Friday, January 14, 2011

The Seiko Spring Drive Mechanism

Today, I will cover the Seiko Spring Drive Mechanism developed by Yoshikazu Akahane for Seiko.

As many know, conventional automatic movements have what is called a sweeping hand which sets it apart from a quartz (or battery) watch which ticks. In reality though, a mechanical watch does tick, but it does it very rapidly to the point where it looks like it is sweeping. Almost all movements nowadays sweep at at least 6 BPS (beats per second).

Akahane revolutionized accuracy when he developed his new mechanical movement called the spring drive system. His automatic watch added a energy holding vessel which regulated the oscillator, thus making this watch as accurate as a battery powered quartz but without a battery generating the energy. Take a look at the movement in the youtube video below.

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19 comments:

  1. Jimmy FungusJanuary 14, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    I usually use my cell phone to tell time, but this blog might make me change my mind.

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  2. watchmanJanuary 14, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    it's a fashion statement jimmy. Every many needs at least two watches: a dress watch and a sport watch.

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  3. IsaacJanuary 14, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    Watches are still classy, great blog

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  4. beyondhiphopJanuary 14, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    this looks so complex

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  5. Henrietta CollinsJanuary 14, 2011 at 4:38 PM

    at least four times a day, all i'm wearing are shoes and a watch.

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  6. Suciô SanchezJanuary 14, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    I prefer the tick of a manual.


    P.S. you have word verification switched on.

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  7. watchmanJanuary 14, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    sucio, how do you disable it?

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  8. UnknownJanuary 14, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    wow, there is definitely more to watches than meets the eye.

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  9. Mr. InsaniumJanuary 14, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    Interesting stuff, i have put you on follow.

    the word verification disable is somewere in settings for comments i think, not very helpful i know but it is a direction XD

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  10. watchmanJanuary 14, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    yea i found it insanium. thanks a lot

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  11. Fire PursuitJanuary 14, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    this is cool but i would really like to have a pocket watch.

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  12. BrutJanuary 14, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    I've been using an automatic watch for the past year, has yet to fail me. Would highly recommend one. Mine is made by armitron.

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  13. BobbyJanuary 14, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    The inner mechanics of a watch are so intricate, I don't know how they did it so long ago.

    Don't forget to check and support often your local information hot-spot lifeformation.blogspot.com! I just updated!

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  14. ericsJanuary 15, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    awesome vid on the history of watches.

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  15. GizmoJanuary 15, 2011 at 1:01 AM

    ekk...since my last expensive watch broke, I decided to not wear any watch again...now I check time on a cell phone :P

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  16. BTN Hip HopJanuary 15, 2011 at 5:41 AM

    slick

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  17. DooJanuary 15, 2011 at 6:28 AM

    Very interesting man!

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  18. llllollllllJanuary 15, 2011 at 7:40 AM

    I'd like a Seiko watch but they're pretty expensive.

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  19. AnonymousApril 21, 2011 at 1:19 AM

    Seiko Watches will be precise and elegant style and push the peak level of performance. It is the first mass production and made only when the total certified precision watch.

    ReplyDelete

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