F.P. Journe

amerix
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Enviable accuracy

Hi Stephen,

Patek Philippe also refuses to make watches with a stop-seconds (hacking) function, the argument being that the lubrication of the contact points with the pallets can become disturbed. Another factor to consider is that one would be abruptly stopping and starting the entire escapment! That is one reason I am not a fan of tourbillons, where this happens to the cage. But haven't PP just come out with a stop-second tourbillon, the first of its kind in the world?

However there are a few watches out there (Blancpain?) where hacking can be done without actually having to stop the escapement. Obviously these require more parts that become a complication in their own right, less well suited to a "simple" watch. Journe says that ANY complication will decrease the precision, and who am I to argue with that?

Actually I appreciate just a few seconds deviation on my CL. That means I can keep very close to atomic or radio time merely by changing the positions. That also spares any wear on the crown and the likelihood that dirt or humidity will enter the watch. One interesting point, my CL actually gains in a vertical position, loses in the horizontals. That doesn't happen in any other watch I know. Maybe I should let it run down completely and then wind it up completely. I think this is recommended by Journe for new owners. But then, it is so close to atomic time right now I am not sure I care to risk it becoming spot-on - but 30 secs off, if you get my drift!

I would be interested if you wind yours once a day or once every two days, or keep the power reserve set somewhere inbetween. A power reserve indicator can be very useful for checking performance.

My Lange RL was gaining about 0.4 secs per 24 hrs for the last two weeks, in any position it was left in, until I re-hacked it at noon on Jan. 31. Now it appears to be gaining twice as much! I'll try leaving it crown-down for a while - of course when not wearing it.

Why hacking? Because it is more a scientific observation watch than a "gentleman's watch". That's just what I like about it, and of course a whole lot more.

Winding a watch TWICE a day to see how well it performs is something I am prepared to try - but only at home! I think Roger Smith actually recommends this for his Series 2.

Not for lucky, lucky you!

Hearty congratulations,
Amery