![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() You will never see at tourbillon or a chronograph on a watch. Watches do not have more than the basic functions. These complications add to the value and use of the piece itself. You will see a wide array of complications in different timepieces. For example, a chronograph, a moon-phase, calendar, date window, and a tourbillon are all types of complications. a Panerai, it’s like night and day.Ī complication is a specific function that a timepiece has beyond keeping time. If you look at the detail in a Seiko or a MVMT watch for example vs. Not only are the materials used in timepieces higher quality, the attention to detail in the craftsmanship is much higher. Timepieces will typically have high-quality expensive materials like gold, high-grade steel, platinum, diamond, carbon fiber, and rubies. Watches will typically use plastic, painted details, and lower grade steel in the case and throughout the design. Watches are made with cheaper materials than timepieces. Watches do not get tested and do not need to meet any level of chronometer standards. To pass the test and meet COSC standards a timepiece must keep within -1 to +5 seconds per day at different positions and in different environments. One of the main boards is the COSC (Controle Officiel Suisse de Chronometres). Many luxury brands have their chronometers certified by one of the official time keeping boards to prove just how well they keep time. A chronometer is an instrument for measuring time, especially accurate time in spite of motion or variations in temperature, humidity, and air pressure. These are better than the battery but not as prestigious as a COSC certified movement. Some examples are ETA movements and Japanese movements. What separates them from the other timepieces is that the movement is typically outsourced and made by a mass producer. There are watches that use movements as well. These movements are composed of many wheels, springs, gears, and tiny pieces that keep the timepiece running impeccably even under some of the harshest and most extreme conditions. Timepieces have either mechanical wind movements or automatic wind movements. You’ll see the hands of the watch move in second-by-second strokes instead of a smooth sweeping motion. These batteries are quartz and are what make them tick-tock at a slower rate than a movement. Watches typically have a battery that keeps it running. So what are the differences between watches and timepieces? There are a few… If you use the word watch when talking about high-end luxury time keeping pieces, you may come off as amateurish to enthusiasts who take the industry seriously. However, there are legitimate reasons to use timepiece instead of the term watch. You may have heard the term “timepiece” thrown around in a snobby fashion by someone who wanted to come off as elite. There are differences between a watch and a timepiece. A watch is a watch is a watch right? Wrong. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |