Author Topic: Chronograph Watch- To run or not to run?? (Read 16211 times)

bergkamp10 · « **on:** December 02, 2011, 08:09:12 PM »

Was looking up for info whether should I leave the chronograph of my watch on or off and I came across this site which I like to share: http://www.europastar.com/watch-knowledge/1004082685-inside-the-chronograph.html (Very good article and it did clear my doubt!)

Some believe letting it run all the time is better, some believe not letting it run is better while there's also others who believe both way is ok, make no different.

My View: To let it run or not run really depend on one preference whether is it auto or quartz. For me, I choose not to have the chrono running on my quartz chrono watch since it's operated by battery and running it might cause depletion in the battery life and moreover, I believe just like any battery operated appliances, leaving it on all the time will eventually cause wear and tear. Only use when necessary! To sum up, I guess the choice of not letting the chrono run have more benefits.

Any other views on this??

Time Capsule · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2011, 12:36:37 PM »

i left it running all the time...sometimes reset it and let it run again...just feeling comfortable seeing it running....would like to know oso PROs and CONs letting it running all the time...any experts??

The Godzilla · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2011, 02:39:24 PM »

I don't have any chrono watches but from what I heard it is good to have it run a few times, maybe once a month just to let the gear and mechanism to work out and let the oil inside the movement to circulate.

Something like your car, you don't have to race it but at least you got to start it up once a while for the engine to run smoothly.

engkow · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2011, 04:31:22 PM »

my sinn chrono i dont let it run since i bought it this year, last month i went jogging so i time my run, the chrono second at 59 up and down. i stop the chrono back to zero start again, same thing happen. i on and off the chrono now it ok. i will sent to hourglass
service center next week see what they(technician) say whether on or off the chrono is better i will update.

G.MAC · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2011, 05:37:17 PM »

I personally like to let it run. I am not a big fan of a 'dead' chrono. Whether this is good or bad i dont know.

TheHobbit · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2011, 06:33:45 PM »

I don't run my chrono. Only use it when it is needed.

dpkong · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2011, 08:20:06 PM »

sometimes i keep mine running. i did read posts about it wearing out the movement parts but that's what a service is supposed to fix.

bulletnos · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2011, 08:33:05 PM »

i used to keep mine running, but battery life depleted much quicker. At one point i thought my chrono was malfunctioning as the 1/10th second counter seemed jammed...turns out what it needed was a fresh load of battery power...

now i just run it every once in a while - the rationale as mentioned above, just to let the movements have some 'exercise'...

sshark · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2011, 09:18:31 PM »

I only use it when i need it

jaron1982 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2011, 08:36:40 AM »

I heard that it will worn up the gear inside for long run. If just a few days should be ok.

bergkamp10 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2011, 10:31:32 AM »

Quote

Something like your car, you don't have to race it but at least you got to start it up once a while for the engine to run smoothly

Godzilla,

Gd example u used on the car engine.

Totally agree! Guess my perception on this is same as yours

Quote

my sinn chrono i dont let it run since i bought it this year, last month i went jogging so i time my run, the chrono second at 59 up and down. i stop the chrono back to zero start again, same thing happen. i on and off the chrono now it ok. i will sent to hourglass
service center next week see what they(technician) say whether on or off the chrono is better i will update.

engkow,

Looking forward for your feedback from the 'expert'....

Gigi · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2011, 07:43:30 PM »

I used chrono function alot but I only used when necessary. Not till the level of letting it run all the time. For sure unnecessary wear and tear will be happen if let it run ALL the time. Kinda like rev the car all the time when the car is stationary

engkow · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2011, 09:04:06 AM »

bergkamp10, talk to hourglass technician regarding my sinn chronograph, he said it could be the power reserve not enough power as i seldom wear it and ask me to wear more often so the power reserve will be enough.
'the chronograph' to him it better to let it RUN if you dont use it, better buy a non chronograph one.

sshark · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2011, 12:18:37 PM »

This sounded fishy. I alwiz thought if there is enuf power reserve to move the usual hour and minute hands, it should be able to power the chronograph too. Is my assumption flawed?

engkow · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2011, 03:33:48 PM »

sshark, i think what he said is true as i dont wind my watch as i seldom wear but now i wind the watch even i dont wear it.

now i use the watch chronograph for my morning jog everyday, so far so good for the past few weeks.

my watch it still under warranty till may next year, i will let the chrono run everyday non shop see what happen.

sshark · « **Reply #15 on:** December 19, 2011, 07:15:25 PM »

If there is enuf power to run the watch usual hour and minute hands then the chrono shld works as well. Both draw from the same power reserve barrel. Also whether to run the chrono comtinously is a moot point

bergkamp10 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 23, 2011, 10:57:42 AM »

Quote from: sshark on December 19, 2011, 07:15:25 PM

If there is enuf power to run the watch usual hour and minute hands then the chrono shld works as well. Both draw from the same power reserve barrel. Also whether to run the chrono comtinously is a moot point

Agree with sshark on this!
The hands and the chrono should come from the same source of power.

Maybe the movement oil inside a bit stuck cos you too long never use.
But after continual use, the clot is removed and everything back to normal.
Just my guess.

azzamov · « **Reply #17 on:** January 01, 2012, 02:20:17 PM »

Good sharing bro. I never run my chrono watch. Will start the chrono shortly to let the engine run

JOS2012 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 11, 2012, 11:26:43 AM »

No expert but have read a number of publications from IW,QP and others on this issue. Most articles mentioned that the amplitude is in fact affected and its to a matter of degree when the chrono is activated.
One of my earliest chronos was a Vj7750 Sinn Chrono (sliding pinion) and later I had a Cal 3133 with Co-Axial (supposed to be based on the FP 1185- lets not go into this) Omega PO (vertical clutch/column wheel).
I had run tests on both watches for a month and the accuracy monitored 1 mth on and 1 mth off.
In my case the watches ran marginally slower (if I remember correctly approx < -2 secs a month diff) when the chrono was on. Of course there could be other factors but these tests were run whilst the watches were not worn and left on Orbita winders.
Again this was the experience of the 2 watches I had at that time and need not necessarily be true for all other watches.
Lange had an article on chronos and Lange's solution on the deviation on the amplitude but you would need to google that.
This refers to accuracy and not wear & tear which was not my concern at that time.

terrenceterrence · « **Reply #19 on:** January 11, 2012, 11:38:22 AM »

I do wonder...on the Nicolas Rieussec Chrono GMT, it was said that the chrono module can be run perpetually as a seconds hand disc/hand/module. Also it could hack when the crown is pulled out to set the time correctly by the manufacturer.

the chrono is based on both a vertical clutch and column wheel to achieve this. so how would this affect it's power reserve and accuracy in a day to day running?

siodee · « **Reply #20 on:** January 11, 2012, 03:08:02 PM »

Quote from: bergkamp10 on December 23, 2011, 10:57:42 AM

Quote from: sshark on December 19, 2011, 07:15:25 PM
If there is enuf power to run the watch usual hour and minute hands then the chrono shld works as well. Both draw from the same power reserve barrel. Also whether to run the chrono comtinously is a moot point

Agree with sshark on this!
The hands and the chrono should come from the same source of power.

Maybe the movement oil inside a bit stuck cos you too long never use.
But after continual use, the clot is removed and everything back to normal.
Just my guess.

I agreed, in most of the Automatic Chrono, it should be operated from same source, the only impact it will slow down the accuracy of time keeping, where you will see is - minute incremental from time to time as compare to Chrono not running at all.

As for the quartz, I always turn the chrono running, cause no point for it sitting idle at 12 when all the others are working hard

mnazri.tan · « **Reply #21 on:** January 12, 2012, 07:52:25 AM »

u pay extra for chrono function...let it run....if it broke down, get it repaired...at least utilized rather than it broke down for not being used

In Time22 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 13, 2012, 08:14:48 AM »

Yeah...used instead of wasted of mechanism..

meoramri · « **Reply #23 on:** January 13, 2012, 11:14:33 AM »

Been following the trend - important question, does one actually need a mechanical chrono? In my humble opinion, this is one function in a mechanical watch that is way down in importance.

If you need to measure time accurately, a digital fits in nicely.

If you still like to have a mechanical chrono, problems highlighted (in the various postings) should be accepted and tolerated.

Laktos Kid · « **Reply #24 on:** April 14, 2012, 10:39:15 AM »

i stop mine when not in use, but i'll play with it at least few times a day~ it's something like a game console to me now

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Author Topic: Chronograph Watch- To run or not to run?? (Read 16211 times)