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How / When do you use your Repeater Watches?
After enjoying SteveH's post just now on the AP forum about his Grande/Petite Sonnerie, I had the question come up again as to
when do owners of Minute repeaters and watches such as these Sonneries actually use them? I.e. when do you 'rev up' your watch and have it chime?
Do you keep the Grande Sonnerie on all day, etc.?
I've read some postings where a repeater is thought of as 'the sublimation of time' which in part I agree with this poetical understanding of it, but how
do you use this complication in your day-to-day affairs?
I remember reading somewhere that repeating watches came about so that people could 'tell the time' at nigh time without having to light up a candle or lamp, but it
doesn't seem logical since most people who could afford such watches would have had a grandfather clock chiming away anyway 
Thanks and hope you have a good weekend,
Sebastian
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How / When do you use your Repeater Watches?
After enjoying SteveH's post just now on the AP forum about his Grande/Petite Sonnerie, I had the question come up again as to when do owners of Minute repeaters and watches such as these Sonneries actually use them? I.e. when do you 'rev up' your watch a...
an excellent question!
... that is to a lesser degree related to chronographs, which are for timing events. When I am stirring a soup or tracking an unknown stretch on food, then I strap on a chronograph (in my case a F.P. Journe - discontinued). However, even at the pinnacle o...
typo correction
I meant "on foot" instead of "on food". Without food, in this cold, the stretch can be longer - and slower, and slower ... P.S. Sorry about these mistakes, but my computer, or whatever, will not allow me to edit them out! I have complained, but to no avai...
I use mine much more than a chronograph.
Mine is the JLC MMR. I can say that I use and abuse of it, everywhere, every time. In fact, I don't get how People can let such a watch in the safe, as it is made to live with, to be heard and admired. A Perfect dream companion! Best, Nicolas...
One of the five most beautiful watches I have ever seen.
I know this is purely subjective, but I had the opportunity to see this in the metal earlier this week and felt like I was looking at a masterpiece painting. Just a joy to see.
So welcome to the MMR fan club, my friend!
My 2 absolute favourite Minute Repeaters are this JLC and the VC skeleton one. Certainly these 2 are in my top ten list of watches! Best, my good friend! Nicolas
nice one there Nic!
wear it on xmas eve and chime along with the hymns! I totally agree with Thomas, for the record, I don't own any repeater nor Sonnerie and I can't afford them anyway. But I did play with some repeaters and I don't like to idea of 'on demand' chimes. I pre...
I'm not disturbed by the fact to " ask " the watch to chime, Mech
But I would be delighted to be a passive listener- and admirer - of a grande sonnerie! I don't think that "afforadable " and " sonnerie " go well together, tough.... Best, my good friend. Nicolas
Everything is relative, my dear Nicolas!
Last night showed some newbies a repeater and some tourbillons. It was their first time seeing them in person. They asked prices (not initiated PuristS, obviously ) and gasped - "that's more than a Ferrari!" The funny thing is, in October I was lucky to b...
Brilliant demonstration of the Relativity Theory, Mr Einstein!
Sit close to a beautifuul girl, and one hour will pass like one second. Put your finger into the fire, and one second will last an eternity.... LOL Best, Nicolas
But Dear Nicolas, how will time pass when
You put your finger into the beautiful girl, Or sit close to a warm fire on a cold winter evening? Life - aint the infinite possibilities grand?!?
Can you explain the dial?
What is left side hand for? Main Dial is for time(minutes and hours). Right side sub-dial is for Torque. Left Side sub-dial is not possible to read in this image above.
It is the power reserve hand....
Besides the Minuute Repeater, this watch also provides a torque indicator and a ...15 days power reserve. Best, Nicolas
Torque Indicator
What is the use of Torque Indicator? The Watch already displays 15 day power reserve.
To check if the watch works with regularity
If the hand goes under 5, give the crown one or two turns, and the hand will go above 5. The regularity is importznt for a watch which has 15 days of power reserve; If you want to know more about this watch, please make a serch with the keyword " MMR ", I...
Here is the link on the in depth review
All is here: jlc.watchprosite.com = Please, also read the press file I added just after this link. Have a good read! Best, Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-12-20 04:19:42
Let me know the difference
Kindly let me know the difference between Torque hand working and Power Reserve hand working. Let me know the purpose. Link above was very useful. Basically I want to know the difference between Torque Hand Purpose and Power Reserve Hand Purpose being the...
The torque
is used to control the regularity of the work of the watch, while the power reserve measures the autonomy of the watch. Which is useful when you have a long power reserve watch, as during 15 days of autonomy, a watch can work fast or slowly. Do you get it...
On the wrist/all the time.
Hi, Sebastian, You are actually asking two questions - one about repeaters (on demand) and one about Sonneries en Passant (both automatically striking and on demand) Those I know who wear their repeaters and sonneries en passant use them regularly - as a ...
Mon Dieu!
What a wonderful collection of images you posted there! The vintage 1950s VC repeaters have to be for me the epitome of refinement for VC- simply amazing! The newer skeleton is also fantastic... And of course the AP with the exhibition back combines the 1...
Let me reverse your question....
how many use their chronometers for timing.... how many use the bezels on their divers for diving (without any additional gauzes..)? Having said this.... personally the only complications that I find useful on a daily basis are the date and alarm.... All ...
Your points are valid PP
besides the date/calendar alarm all other functions are more for show but can be useful
Clarification
Of course you're correct with this point. Any mechanical watch nowadays is a defacto luxury given that time surrounds us everywhere we go. But I remember reading the posting a few months ago about how people used their chrono's and I found it very fun to ...
absulotly with you
I do agree with you such a function is there for the pure joy and pleasure on the wearers wrist ,its the pure harmonious music to listen to, above all its a living art which goes back to 1676. simply nothing describes such a complication but owning it adm...
Good question Sebastian.
I really like the sound of the gongs while working at my desk, to me it is like background music. Just a little reminder of the time of day. It can be really useful as a reminder to leave or prepare for a meeting. I do find it much more useful than a chro...
Similar experience
Thanks for your reply. I get the feeling that a Sonnerie, and maybe to a lesser extent a repeater, create the sense of introspection. Of making one aware of time while in the comfort of solitude. Especially since people are so bothered by ambient noise. i...
A dilemma …
So, I could either move house next to a bell tower or buy a Sonneries en Passant. The cost, I fear, will be similar. LOL. Thanks for this post, Sebastian, which I enjoyed very much. Andrew
volunteer as the bell ringer!
but consider that some of these persons become deaf (Quasimodo) and will no longer to be able to hear their Sonnerie! Whereas in a nice, quite home you can still be fascinated by a clock work or something ticking just loudly enough to remind you to take i...