Blancpain

use the F.P. 1185 or some variant of it? The thread below got me wondering.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

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The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph (not Offshore) is probably the most famous watch with the Piguet 1185 movement in it.

Vacheron Constantin's Overseas Chronograph and Royal Eagle Chronograph is based on it as well.

I believe Panerai also used the Piguet 1185 in one of their earlier 40mm chronos.

This message has been edited by Allen on 2008-04-01 15:07:17 This message has been edited by Allen on 2008-04-01 15:12:00

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nt

why would a brand like AP for example use a movement other than their own?

I can't think of many companies that only use their own movements. Rolex has used ETA and Zenith in the past. Maybe A Lange &sohne may be exclusive? Patek has a few lemania products, AP uses FP and ETAs. Vacheron also uses  FP1185, and gerrard peregaux movts. Blancpain and breguet (lemania) share items now that they are under Swatch. I have wondered the same things, as to why they can't just design their own product. Seems that with all the CAD/CAM, it should be easy! Then you have companies like IWC that buy a complete ETA movement and take it apart, re-machine everything and replace key components with their own. Seems like it would be easier to start from scratch. Anyone have any ideas????

it was Rolex's daughter Tudor which uses ETA. Also, I have yet to see an AP with an ETA movement. And, I would like to remind that the original 1185 was a joint Piguet/Blancpain development. IWC uses ETA because they need exactly this: a very sturdy, reliable and proven movement design for their sports watches. An in-house movement is not necessary better technically than a mass-produced ETA which has been refined over the course of the years and the experience gained by volume.

Best,
Magnus

You are correct! I was referring to a vintage piece. The movement in my 6263 daytona is a valjoux/ETA circa 1983.  I think that when the older daytona series ended, that was the end of the valjoux days!

So not an ETA as such but certainly not a so-called in-house movement.

Although I have never had my 6263 open to look at, I have seen pics that show a rather nice column wheel movement!  Bravo to rolex and valjoux. Your point is correct and I believe that at the time, Valjoux was considered a pretty "high-end" ebauche manufacturer and only had "close ties" with eta (supplying main plates etc). I was a little bit disappointed when ETA took over the reigns and came up with the functional but less artistic 7750. Of course, Even the El Primero was a great movement for rolex to choose in the future daytonas of the 90's. In my eyes, It is certainly not a "knock" against rolex to substitute for a non-rolex item. I am somewhat less impressed with the in-house daytona of today...mostly because it lacks a date display. Rolex probably says that it is a "tradition", but more likely wants to save a few bucks!  My personal opinion is that way too much is made of the desire to have only "in-house" movements. I would rather have a great and artistic piece like a FP185, 1186, 0r 1185, than a lesser movt. that was in-house. (Surely I never would complain that my maserati has an engine by ferrari and transmission by fiat!) It also interesting to see how cartier and BP and breguet decorate and alter the same FP movement to fit their own brands and images. It makes me want to have one from each company. So long as the fine quality is there, then the manufacturer should be commended! In one of my vacheron overseas, they put a very pretty GP 3300 which I enjoy more than some of their in-house designs! I wish I could find an issue of Watchtime that I read in 2001 that had a great in-depth analysis of all the new movements for chronos. If I find it, and the board allows it, I will post it for you. It is a treat!  Anyway, thanks for the info!

The Valjoux 72 is so old that there wasn't anything like ETA at the time. To my knowledge the 72 and its cousin the 88, were introduced in the early fifties, perhaps even the forties when ETA was still a spring in its father's barrel.

As for the 1185, I agree...



Pic in the BMW engined BMW. ;-)