformation for 7 years now, so I'm sure you can appreciate that after that much time, trying to convince yet another person that a lot of the information out there on the blogs is incorrect gets a little old.

    Equating a watch movement like the 7750 to an AK-47 is nothing but a compliment in my view. I've said this many times before, but it is a great movement. Robust, accurate, and easy to service. When I have one on my bench, I know it will be a good few hours.

    Cheers, Al
     
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  3. Allandg Sep 9, 2019

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    Archer, quick follow up question please. Based on your experience and knowledge, if I leave the chrono running for, say, a week at a time not more than three or four times a year, would you think that would be an issue? Thanks in advance for your input.
     
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  4. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Sep 9, 2019

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    No
     
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  5. Allandg Sep 9, 2019

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    Great - thanks very much for your prompt response and assistance.
     
  6. jsducote Sep 9, 2019

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    I'd like to go back to this statement and ask, how do I know if my watches have a 'vertical clutch'?
    That's not something I've seen in the marketing literature or even the owners manual.
     
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  7. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Sep 9, 2019

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    No idea what watches you have, but if you list them I may be able to tell you. Easy if they are Omegas, but for other brands I'm sure I could find out.

    If you wanted to know, you could always ask the brands directly...
     
  8. jsducote Sep 9, 2019

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    I was hoping there was a way to find out without putting the burden on you of having everyone ask you about every movement ever made.
    The two chronos in my box right now are a Speedmaster FOIS and a Heuer Carerra Cal 1887.
     
  9. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Sep 9, 2019

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    Well, as I said you can ask the brands directly. Also, Google is your friend, however as I've noted there is misinformation out there.

    The FOIS is a horizontally coupled chrono.

    It appears that the Tag 1887 movement (which is a Seiko 6S37 base) is also a horizontally coupled chronograph.
     
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  10. jsducote Sep 9, 2019

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    Oh, I misunderstood, thinking you meant I could ask you about [BRAND] instead of [MODEL].
    Thanks.
     
  11. ranger052 Sep 9, 2019

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    Question Archer,

    if I keep the crono running 6 to 10 hours a day almost every day, do you think it could go bad in a year or 2? Is a 3330 Movement.
     
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  12. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Sep 9, 2019

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    I would not expect it to.
     
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  13. Stufflers Mom Sep 9, 2019

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    Which is more likely to fail over that 2 year period, the watch with the chrono running 6 to 10 hrs per day, or the watch where the chrono function is hardly used at all?
     
  14. ranger052 Sep 9, 2019

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    Thank you Archer :)
     
  15. Evitzee Sep 9, 2019

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    It seems the reason people like to keep the chronograph engaged is to see some motion on the dial. This reminds me of conversation I had many years ago with an AD in Switzerland about the original Royal Oak and Nautilus which had ultra-thin automatic movements, but no seconds hand. At the time, mid-80's, they were having a hard time selling them because people thought a sports watch should have a proper sweep seconds hand. Similar thing here, although there is a small constant seconds sub-dial people like to see a large sweep seconds hand moving across the dial. I've had too many chronographs over the years to count and I'll use the feature to time a plane trip from LAX to MEL (15.5 hrs), car trips and other sundry events, and I might turn them on once in awhile for an hour or two just to exercise the system, but in normal practice I'll just leave them off. I don't need a seconds hand moving across the dial when all I want to know it is 2:10 in the afternoon. To each their own.
     
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  16. Risto Mar 8, 2020

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    I have Zenith 146HP chronograph (Martel movement) and today I forgot the chronograph running for the entire day. In the evening I noticed that the watch had stopped. Wound it up. Nothing. Took off rear cover and didn’t notice anything unusual, but I am no expert. All of a sudden it started working again after I moved the watch a bit. So, I am wondering why did it happen? The watch has been serviced not long time ago.
     
  17. Stufflers Mom Mar 8, 2020

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    Never did get an answer on this one.