patrick_y[PuristSPro Moderator]
33613
Sometimes you want to set the watch to the exact second...
Sometimes if you want to set the watch to an exact second (if you're trying to time it to a reference time down to the second) it's just not possible without a hacking second. So then you have to wait for the whole watch to lose power. And then try from there. Overall, a lot of these big brands used to compete in 1950s and 1960s observatory trials. Back then all expensive brands had hacking seconds as this was a requirement for some tests.
A hacking seconds was kind of a requirement for a high end watch back in the day. A quick adjust DATE was another requirement for a high end watch back in the day. Kind of like how we've been programmed that there should be some wood flavors in any expensive wine. And now Harlan makes Promontory, a $1000 bottle of wine with zero % new oak barrels - it's a beautiful wine, but it really caught me off guard to not have a lot of wood notes. Then I started asking some questions and I realized it's made with 0% new oak. A generous friend had promised to pour a very expensive bottle of wine, and I was drinking it and not realizing it had been poured since I was expecting some wood notes.
Good to know the Breguet 7147 does not hack. THAT is a beautiful watch. I don't think my Patek Philippe hacks neither. I like my Patek Philippe, it's a beautiful watch - even if it doesn't hack. But still wished it hacked!
So, it's mildly annoying to not have a hacking seconds. Not a huge big deal. Not a deal breaker. But slightly annoyed if I'm trying to do some accuracy/performance test. Oh! My Octo Finissimo doesn't hack! If I ever get too annoyed by that in the Octo Finissimo, I'll let you know!!! Wink wink!
Our member, BluNotte, the Lange-Lover, he gets REALLY ANNOYED when watches don't hack. And he actively avoids buying watches that don't hack now. It's one of his first questions when he buys a watch - does it hack? If not, that's major negative points!