Performance of chronometer 561/551 & 564 vs. non-chronometer 5xx

Deafboy

Performance: A well maintained chronometer watch should still perform better than a well maintained non-chronometer (e.g. unajusted) one. Most of the time "maintained" means cleaning, lubrication, replacing worn parts. My impression* that most routine maintenance of vintage watches does not include poising (static and dynamic) and certainly not temperature adjustments, both of which would improve the performance of a non-chronometer rated watch.

* I'm speculating here...

hoipolloi

It is the balance from a 551 chronometer, viewed from other side.
On a balance of a 552 or any non chronometer, there is no sign of adjustment on the balance and that is the difference.

Archer

Hi Hoi,

No sign of adjustment on non-chronometers? Well it's an interesting theory, but balances are all poised in production, and the amount of poising needed can vary, so you will see varying numbers of poise marks on the underside. Some hardly get touched, and others look like Swiss cheese, in particular on older movements where production was a bit looser than it is today. I just shot these two photos - first a Cal. 565 balance:


As you can see they have both been poised, so plenty of signs of being adjusted.

Now if your are suggesting that they may receive more adjustments that a non-chronometer watch does, well yes of course they do. Often there is little difference between chronometer and non-chronometer versions of a specific caliber - sometimes it's purely the amount of adjusting done to the watch. In other cases there are physical differences like a different regulator, better finish on crown and ratchet wheels, etc, but often these have nothing to do with the performance and are just cosmetic.

In some modern calibers made by ETA, they use different mainsprings, pallet forks, balance springs, and balances for different grades. But still at the very high end an ETA Top version and a COSC version all use the same parts, and the only difference is that one has been adjusted and sent for certification, and one not.

Cheers, Al

Archer

Hi Hoi,

No sign of adjustment on non-chronometers? Well it's an interesting theory, but balances are all poised in production, and the amount of poising needed can vary, so you will see varying numbers of poise marks on the underside. Some hardly get touched, and others look like Swiss cheese, in particular on older movements where production was a bit looser than it is today. I just shot these two photos - first a Cal. 565 balance:



And a 552:



As you can see they have both been poised, so plenty of signs of being adjusted.

Now if your are suggesting that they may receive more adjustments that a non-chronometer watch does, well yes of course they do. Often there is little difference between chronometer and non-chronometer versions of a specific caliber - sometimes it's purely the amount of adjusting done to the watch. In other cases there are physical differences like a different regulator, better finish on crown and ratchet wheels, etc, but often these have nothing to do with the performance and are just cosmetic.

In some modern calibers made by ETA, they use different mainsprings, pallet forks, balance springs, and balances for different grades. But still at the very high end an ETA Top version and a COSC version all use the same parts, and the only difference is that one has been adjusted and sent for certification, and one not.

Cheers, Al

Archer

Hi Hoi,

No sign of adjustment on non-chronometers? Well it's an interesting theory, but balances are all poised in production, and the amount of poising needed can vary, so you will see varying numbers of poise marks on the underside. Some hardly get touched, and others look like Swiss cheese, in particular on older movements where production was a bit looser than it is today. I just shot these two photos - first a Cal. 565 balance:



And a 552:



As you can see they have both been poised, so plenty of signs of being adjusted.

Now if your are suggesting that they may receive more adjustments that a non-chronometer watch does, well yes of course they do. Often there is little difference between chronometer and non-chronometer versions of a specific caliber - sometimes it's purely the amount of adjusting done to the watch. In other cases there are physical differences like a different regulator, better finish on crown and ratchet wheels, etc, but often these have nothing to do with the performance and are just cosmetic.

In some modern calibers made by ETA, they use different mainsprings, pallet forks, balance springs, and balances for different grades. But still at the very high end an ETA Top version and a COSC version all use the same parts, and the only difference is that one has been adjusted and sent for certification, and one not.

Cheers, Al

Archer

Hi Hoi,

No sign of adjustment on non-chronometers? Well it's an interesting theory, but balances are all poised in production, and the amount of poising needed can vary, so you will see varying numbers of poise marks on the underside. Some hardly get touched, and others look like Swiss cheese, in particular on older movements where production was a bit looser than it is today. I just shot these two photos - first a Cal. 565 balance:



And a 552:



As you can see they have both been poised, so plenty of signs of being adjusted.

Now if your are suggesting that they may receive more adjustments that a non-chronometer watch does, well yes of course they do. Often there is little difference between chronometer and non-chronometer versions of a specific caliber - sometimes it's purely the amount of adjusting done to the watch. In other cases there are physical differences like a different regulator, better finish on crown and ratchet wheels, etc, but often these have nothing to do with the performance and are just cosmetic.

In some modern calibers made by ETA, they use different mainsprings, pallet forks, balance springs, and balances for different grades. But still at the very high end an ETA Top version and a COSC version all use the same parts, and the only difference is that one has been adjusted and sent for certification, and one not.

Cheers, Al

Archer

49 is correct.