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Dor_42
路It's not even slightly close to being in spec. Get it fixed... Why do you hesitate?
As if you were judging him for not getting the sapphire sandwich
New Speedy Hour Dial out of alignment
As if you were judging him for not getting the sapphire sandwich
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dstfno
路Actually, your watch is running fine.
The chrono hour hand is not linked to the minutes hand so it doesn鈥檛 go through the whole hour at an equal pace. But as long you鈥檙e able to tell the timed interval correctly (=> know if you鈥檙e in your first or second half hour interval), the watch is performing within specifications. The Omega employee is right.
I know it鈥檚 annoying, but that鈥檚 the way it is.
I state again, the watch is indeed running within tolerances, just as the boutique stated.
The only requirement of the hour chrono hand in the 1861 movement is to show if you're in the first or second half of the hour. So you can be at 0h31min and the hour hand may already almost be touching the indice of 1hr on the chrono sub dial. But as long as it doesn't not touch/pass it before 60min have elapsed, it is doing it's job.
No amount of regulation is gonna make it work as the OP wants it to, it will always seem off.
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Thrasher36
路I state again, the watch is indeed running within tolerances, just as the boutique stated.
The only requirement of the hour chrono hand in the 1861 movement is to show if you're in the first or second half of the hour. So you can be at 0h31min and the hour hand may already almost be touching the indice of 1hr on the chrono sub dial. But as long as it doesn't not touch/pass it before 60min have elapsed, it is doing it's job.
No amount of regulation is gonna make it work as the OP wants it to, it will always seem off.
So what you're saying is the hand is not aligned properly. Pretty sure everyone here can see that.
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dstfno
路So what you're saying is the hand is not aligned properly. Pretty sure everyone here can see that.
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Thrasher36
路Actually, your watch is running fine.
The chrono hour hand is not linked to the minutes hand so it doesn鈥檛 go through the whole hour at an equal pace. But as long you鈥檙e able to tell the timed interval correctly (=> know if you鈥檙e in your first or second half hour interval), the watch is performing within specifications. The Omega employee is right.
I know it鈥檚 annoying, but that鈥檚 the way it is.
So if they are not linked there are two movements in the watch? That's fascinating, I never knew this.
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dstfno
路There are obviously no two movements in the watch. But the chronograph hour hand and minute+seconds hands, are controlled by two different parts of the movement.
If I remember correctly this is to allow the minute hand to move in steps of 1 minute, while the hour hand keeps gliding through the hour, but at an unequal pace as a tradeoff.
I'm no watch tech so I'm not able to explain the technical details.
If I remember correctly this is to allow the minute hand to move in steps of 1 minute, while the hour hand keeps gliding through the hour, but at an unequal pace as a tradeoff.
I'm no watch tech so I'm not able to explain the technical details.
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Archer
路路Omega Qualified WatchmakerThe chronograph seconds hand is driven off a wheel that is pressed onto an extended post on the fourth wheel of the movement. The fourth wheel rotates once per minute, and the opposite end of that wheel has a post that the constant seconds hand at 9 o'clock is pressed onto. The wheel pressed onto the fourth wheel turns a wheel in the coupling yoke, and that in turn drives the chronograph wheel (the central chronograph seconds hand is pressed into the chronograph wheel).
The minute counter is advanced once per minute by a small finger on the chronograph wheel, so one directly drives the other, and these two counters are directly synced with one another. Both of these are located on the back side of the movement, so closest to your wrist as you wear the watch.
In contrast, the hour recording mechanism is under the dial, so is on the opposite side of the movement. The hour recording wheel is not directly driven or connected to the wheel that drives the other two counters, and it is driven directly by a gear mounted to the mainspring barrel. The only way the timing of the hour counter is connected to the other two counters, is that there are some levers that release the hour counting wheel when the other two counters are started.
So they are all driven off the same movement, but driven independently of each other. There are a few reasons why the hour counter can become less accurate, and the way these are driven is one of them, and it can also be related to how they are reset. So they are more independent of each other than most people realize.
Note that this is a very common design feature of chronographs. Not all are done this way, but many different designs of chronographs that use hour counters, those are driven off the mainspring barrel.
If I get some time I'll make an expanded post on this, but it's going to take time for me to put it together...something I've been meaning to do for a while.
Cheers, Al
The minute counter is advanced once per minute by a small finger on the chronograph wheel, so one directly drives the other, and these two counters are directly synced with one another. Both of these are located on the back side of the movement, so closest to your wrist as you wear the watch.
In contrast, the hour recording mechanism is under the dial, so is on the opposite side of the movement. The hour recording wheel is not directly driven or connected to the wheel that drives the other two counters, and it is driven directly by a gear mounted to the mainspring barrel. The only way the timing of the hour counter is connected to the other two counters, is that there are some levers that release the hour counting wheel when the other two counters are started.
So they are all driven off the same movement, but driven independently of each other. There are a few reasons why the hour counter can become less accurate, and the way these are driven is one of them, and it can also be related to how they are reset. So they are more independent of each other than most people realize.
Note that this is a very common design feature of chronographs. Not all are done this way, but many different designs of chronographs that use hour counters, those are driven off the mainspring barrel.
If I get some time I'll make an expanded post on this, but it's going to take time for me to put it together...something I've been meaning to do for a while.
Cheers, Al
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spaceeman
路Cheers, Al
Thank you for this information, its very interesting. As I said before, the watch has Omega's warranty on it and emailed Omega directly to get their thoughts. I just was confused as the boutique was saying that this was within spec, similar to what dstfno is saying. I obviously don't agree with this so I will either get it serviced or replaced.
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dstfno
路Thank you for this information, its very interesting. As I said before, the watch has Omega's warranty on it and emailed Omega directly to get their thoughts. I just was confused as the boutique was saying that this was within spec, similar to what dstfno is saying. I obviously don't agree with this so I will either get it serviced or replaced.
Unless I completely misunderstood, the information given by Archer seems to confirm what I said. The chrono hour hand can be a off.
Primarily based on the fact you just joined this forum to ask about your issue, I will assume this is your first mechanical watch. Know that the high price you paid (compared to "regular" quartz watches) doesn't guarantee you any perfections as far as time keeping is concerned. This is a mechanical piece with thousands of moving parts and comes with all flaws and constraints that go with it. It won't keep perfect time, it will be more susceptible to damage, it can get magnetized and get totally crazy,... and if you do not bring it in for service on time it might stop running completely. If not having to deal with that sort of things is important to you, quartz or digital watches are the way to go.
My Rolex Datejust for example doesn't switch the date at midnight precisely, only some 4 minutes after. And that is a watch that's almost double the price of a Speedmaster. It annoys me but that's just how is it. Us watch aficionados do not love mechanical (luxury) watches because they're perfect but because of how close to perfection they get, without the use of any digital technology.
In any case, please let us know which feedback you've received from Omega.
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spaceeman
路In any case, please let us know which feedback you've received from Omega.
WIll do. I appreciate your comment but I have many mechanical watches. I understand perfection is impossible but I would expect better from Omega and if this was a Seiko or Hamilton, I would probably not bother with getting another one but not in this case.
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Archer
路路Omega Qualified WatchmakerIt can certainly be made better...
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spaceeman
路It can certainly be made better...
Here is the response from omega customer service:
The behavior of the chronograph is normal with the caliber 1861 because the hour counter isn鈥檛 in the power flow of the train wheel. Also there is a significant backlash, as the hour counter is driven directly by the barrel. So the chronograph is in the OMEGA tolerances for the caliber 1861 as this is construction-related and normal. Therefore this can鈥檛 be fixed as the result would be the same.
Disappointing, this is normal and cannot be fixed even by getting the watch serviced? I somehow find this hard to believe. Any thoughts?
Edited:
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Enzo
路Hi guys, A problem with my brand new Speedy, the chronograph hour dial is not operating properly. It seems to be either turning too fast or out of alignment. In the photos I have attached, you can see the first photo showing the hour dial hand slightly off alignment after 5 seconds.
Second, photo 35 min and its almost showing one hour.
Third, 45 minutes and its basically at 1 hour and at 1 hour, its already past.
I took this to the Omega Boutique in my city and they agreed it was incorrect and I could get it checked by the service center but they said the Service center probably say that this is within tolerance and I should return it if it bothers me. To me, this is unacceptable for a watch this expensive and it will be costly to return and replace this watch for me.
Its a shame as I absolutely love the watch, its gorgeous and fits me perfect. Frustrated and disappointed right now as I saw perfect models in the boutique. Should I try to get it serviced via my warranty or just go through the pain to get a new one?
Am I being too picky? I don't think I can accept this, I want a perfect watch
My thoughts are this...
You saw perfect models in the boutique (as highlighted above from your original post), was this just random and by pure luck when they left the factory, or did someone take extra care and attention to make the hand align precisely?
Yours may be 'within tolerance' but if it can be made perfect or better, why not do it?
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spaceeman
路My thoughts are this...
You saw perfect models in the boutique (as highlighted above from your original post), was this just random and by pure luck when they left the factory, or did someone take extra care and attention to make the hand align precisely?
Yours may be 'within tolerance' but if it can be made perfect or better, why not do it?
I have no idea, I guess I am having bad luck. I am assuming my watch was just built slightly off as this does not seem to be a common issue with speedys. The response from Omega is strange too, they cannot fix it at all?
Edited:
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Archer
路路Omega Qualified WatchmakerHere is the response from omega customer service:
The behavior of the chronograph is normal with the caliber 1861 because the hour counter isn鈥檛 in the power flow of the train wheel. Also there is a significant backlash, as the hour counter is driven directly by the barrel. So the chronograph is in the OMEGA tolerances for the caliber 1861 as this is construction-related and normal. Therefore this can鈥檛 be fixed as the result would be the same.
Disappointing, this is normal and cannot be fixed even by getting the watch serviced? I somehow find this hard to believe. Any thoughts?
It can certainly be made better...
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mjb
路One will occasionally see a post on the Rolex forum wherein someone takes a 200X magnifier to their watch face and finds a minuscule defect not visible to the naked eye and then starts to rant, cry and spew hatred to the lousy quality control at Rolex.
My Speedmaster minute counter moves slightly before the minute has elapsed. If I were to stop the chronograph at 59 seconds and didn't know this, my timing could be off by a minute. I do not think that this is unusual or extraordinary. It's part of the charm of a mechanical watch. Sure, I wish it was perfect and everything was aligned within milliseconds, but I don't want a smart watch or a quartz. So I put up with it.
I once had a brand new Omega that stopped running about 5 minutes after I received it. It had to go back to Omega for repair. Disappointed? Sure. Annoyed? Yes. Did I get over it. Yep.
My Speedmaster minute counter moves slightly before the minute has elapsed. If I were to stop the chronograph at 59 seconds and didn't know this, my timing could be off by a minute. I do not think that this is unusual or extraordinary. It's part of the charm of a mechanical watch. Sure, I wish it was perfect and everything was aligned within milliseconds, but I don't want a smart watch or a quartz. So I put up with it.
I once had a brand new Omega that stopped running about 5 minutes after I received it. It had to go back to Omega for repair. Disappointed? Sure. Annoyed? Yes. Did I get over it. Yep.
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YY77
路One will occasionally see a post on the Rolex forum wherein someone takes a 200X magnifier to their watch face and finds a minuscule defect not visible to the naked eye and then starts to rant, cry and spew hatred to the lousy quality control at Rolex.
My Speedmaster minute counter moves slightly before the minute has elapsed. If I were to stop the chronograph at 59 seconds and didn't know this, my timing could be off by a minute. I do not think that this is unusual or extraordinary. It's part of the charm of a mechanical watch. Sure, I wish it was perfect and everything was aligned within milliseconds, but I don't want a smart watch or a quartz. So I put up with it.
I once had a brand new Omega that stopped running about 5 minutes after I received it. It had to go back to Omega for repair. Disappointed? Sure. Annoyed? Yes. Did I get over it. Yep.
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mjb
路If I recall correctly you don't have that watch anymore?馃憥
Dang, someone is paying attention, and has a heck of a memory! 馃榿
Yes, I sold that one. It was the DSOTM, which is 44mm, which is just too big for me. Dang pretty watch though, very cool. It was one of those impulse purchases. "Oh very cool, and shiny, must buy!"
