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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Watches - another OCD problem

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    • GraemeG
      Graeme
      啓蒙家
      Joined:

      As long as it doesn't turn up looking like this poor Speedy!

      And make sure that the GMTs aren't sitting on the desk next time I visit. 😃

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • mclaincauseyM
        mclaincausey
        見習いボス
        Joined:

        @Graeme:

        Since bezel screws always mess with people's OCD, here's another article on them. 😃

        https://timeandtidewatches.com/the-problem-with-bezel-screws/

        We can detect gravitational wave perturbations that are less than the width of a proton. I don't understand why aligning screws is such an engineering challenge. That screed would have been much more interesting and productive had it explained why that challenge is so insurmountable.

        Think it, be it.

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        • JDelageJ
          JDelage
          啓蒙家
          Joined:

          I agree with @mclaincausey . Given the tolerances required to make tourbillons, bridges, etc, I don't see why the screws can't be timed.

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • mclaincauseyM
            mclaincausey
            見習いボス
            Joined:

            To be clear, I'm strictly speaking of case-constructional screws, particularly if they are part of the watch's aesthetic, and to a lesser degree screw-down crowns. Movement screws being aligned? Not so much, I understand why that would be very difficult and not worth the effort.

            Think it, be it.

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • JDelageJ
              JDelage
              啓蒙家
              Joined:

              Yes, me too. Thanks for the precision. I was mentioning the movement elements only to point out that they have the knowledge & tooling to do super precise work.

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • mclaincauseyM
                mclaincausey
                見習いボス
                Joined:

                Exactly–and to people who deride or dismiss this as a pointless conceit (as if a flying tourbillon is comparatively tame) or OCD (if they're highly visible in the case, why wouldn't you want them aligned?), we're talking about watches with highly, intricately decorated movements, oftentimes not even made visible through the case and dial, so not paying similar attention to exposed elements doesn't make sense to me. To others who say it's too labor-intensive or time-consuming to do it, that's a slap in the face to someone paying 5, 6, or even 7 figures for a timepiece.

                Richard Mille's approach of a proprietary star-shaped screw is an interesting fix, reducing the visual jarring of independently-adjusted screws. Countersunk bolts is another way (Royal Oak) way to solve it that I find a bit goofy (why make it look like a screw when it's countersunk into a bezel and thus couldn't rotate in the first place?).

                I'm a bit surprised given the attention to detail, precision, and general engineering achievement in the industry that no one has solved for this–at the least as a differentiator against the status quo, since novelty sells at all levels of horology.

                Think it, be it.

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                • GilesG
                  Giles
                  IHUK Crew
                  Joined:

                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • neph93N
                    neph93
                    見習いボス
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                    That is very, very pretty. Does the bezel rotate?

                    «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
                    We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

                    • Dame Vera Lynn
                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • GilesG
                      Giles
                      IHUK Crew
                      Joined:

                      Yes, with the smoothest, most satisfying action of any watch I have ever played with….(None of which have been in this league though).

                      Oh, and if I told you what it cost me, none of you would ever talk to me again....

                      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                      • neph93N
                        neph93
                        見習いボス
                        Joined:

                        @Giles:

                        Oh, and if I told you what it cost me, none of you would ever talk to me again….

                        I’m sure I’d forgive you… That bezel looks amazing. The contrast of the notched metal (steel?) ring and glazed (enamelled?) top is wonderful. It’s beauty and function in perfect harmony.

                        «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
                        We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

                        • Dame Vera Lynn
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                        • GilesG
                          Giles
                          IHUK Crew
                          Joined:

                          Stainless steel.  Crystal bezel

                          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • GraemeG
                            Graeme
                            啓蒙家
                            Joined:

                            Nice watch @Giles. I recall that you've been after one for years.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • mclaincauseyM
                              mclaincausey
                              見習いボス
                              Joined:

                              Congratulations! That's a perfect watch for everyday IMO.

                              @neph93 the original had an acrylic bezel. When they rebooted it, they moved to a sapphire, lumed bezel that, as @Giles referenced, has the loudest, most solid and satisfying ratchet action in the biz. This to me is a perfect way to honor the design of the original, but to modernize it.

                              Well-played, Giles

                              Think it, be it.

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • K
                                kkibbey23
                                Haraki san Prodigy
                                Joined:

                                @Giles amazing pickup. I tried a regular FF on not long ago and was blown away by it.  Its on my list for sure.

                                I believe that edition was limited to 500? So great you got the grail you gave been after for a very long time.

                                Congrats!

                                Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

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                                • GilesG
                                  Giles
                                  IHUK Crew
                                  Joined:

                                  Yep, limited to 500….

                                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • bryaneidins70B
                                    bryaneidins70
                                    Iron Heart Deity
                                    Joined:

                                    Lovely watch @Giles  😎

                                    'Fail we may…Sail we must'

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                                    • ChrisC
                                      Chris
                                      Raw and Unwashed
                                      Joined:

                                      Really fantastic.  I'm happy you finally managed to get one, since you've lusted after it for years.

                                      I'm looking forward to checking it out in person eventually…  😉

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                                      • GraemeG
                                        Graeme
                                        啓蒙家
                                        Joined:

                                        Tag Heuer announced their fiftieth anniversary plans for the Monaco in Monaco last night. They'll be releasing a model for each decade of its life every three or four weeks. There'll be 169 of each released, making a total of 845 pieces.

                                        The Seventies one was released yesterday, and it's already sold out. The differences to the standard model are that it's got a funky green dial and a solid caseback. The price is $6550, against $5900 for the regular model.

                                        I think that Tag Heuer have missed an opportunity by not upgrading the movement to their Calibre 02, especially if they used their new carbon mainspring…

                                        More at Calibre 11, Hodinkee, and Monochrome.

                                        @Filthy the 1999 to 2009 model is going to have a black dial. If you want a Monaco to match your wardrobe, it might be worth putting in a preorder for one of those.

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                                        • GraemeG
                                          Graeme
                                          啓蒙家
                                          Joined:

                                          The local Omega boutique has just got the Seamaster 1948 Centre Seconds in, despite having told me a while back that it sold out last year. It's a lovely little watch and I'm very tempted.

                                          There's also a platinum version, which looks almost identical, but is gorgeous. However, it's another $50K (Australian), and the differences are subtle. (It's the one on the brown, alligator strap.) For the money, I'd get a Patek Aquanaut Chronograph (if they'd sell me one), or the H. Moser & Cie Vantablack.

                                          I also saw the titanium, tantalum, and Sedna gold Seamaster Diver, which I liked a lot more than I thought that I would.

                                          It comes in a really cool box too.

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                                          • DougNgD
                                            DougNg
                                            Joined:

                                            @Giles

                                            Congrats. There's nothing like getting your grail watch.

                                            In fact, I'm going to strap on my Seamaster. Hasn't gotten much love lately.

                                            I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

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