Hi guys, I’m a bit of a newbie when it comes to this, but I’m curious. Assuming you wear your Speedy 321 caliber on a daily basis, what parts of the watch will have the highest wear and tear and will need to be replaced more frequently under servicing?

 

1st question: Do you have a 321? If so let's see it

 

Pardon me ladies and gentlemen while I run over to the Ferrari forum to ask what the most common wear items are on a 250 GT Berlinetta if I drive it daily.

BRB.....

 

You don't have a butler to drive you? How embarrassing.........

 

Well, definitely the consumables, like pushers, crown, gasket, mainspring and crystal. Imho, worth having a couple of those on hand.

I'm sure there are parts that will take more wear than others on the mechanics, but I can't tell you what those would be. A properly maintained watch should require infrequent change of parts though, as far as I understand it -- beyond the consumables that is.

For the Ferrari, this would be akin to having tires, oil and air filters, wiper blades and the like.

 

A couple of spare bezels would be a good thing, too...

 

Chillin' in my ride:

 

Sure, it’s the one in my avatar. Here’s a couple of pics

 

Thank you! I was asking because for a car I would know, for a watch I wouldn’t. Just thinking I might start sourcing for some parts to keep since they seem harder and harder to find.

 

There's some parts that are NLA, which means if you need one, you're looking for a donor movement.. But I think it's somewhat rare that you need those parts anyway, like the balance for example. That's also something you could consider. Just buy a complete movement.

 

Thanks for the advice. I think for now, I’ll look around for the consumables you mentioned first and take it from there. Just make sure I keep it well maintained with regular servicing. Much appreciated.

 

This

 

Which would be somewhat equivalent to the linkage of the Ferrari.

..... I think.

 

Well, yes. Ok @gemini4, that's one of the parts that are nice to have as well, because they're nla. But a well maintained watch shouldn't need one.

...and in a bind, I hear you can use a paper clip.

 

I think the driving wheel, clutch wheel, and chrono runner would probably be the parts with the most wear if you use the chrono frequently. If you don't use the chrono that much, then the balance staff and escape wheel will probably be the parts which have the most wear.

I imagine that the NLA parts will eventually skyrocket in price over a few decades, or someone will take it upon themselves to manufacture some identical replacements if demand really does get that high.

 

Maybe, one day, we will be able to make them with 3d printers.

Or not.

 

Well, today only a few 3D printers are able to print in metal, and they can't make anything this small within moderately reasonable tolerances. If 3D printers to be able to make the spare parts we need, they'd need to be able to heat treat steel and add finishing onto brass.

Though if anyone wants to fiddle with 3D printing to make a watch display stand or something similar, then there's places like Shapeways to help you out.

 

..i was just joking... we have been down this path before, and as it turns out, in the opinion of some well respected watchmakers who hang out here, we're a long way off from being able to print watch parts. some of the issues include: different materials, finishings, tolerances, etc. I'm not holding my breath.

 

He don't need no butler, hell, he don't even need no automobile...