Horological Meandering

I spotted a friend of mine wearing a vintage incabloc gold watch with a plain dial, the case has the shape of a Gondolo.

What exactly was/is Incabloc?

I only know that Panerai uses Incabloc parts at times.

 

 

is to look at the official web page of Incabloc

www.incabloc.ch #

in layman’s words (aka my words :0)

Shock absorber system that allows jewels and pivots to "move"

under impact via specially shaped spring that also allows return to "original"

position after impact

best

 

I recall reading somewhere (I can't locate it now but I did try) that Incabloc didn't actually make watches, but there was an agreement (or requirement of sorts) that their name be put on the dial in certain cases.  Again I apologize as I can't find the article I read about this subject but I do recall that it mentioned watches with only "Incabloc" on the dial and that they could come from a variety of sources.  Opening the watch and examining the movement could tell us more about the watch you have, but only if you are able to do that - if you do please post a photo.

As already noted the company produces shock absorbing mechanisms for watch movements.

Cheers, Al

. . . Christmas present in '68 . . .

. . . with 'Incabloc' printed on the dial. Cordially, Art

It's a shock-absorbing bearing system for jewels. There are multiple designs; Incabloc is one.

Here's a photo to show you the relative scale of the jewel being retained.

Here's a very tired Vacheron Constantin movement showing two of the retention springs.
All the watchmaker has to do is reach in there with tweezers, pry open the legs of the spring, fold it up, and lift out the bearing (jewel).
Installation is the reverse of disassembly, as the manuals say, and takes 10 times longer. (for me)

in THAT definition?

'Unbreakable Mainspring'  -  now, that's a unique selling point!

Regards,

MTF

The incabloc watch i saw was totally gold, with no brand on it, except incabloc.

Tsk, another mystery watch.

Cookies,

In the midst of threads joking about 'Incabloc', your original question may have been forgotten. The word 'Incabloc' on the dial is not the brand name of the watch but just information that the 'shock absorber' or anti-shock device was supplied by Incabloc. The same sort of marketing is used when you see "Brakes by Brembo" in certain car adverts.

The other brand of anti-shock device commonly found is 'Kif', although I've never seen a watch dial stating that a Kif is inside.   Incabloc and Kif together probably supply most of the West's mechanical watches.  Seiko have their own anti-shock device called DiaShock.

They are all essentially springy metal clips that allow a little controlled movement of the balance wheel pivot - ruby assembly, should an external force (shock) be applied. This prevents breaking vital organs.

Regards,

MTF

 

Thanks MTF.

So, the watch he owned can be any watch, just with incabloc parts in it.

 

 

MTF