I would love an answer to this question: " Any drawbacks the 8800 movement than the 8900? I do know that one barrel does not even out the power as two do? Also I heard the 8800 movement has ball bearings and the 8900 does not? Thanks
I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for. My 8800 hasn't shown any appreciable isochronal error that I can see. It appears to run a pretty consistent 3 sec/day fast, right down the middle of Omega's METAS spec for the watch, regardless of how fully it is wound. So one mainspring doesn't seem to be a disadvantage in my experience. I guess it might be if that 5h of power reserve really matters to you ("only" 55h vs. 60h for the 8900). The other mechanical differences have already been discussed in this thread.
Thanks so much I just wanted to put the rumors to bed that a double barrel is much better to have.
Watch movements are an almost endless series of compromises, so asking if two barrels are better than one in isolation of all other factors is a bit of a meaningless exercise. There are other makers out there who make 3-day and 8-day movements, and Lange even made one that would run 30 or 31 days (can't recall exactly) on one wind. I also recall that the Lange was so difficult to wind they gave you a special powered tool to along with the watch so you could wind the crown.
These movement designs increase the complexity as you add in these features, and in general terms an increase in complexity typically means a decrease in reliability. They also tend to increase in size due to the additional real estate required for either one larger mainspring barrel, or two smaller barrels. Sometimes this can compromise the size of other parts in the watch, such as the balance.
One maker of 8 day watches had big troubles with overbanking when the watch was fully wound - their solution was to tell their customers to not wind the watch fully. 🤦
Unfortunately it's not so simple to say that two barrels are always better/worse than one. The devil is in the details...
Cheers, Al
Watch movements are an almost endless series of compromises, so asking if two barrels are better than one in isolation of all other factors is a bit of a meaningless exercise. There are other makers out there who make 3-day and 8-day movements, and Lange even made one that would run 30 or 31 days (can't recall exactly) on one wind. I also recall that the Lange was so difficult to wind they gave you a special powered tool to along with the watch so you could wind the crown.
These movement designs increase the complexity as you add in these features, and in general terms an increase in complexity typically means a decrease in reliability. They also tend to increase in size due to the additional real estate required for either one larger mainspring barrel, or two smaller barrels. Sometimes this can compromise the size of other parts in the watch, such as the balance.
One maker of 8 day watches had big troubles with overbanking when the watch was fully wound - their solution was to tell their customers to not wind the watch fully. 🤦
Unfortunately it's not so simple to say that two barrels are always better/worse than one. The devil is in the details...
Cheers, Al
I forgot to mention I heard the double barrel balances the power better and never go near a single barrel. That is what made me revisit this question I asked before.
I would love an answer to this question: " Any drawbacks the 8800 movement than the 8900? I do know that one barrel does not even out the power as two do? Also I heard the 8800 movement has ball bearings and the 8900 does not? Thanks
I'd go for the 43.5. Watches look bigger on camera wrist-shots than they do in real life.
Would definitely advise anyone to try both on. I've got a 6.2" wrist and the 39.5 fit my wrist like a glove where as the 43.5 looked cartoon-ish.
Yes, for sub 6.5 inch wrists 39.5 would be better. Also depends on wrist shape.
42mm previous gen is thr way to go 😀
