Transformational shift?

Come on in and introduce yourself!
General watch talk.
User avatar
BacoNoir
Posts: 6396
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 6:33 pm
Name: Roger
Location: Colorado

Transformational shift?

Post by BacoNoir » Sat Jan 06, 2018 11:17 am

Have you all seen this? I don’t know how I missed it.

There’s a potential transformational shift in watchmaking upon us that could be similar to the quartz movement. Replacing 30 components with a single part made from silicon that deforms to create the motion and vibrates at a frequency of 108,000 vph! This replaces the hairspring, balance wheel, regulation assembly, and pallets with a silicon wafer 20 microns thick - shocking.
Image
Image

If this gets adopted industry wide, it will IMHO kill the soul of the mechanical watch as we know it.

Do you see this as the wave of the future or just something cool for bragging rights?

http://quillandpad.com/2018/01/06/zenit ... tchmaking/
Last edited by BacoNoir on Sat Jan 06, 2018 11:17 am, edited 2 times in total.
www.simplynoble.net
Time Magazine Person of the Year - 2006

Image

User avatar
dnslater
Posts: 6804
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:52 pm
Name: Nick
Location: Indiana, USA

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by dnslater » Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:30 pm

I don’t know..... it is still an Automatic Watch, one with more accuracy and less maintenance than a traditional Auto... and a super high beat. I am skeptical that this iron etching technology can be scaled to be affordable, but maybe.

User avatar
dnslater
Posts: 6804
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:52 pm
Name: Nick
Location: Indiana, USA

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by dnslater » Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:31 pm

I don’t know..... it is still an Automatic Watch, one with more accuracy and less maintenance than a traditional Auto... and a super high beat. I am skeptical that this iron etching technology can be scaled to be affordable, but maybe.

User avatar
hoppyjr
HJ
Posts: 39668
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:05 am
Name: Hoppy

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by hoppyjr » Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:34 pm

My guess is the technology is much too expensive to make a dent in the mechanical watch industry. This will be seen in very high end stuff and for a premium, like a tourbillon.

KLR_Redux
Posts: 228
Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:21 am
Name: Karl

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by KLR_Redux » Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:39 pm

Neat in any case.

User avatar
fastward
Fast Eddie
Posts: 11347
Joined: Tue Aug 10, 2010 12:45 pm

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by fastward » Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:58 pm

Interesting. Not sure if it will kill the industry, but agree with the views on production costs.

This does not seem to be a part that can be easily created at a high level for a low price.

User avatar
tattoo chef
<Will Skull for Food>
Posts: 5663
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:03 pm
Name: Don

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by tattoo chef » Sat Jan 06, 2018 1:20 pm

I don’t believe watches have a “soul. I get that traditional mechanical movements, especially high end are carefully assembled and tuned by craftsman.
But I have to say, the fact they are spending time and money to develop and evolve a mechanical movement is pretty damn cool.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar
dnslater
Posts: 6804
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:52 pm
Name: Nick
Location: Indiana, USA

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by dnslater » Sat Jan 06, 2018 2:03 pm

fastward wrote:
Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:58 pm
Interesting. Not sure if it will kill the industry, but agree with the views on production costs.

This does not seem to be a part that can be easily created at a high level for a low price.
My first thought, then I think of the tech in a printed circuit board in a $15 toy.

User avatar
BacoNoir
Posts: 6396
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 6:33 pm
Name: Roger
Location: Colorado

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by BacoNoir » Sat Jan 06, 2018 2:10 pm

dnslater wrote:
fastward wrote:
Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:58 pm
Interesting. Not sure if it will kill the industry, but agree with the views on production costs.

This does not seem to be a part that can be easily created at a high level for a low price.
My first thought, then I think of the tech in a printed circuit board in a $15 toy.

My thought exactly. While the cost f entry is prohibitive now, probably a very different story in 7-10 years.
www.simplynoble.net
Time Magazine Person of the Year - 2006

Image

User avatar
CoachH
Posts: 1247
Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:39 pm
Name: Joe
Location: Texas

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by CoachH » Sat Jan 06, 2018 2:54 pm

I think less than that, probably 3- 5 years. Could definitely be game changing.

User avatar
BacoNoir
Posts: 6396
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 6:33 pm
Name: Roger
Location: Colorado

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by BacoNoir » Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:52 pm

This video is a great explanation of how it works and has changed my perspective on this advancement. I now see it as a new design in mechanical movements and the video host has a similar perspective that this could be a transformational shift in watchmaking and become common place in the next 10 years.

https://youtu.be/D3s0y1mEe4A
www.simplynoble.net
Time Magazine Person of the Year - 2006

Image

User avatar
matt.wu
Wu
Posts: 29817
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:33 pm
Name: m@
Location: SF Bay Area, CA, USA

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by matt.wu » Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:05 am

Thanks for drawing our attention here. I never paid attention to the original announcement, mainly because I think Zenith is really bad at marketing, so I've been trained to simply ignore. I think the introduction and focus on the Aeronith case at the same time also detracted from the focus on the movement.

I'll be keeping a close eye on developments here, but it seems really promising.
:htfu:

User avatar
Morethan1
Frequent bumper of posts
Posts: 1949
Joined: Sat May 28, 2016 8:02 pm
Name: Alex
Location: Montreal, Canada

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by Morethan1 » Sun Jan 07, 2018 7:02 am

Here's another one showing the dev team.

https://youtu.be/xWh0p9Irznw

User avatar
Axelay2003
Posts: 5916
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 9:03 am
Name: Gerard
Location: City of Oranges, FL

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by Axelay2003 » Sun Jan 07, 2018 7:52 am

This looks very promising. Thanks for sharing.
It's a beautiful world! Gerald.
Image

User avatar
jeckyll
Honorary Assistant Jr. Hall Monitor in Training
Posts: 11910
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:11 pm
Name: Björn

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by jeckyll » Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:04 am

BacoNoir wrote:
Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:52 pm
This video is a great explanation of how it works and has changed my perspective on this advancement. I now see it as a new design in mechanical movements and the video host has a similar perspective that this could be a transformational shift in watchmaking and become common place in the next 10 years.

https://youtu.be/D3s0y1mEe4A
Very interesting, thanks for the video.
We all have the same enemy. The enemy is the tyranny of the dull mind. - - Tom Robbins

User avatar
BacoNoir
Posts: 6396
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 6:33 pm
Name: Roger
Location: Colorado

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by BacoNoir » Sun Jan 07, 2018 9:38 am

Morethan1 wrote:Here's another one showing the dev team.

https://youtu.be/xWh0p9Irznw
Great video - shows the function of the new part much better.
www.simplynoble.net
Time Magazine Person of the Year - 2006

Image

User avatar
jeckyll
Honorary Assistant Jr. Hall Monitor in Training
Posts: 11910
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:11 pm
Name: Björn

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by jeckyll » Sun Jan 07, 2018 1:16 pm

It's crazy to see the oscillation...
We all have the same enemy. The enemy is the tyranny of the dull mind. - - Tom Robbins

User avatar
Morethan1
Frequent bumper of posts
Posts: 1949
Joined: Sat May 28, 2016 8:02 pm
Name: Alex
Location: Montreal, Canada

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by Morethan1 » Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:23 pm

jeckyll wrote:
Sun Jan 07, 2018 1:16 pm
It's crazy to see the oscillation...
It gave me a bit of anxiety to see it moving that fast...I'd rather it be in the back. Maybe that's just me.

gamecock111
Posts: 677
Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:20 am
Name: Doug

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by gamecock111 » Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:44 pm

Probably a good candidate for the next Mkii ready to wear project


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

User avatar
dnslater
Posts: 6804
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:52 pm
Name: Nick
Location: Indiana, USA

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by dnslater » Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:08 pm

gamecock111 wrote:
Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:44 pm
Probably a good candidate for the next Mkii ready to wear project


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Perfect. By the time the MKII hands get through QC this movement will be mass production ready.

User avatar
Morethan1
Frequent bumper of posts
Posts: 1949
Joined: Sat May 28, 2016 8:02 pm
Name: Alex
Location: Montreal, Canada

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by Morethan1 » Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:49 pm

dnslater wrote:
gamecock111 wrote:
Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:44 pm
Probably a good candidate for the next Mkii ready to wear project


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Perfect. By the time the MKII hands get through QC this movement will be mass production ready.
Hahahahahahha

User avatar
Heuerville
Posts: 4706
Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2013 11:09 am
Name: Stewart
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by Heuerville » Sun Jan 07, 2018 4:47 pm

Interesting stuff. I wonder is this type of evolution will be used in very high end watches, or become a common tech.

I'm an old school kinda guy, probably like most of you.. however, it's always surprised me how uninventive the mechanical watch industry has been.
If you think about it, not great deal has changed (movement wise) in the last 20+ years. I know part of that is tradition, and the old 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.

On the other hand, it's kinda nice that things haven't changed that much - in a world where everything gets outdated after 12 months, you can buy a watch that will last a lifetime, and you can pass onto your kids.
Stewart - Heuerville & Heuerville Straps
http://heuerville.wordpress.com/heuerville-straps/
"SOB get me a drink"

User avatar
BacoNoir
Posts: 6396
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 6:33 pm
Name: Roger
Location: Colorado

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by BacoNoir » Sun Jan 07, 2018 7:47 pm

Heuerville wrote:Interesting stuff. I wonder is this type of evolution will be used in very high end watches, or become a common tech.

I'm an old school kinda guy, probably like most of you.. however, it's always surprised me how uninventive the mechanical watch industry has been.
If you think about it, not great deal has changed (movement wise) in the last 20+ years. I know part of that is tradition, and the old 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.

On the other hand, it's kinda nice that things haven't changed that much - in a world where everything gets outdated after 12 months, you can buy a watch that will last a lifetime, and you can pass onto your kids.
Yeah, in my lifetime the changes have been incremental and small, yet this is a step change - first I’ve seen and I’m not sure how I feel about it yet. Part of my love of watches is the rather simple mechanical nature that hasn’t changed significantly since the late 1800’s / early 1900’s.
www.simplynoble.net
Time Magazine Person of the Year - 2006

Image

User avatar
ChuckW
Posts: 1612
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 5:59 pm
Name: Chuck
Location: Atlanta

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by ChuckW » Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:54 pm

Think of the change in technology of cars over the years and with the advent of electric and self driving cars, the possibilities are staggering. And yet, the attraction to the old school classics persists.
No, it's not Tourettes.

User avatar
Morethan1
Frequent bumper of posts
Posts: 1949
Joined: Sat May 28, 2016 8:02 pm
Name: Alex
Location: Montreal, Canada

Re: Transformational shift?

Post by Morethan1 » Mon Jan 08, 2018 6:18 am

As an engineer, I see this is as the natural evolution of things.

I believe the goal here is to be more accurate while reducing cost. We saw this with quartz and spring drive.

If they can figure out how to eliminate more parts, they will.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: jbw, snootydog and 404 guests