elliot55
2817
Okay, here's the deal...
... look at your mechanical watch... the second hand is 'sweeping', as it does on almost all mechanical watches - except for those fitted with a complication known as a "deadbeat second hand". A quartz watch has a second hand that does not sweep and clicks one second at a time, but it is not called a deadbeat second hand because it is just how a quartz watch works. It is for this reason that a deadbeat second hand on a mechanical watch is actually considered a complication.
Now if you were to look very closely at that sweeping seconds hand on a mechanical watch, you would see that it actually makes 8 tiny little moves per second and only looks like it is sweeping. On a watch with a 28,800vph heartbeat, the regulator will drive the palette fork back and forth 4 times (for a total of 8 contacts) per second. The sub-dial at nine o'clock on the Habring Foudroyante is actually showing the 8 contacts the palette fork makes per second. And so, the sub-dial makes a full revolution every second for a total of 86,400 revolutions per day! And yes, the second hand is a deadbeat second hand - which makes every second count!
Here's a great video of the Habring Foudroyante in action - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbNQkZAWpCc
The Duometre from JLC, for example, has a heartbeat of 21,600 vibrations per hour - meaning this watch's palette fork makes three trips back and forth (for a total of 6 contacts) per second. Hence, the Duometre has been fitted with a 1/6th of a second foudroyante at six o'clock.
Here's a great video of JLC's Duometre in action - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFrR_C_Sks
Note: The Duometre's foudroyante hand only runs when the chronograph is activated. The Habring's foudroyante hand runs all of the time.
To sum up, a foudroyante has traditionally been found on chronographs measuring 10ths of seconds. Keep in mind, that chronographs are not designed to have the 10th of a second hand running all the time. It took Richard Habring a good couple of years to design a foudroyante that could handle the stress of running all the time. Hope that clears it up.
- Scott
This message has been edited by elliot55 on 2012-06-23 10:11:55
More posts:
Mesmerizing
Congratulations on your first independent! The Habring Foudroyante is amaising and I like the way their dials change with the light, visible in your pictures too. How about giving us a "on the wrist" report in a couple of months? Enjoy, Don
Wrist Report...
... so far so good. It keeps great time and I do not think I have ever been more infatuated with a watch. Thanks, Don. - Scott
Good Rate Results...
Hey, Don - I haven't taken the watch off since I got it. I set it to one of our clocks that synchs with the atomic clock. I can tell you thus far the watch appears to lose a little less than a second a day... which is very impressive if you ask me. - Scot...
Fantastic!
And that spinning hand! May be a real joy to look at. :-) But, enlighten me, why eighths and not tenths of a second?
Okay, here's the deal...
... look at your mechanical watch... the second hand is 'sweeping', as it does on almost all mechanical watches - except for those fitted with a complication known as a "deadbeat second hand". A quartz watch has a second hand that does not sweep and click...
Didacticism...
I know, I'm being didactic! Couldn't find 'dicactisism', so... Anyway, thanks! HAGWE! : o
Didacticism:
"An artistic philosophy that emphasises instructional and informative qualities over mere entertainment." Source: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/didacticism ;)
Just had a look at the Habring video. Is it my impression,
or the hand of the sub-dial does get a bit stuck at "8" sometimes?
Just the video...
Hey, Marcelo - Definitely just the video or hiccups on the Internet. The foudroyante hand sweeps smoothly. - Scott
Foudroyante ...
is just hypnotizing. Congrats! But now we want to see a picture of your beauty on the wrist ... or two ... :-) Oliver
Gorgeous!
And a huge congrats to you. Love the contrast of the foud and the dead beat seconds. Love the contrast between the colors of the dial. And love the contrast beyween the brush and polish. It's all about the play between contrasts:) Wear in the best of heal...
Heartfelt congratulations Scott...
That's a great way to suck on the Kool Aid. And do you want to know the good news? There are so many flavours! :-) Cheers, pplater.
It's not an inexpensive habit...
... and it ain't gonna get any cheaper neither. I've got my eyes on so many different pieces and not one of them comes from a major. But for now, I can't stop staring at my Habring. Thanks for the kind words... - Scott
You're singing to the choir, Scott....
...but then: what habit worth forming is other than expensive? ;-) Cheers, pplater.
Haha...
... excellent point. Any habit worth having is worth spending lots of dough on :-) - scott
Welcome to the indie world!
I don't need to promise that you won't regret it, because you obviously don't! And while there are many pieces of tremendous merit from houses such as VC, Lange, JLC, and others, for menu of us there is no substitute for the highly personal experience of ...
FP Journe Has My Attention...
Hey, Gary - I've been looking at so many, but right now FP Journe is hitting me right in the sweet spot - they are very expensive pieces for sure. Speake-Marin's stuff is also quite nice - loving those enamel dials. For right now I'm probably looking at a...
Another amazing independent...
Gary - There is another watch maker that I think is the one to watch. What do you think about the pieces from Ludovic Ballouard? I believe this guy to be the up and comer, and the pieces he has created are incredibly beautiful and unique. I hope he finds ...
Thanks...
... Hans - I am so happy with this watch, I haven't taken it off since I got it. - Scott
Congrats
From a fellow Habring2 owner! They truly are wonderful watches and wonderful people. Enjoy the new toy. Jon
Which beauty do you have?
Hey, Jonathan - Which Habring do you have? I'm already pondering my next one! - Scott
This beautiful piece
I feel lucky to own it! I switch between the orange strap and the blue standard one. My dad also has a white enamel dial triple date moonphase, which he really enjoys. We went together to get my Dopplechrono and he decided he needed one too. I, too, am po...
3rd pusher
It activates the dopplechronograph (ie. "split second") function whereby a second "hidden" second hand continues its revolution around the watch while the orange second hand remains stationary. Pressing the the 10 o'clock pusher again will reunite the two...
There's a special feeling that comes with your first independent watch
... that won't be soon forgotten. Congratulations and enjoy it. Richard and Maria do good work. Here's mine... Regards, Richard. ...
Beautiful...
.... love the patina and power reserve! Richard and Maria are astounding folks. - Scott
Congratulations, Scott!
It's a fantastic piece, and I'm so pleased to see that you are enjoying it! Owning an independent is "where it's at" for me! Glad you are now in the club! Cheers, Daos
I am honored...
Daos! Thank you so much... I never saw myself with one of these until I actually got to see one. This Habring is the first of many! - Scott
There's no turning back!
Congrats on the Habring2 Scott! Now that the Indies have your attention you'll definitely keep coming back for more! Nothing beats working with talented watchmakers like Maria and Richard (and aren't they such nice people!!) to get your watch how your wan...
It's the truth...
Sid - You are spot on. As I stare at my collection, I know the indies are the way to go. Which ones are you excited about? Thanks for your kind words. - Scott
Right now..
... I can only have my eyes on Kari's Vingt 8... after that, I will need a long period to think about a next move, at the same time, let the bank account recover a little :D But there are so many Indies, and not enough dollars... FP Journe makes beautiful...
Voutilainen's watches are...
... absolutely magnificent. The Vingt-8? What a piece! I guess the phrase "Two escapement wheels are better than one" stands true. I love Kari's life story, that he's originally from Finland, where attention to detail is a way of life. And since he's only...
congratulations and salutations on your acquisition
what made you choose Habring? Was there others you considered before this? best, Horo
Thank you so much...
Horo - Interestingly enough, I first saw the Habring Foudroyante at a Purists dinner in Santa Monica, CA. I fell in love at first sight. I have always had my eye on a JLC Duometre because it is, of course, an amazing piece, and I love the foudroyante hand...
