Fergus
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Post by Fergus on May 8, 2020 4:42:00 GMT -8
This topic is not discussed very much here and there, maybe because of their cost but it's a movement I would like to have one day if and when possible. It might mean reducing my ever growing vintage stash but we are only caretakers as Neil Young says about his guitars and it would be nice to have said I owned one once or twice.
I have perused a few publications and reviews where there are good and bad points raised...the latter being mostly cost based but also size.
The technology is, IMHO, without doubt a wonderful addition to watch technology. The thought that time does not stop so why should the movement of a watch not follow suit.
Does anyone here have one and what do you think of it.
Does anyone else feel they 'need' one.
As for me the snow flake looks wonderful and probably withing my reach.
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cobrajet25
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"Underweared curmudgeon!"
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Post by cobrajet25 on May 8, 2020 5:04:34 GMT -8
"The Spring Drive seems to be the answer to a question nobody asked."
This was my opinion when they came out, and this is my opinion now. Not as accurate as a quartz, missing the 'soul' of an automatic, and damned expensive.
No thanks.
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Post by leffemonster on May 8, 2020 5:31:40 GMT -8
"The Spring Drive seems to be the answer to a question nobody asked."
This was my opinion when they came out, and this is my opinion now. Not as accurate as a quartz, missing the 'soul' of an automatic, and damned expensive.
No thanks.
That’s the same answer I come out with in relation to the kinetic movement
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Fergus
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Post by Fergus on May 8, 2020 6:17:02 GMT -8
I am one to embrace technology whether asked for or not and I doubt we asked for quartz when it appeared.
I went from manual machining to CNC and drawing board to 3D CAD with great gusto.
I am not so sure about my auto drive car though...well it tells me to keep my hands on the wheel anyway.
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jpc3
Newb
Learning more every day
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Post by jpc3 on May 8, 2020 9:49:09 GMT -8
I'm all for them and find them to be amazing. Price is the barrier for me currently. The SPBD015 is my top choice.
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7s26b
Timekeeper
Tmesis
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Post by 7s26b on May 8, 2020 14:31:59 GMT -8
I'm all for them and find them to be amazing. Price is the barrier for me currently. The SPBD015 is my top choice. My choice too, but I love most all of the springdrives. And with regards accuracy, quoted specs seem to be worse than actually experienced by owners. Especially now that there are T.C. version(s)?
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Post by bailifer on May 8, 2020 16:49:21 GMT -8
I always think of mechanical watches having a heart and quartz having a brain. Springdrive seems like such a great combo. It’s kind of like this well rounded little dude on your wrist. I too covet the snowflake but I really wish they had a 38mm.
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Post by Groundhog66 on May 8, 2020 17:04:41 GMT -8
HERE is a discussion from back in the day, lots of great info.
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cd_god
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Finna set up a HOOD next door to your richie phuk suburban mansion
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Post by cd_god on May 8, 2020 17:36:09 GMT -8
"The Spring Drive seems to be the answer to a question nobody asked."
This was my opinion when they came out, and this is my opinion now. Not as accurate as a quartz, missing the 'soul' of an automatic, and damned expensive.
No thanks.
That’s the same answer I come out with in relation to the kinetic movement
I was about to post the same thing.
As for the Kinetics if you have to replace the capacitor every 5 or 10 years it is basically the same thing as replacing the battery every few years in a quartz watch.
Just because they could doesn't mean that they should (have).
That is what the annual auto show and the similar for other trades are: a chance to show what you designed or invented as an over the top non viable concept.
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cd_god
Is a Permanent Fixture
Finna set up a HOOD next door to your richie phuk suburban mansion
Posts: 12,249
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Post by cd_god on May 8, 2020 18:55:12 GMT -8
The only Springdrive that ever caught my attention.
Unfortunately it is a first gen and you should never buy the first year of a model change and going on 20 years parts are . . . . . . (pic stolen from the interweb until I find one for sale for the right price)
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HiBeat
Global Moderator
SEIKO Iko Iko GDTRWS
Posts: 8,663
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Post by HiBeat on May 8, 2020 19:34:56 GMT -8
I love mine. The smooth second hand is so unique and fills my heart with Seiko technology watching it glide around the dial.
I went for the 700 pc L.E. SBGA109 when it was out. It offers a large but light case in 100% titanium package with zaratsu finishing touches. FYI this is the exact same case and bracelet as the famous SBGA011 and now SBGA211 "Snowflake". Adds the blued PR hand and a more accurate (like its needed) pair of quartz crystals topped off with an 18K GS Lion on the rotor. All SpringDrives should have exhibition backs so the WIS in you can admire the finishes and watch the escapement spin around in whirl it is something special to behold.
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cobrajet25
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Post by cobrajet25 on May 8, 2020 23:50:30 GMT -8
"The Spring Drive seems to be the answer to a question nobody asked."
This was my opinion when they came out, and this is my opinion now. Not as accurate as a quartz, missing the 'soul' of an automatic, and damned expensive.
No thanks.
That’s the same answer I come out with in relation to the kinetic movement
At least the Kinetic is as accurate as quartz because it IS quartz. But I completely agree with you about them being kinda pointless.
"So instead of replacing a $3 battery myself every three years in a regular quartz watch, if buy a Kinetic I get to have Seiko replace a $30 capacitor every seven years??"
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cobrajet25
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Post by cobrajet25 on May 8, 2020 23:57:40 GMT -8
The only Springdrive that ever caught my attention.
Unfortunately it is a first gen and you should never buy the first year of a model change and going on 20 years parts are . . . . . . (pic stolen from the interweb until I find one for sale for the right price)
Nice looking watch, to be sure. But another thing I always hated about them was the "fuel gauge" they stuck on the dial. For me, it always seems to be the aesthetic equivalent of doing this...
"Woohoo! Now I can tell at a glance how much gas is in my beautiful, expensive car!"
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ouroboros
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One more watch. I think....
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Post by ouroboros on May 9, 2020 4:31:29 GMT -8
That gauge has always been an eyesore on an otherwise beautiful watch.
Until I can afford one, I'll have to settle on a Bulova UHF if I need to see a smooth sweep hand. The battery (CR2032 IIRC) on this watch is HUUGE but not as expensive as a capacitor replacement. BTW, the question of marketing SpringDrive was addressed in pages 23-24 of A Journey In Time. They might have nailed the price point in the intervening 17 years since the book's publication.
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Post by nordlys on May 9, 2020 4:33:52 GMT -8
The only Springdrive that ever caught my attention.
Unfortunately it is a first gen and you should never buy the first year of a model change and going on 20 years parts are . . . . . . (pic stolen from the interweb until I find one for sale for the right price)
Nice looking watch, to be sure. But another thing I always hated about them was the "fuel gauge" they stuck on the dial. For me, it always seems to be the aesthetic equivalent of doing this...
"Woohoo! Now I can tell at a glance how much gas is in my beautiful, expensive car!"
As a fan of Orient Stars, I'm 100% with you on despising the atrocity that is a dial-side power reserve. IMO one of the most useless of all complications and most iterations ruin the symmetry of an otherwise clean dial. What is the purpose of a power reserve on the dial of an automatic watch? If you're wearing the watch, it's not going to run out of power. IMO a power reserve on the back side of a manual wind watch in useful in that it allows you to keep track of the winding progress, but never should a PR grace a dial. Unfortunately, Orient Star just discontinued the last of their models without a power reserve indicator, the WZ0021AC (see video), which is also the model I happen to have. Now all of the remaining men's models have a power reserve. Oh well, guess I won't be buying any more Orient Stars in my lifetime. That's okay, I'm very happy with mine and don't see it going anywhere anytime soon.
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Post by 3Pedals6Speeds on May 10, 2020 17:37:53 GMT -8
Glad to see I'm not alone in hating power meters. Kinetics found a better solution, and hand wind and automatic watches had unknown power levels for decades, and it never hampered their performance. Who want's to see a 'full' gauge all the time on an otherwise beautiful watch. I own a few of them, and hate, hate, hate having to waste dial space on power reserve indication.
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Rod
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Post by Rod on May 10, 2020 18:48:07 GMT -8
I remember (could be completely wrong here) wasn't there a few SpringDrives with the power meter on the back??
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Post by nordlys on May 10, 2020 21:21:29 GMT -8
I remember (could be completely wrong here) wasn't there a few SpringDrives with the power meter on the back?? Yep, the handwinding, dress watch styled spring drives typically have the PR indicator on the movement side. It's incredibly useful on the back of a hand cranker.
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Rod
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Post by Rod on May 10, 2020 21:39:42 GMT -8
I remember (could be completely wrong here) wasn't there a few SpringDrives with the power meter on the back?? Yep, the handwinding, dress watch styled spring drives typically have the PR indicator on the movement side. It's incredibly useful on the back of a hand cranker. Oh, just wow..
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Post by 3Pedals6Speeds on May 11, 2020 12:40:29 GMT -8
I remember (could be completely wrong here) wasn't there a few SpringDrives with the power meter on the back?? Yep, the handwinding, dress watch styled spring drives typically have the PR indicator on the movement side. It's incredibly useful on the back of a hand cranker. Wow, they are not giving those away, are they?
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