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WatchProSite|Market|Digest

Horological Meandering

UNSLIPPERY SILICON...

 

Dear  LVT

I will give you a clue: Go to the official jlc website/le club /discuss with Jaw about the new master tradition line.

The coefficient of friction between silicon parts according jlc is about 0.16  while between  steel-ruby  is only 0.13

That's why jlc decided  (how kind of them !) to cover the silicon parts with diamond nanocrystals (really advanced technology) in order to reduce coefficient of friction to 0.08!

The only thing the don't say is  how long this diamond coating is going to last. For ever?  Or after some years we wiil have to choose between sending these  pieces back for recoating (replacing?)  or returning back to the 0.16 coefficient of friction.

At least the article gives us some numbers -which i concider positive -instead of  stories. Isn't it much easier to simply  oil again our everlasting beautiful rubies at a very small charge?

 

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20 Comments view entire thread 

SILICON??? NOOOooo...THANKS!!!

 
By: goldmadias : January 22nd, 2009-07:36
They are trying to persuade us that this is advanced technology! They do not tell us that two of the most beautiful and DIFFICULT to be produced pieces are going to be replaced by ugly-black-pressed-mass produced components. So, they are going to save a l... 

I like advanced technology in my watch

 
By: SteveG : January 22nd, 2009-09:52
providing it's like this, circa 1913: blued-steel hairspring, Guillaume balance, diamond endstone, counterpoised anchor, swan-neck regulator:...  

i dont know which brands you refer too but.............

 
By: G99 : January 22nd, 2009-10:21
the silicium escapement in my Ulysee Nardin Freak and other silicium parts i've seen used by UN are not 'ugly pressed black things', but very transluscent laser cut pieces of man made crystal( i think thats what it is anyway ). a silicium hairspring is a ... 

Many Thoughts

 
By: aaronm : January 22nd, 2009-14:17
First some clarifications: 1. As used in watches, we are talking about chemically pure Silicon(Si), the second most common element on earth, most commonly found bound up with Oxygen to form quartz, (Si02). 2. The Si is grown into large cylinders, called b... 

Silicon

 
By: BDLJ : January 22nd, 2009-15:19
Umm, to be a pedant, Iron is the most abundant element on earth.... Other than that, I completely agree with your comments, Aaronm. Silicon, in the form that escapements take, is no "insanely expensive process" (per MW), though no doubt development of a n... 

In that case..

 
By: BDLJ : January 22nd, 2009-17:59
Oooh, the bitterness of having your pedantry turned against you! Silicon is the third! Iron, Oxygen, Silicon.... Of course, if you're talking the crust (which is less than 1% of the mass of the Earth) then yes, you're right.

silicon -silica- silicium

 
By: goldmadias : January 23rd, 2009-06:12
Hi guys thank you all for your replies. I would like to state that i have nothing against advanced technology but only against "advanced technology" especially if i have serious suspicions that it is used mainly for the benefit of the watch industries. Te... 

UNSLIPPERY SILICON...

 
By: goldmadias : January 25th, 2009-04:17
Dear LVT I will give you a clue: Go to the official jlc website/le club /discuss with Jaw about the new master tradition line. The coefficient of friction between silicon parts according jlc is about 0.16 while between steel-ruby is only 0.13 That's why j... 

SILICIUM THE WAY FORWARD

 
By: VPREGULATOR : January 22nd, 2009-19:47
Agree with Graham The 5450 is the culmination of many years of research - a truly fabulous piece. I am seriously considering the Freak next.

But surely..

 
By: BDLJ : January 22nd, 2009-19:51
...the freak would be impressive with or without silicon parts?

FREAK UN

 
By: VPREGULATOR : January 23rd, 2009-23:49
Yes the Freak is indeed a very collectable watch. Stunning design concept with innovative use of silicium - I am now ordering one.

VP, i think most of...

 
By: G99 : January 24th, 2009-03:09
VP, i think most of us lucky owners would agree that the only models to have are the original and the blue phantom and to avoid the 28,800. its one of the few modern watches that i have researched the purchasing of in great detail. to find a new Freak 1 w... 

Advanced sofware and machines are used for modern watch design and fabrication...

 
By: Ronald Held : January 23rd, 2009-07:54
so why not new materials, provided they contribute to a better functioning movement. How many parts by perventage are not made by CNC machines?