Vacheron Constantin - Technical, winding question

Technical, winding question

Hi guys,

I have noticed that one of my handwound VCs wounds up considerably different from another identical model. What I mean:
- one fully wounds up with ~50 turns; the other can be wound up almost for ever, having tried up to 250 turns
- the one is quite stiff to wound; the other is much much smoother (the one that I can turn for more than 250 times)

To be noted that both watches were bought new from VC (both mechanism 4400) and that both were behaving like this from day 1.

Any ideas whether the second one has a problem and if yes is it serious? Do I need to immediately bring it in? Do you know if it could be fixed on the spot (at the Geneva VC boutique for example) or whether it will require a factory visit?

Any thoughts would be welcome.

All the very best,
Alex

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Unusual

By: MTF : December 13th, 2015-23:51

agyzace, I'm not a specialist VC collector but have some experience of many competitor brands. Some of them shared the same 'base' movement with VC but numbering is different. I am assuming you get full power reserve from both watches despite the differen...

thank you very much MTF!

By: agyzace : December 14th, 2015-00:20

Your comments make a lot of sense. I actually cannot get to maximum power reserve with the version that wounds for more than 250 turns. Yesterday I did wound for 100+ times and did not make 24 hours.. On the other hand, the other watch can make close to 3...

I can't speak for Vacheron & Constantin

By: MTF : December 14th, 2015-02:05

If you can get some power reserve, even if not full reserve, the mainspring is not "broken". Your winding mechanism seems to be not engaging or the protective rachet is coming in too early, thus turns of the crown are doing nothing. That's a quick adjustm...

thanks a lot for the great feedback MTF

By: agyzace : December 14th, 2015-02:32

I will bring it in as soon as possible and let you know what was the problem. Have a great day and thanks again for the invaluable input, Alex

Keeping fingers crossed that it's only something minor! [nt]

By: KMII : December 14th, 2015-02:41

thanks a lot my friend! I truly hope so since I cherish this piece and it has been treated with the utmost affection :-) [nt]

By: agyzace : December 14th, 2015-02:52