This question is in reference to some AVI-8 watches currently on sale: viewtopic.php?f=3&p=119236&sid=ae023e5e ... 39#p119227
I thought meca-quartz was a quartz watch with a mechanical chrono module, but these watches don’t have chronograph functionality. The video clips of the watches running shows a sweeping second hand like a mechanical watch. What’s the story here?
Meca-quartz on a 3 hander?
Re: Meca-quartz on a 3 hander?
Mecha-Quartz only implies that it's a hybrid, not a chrono per se.
Watch Geek did a video about one of the AV-8s some months ago, where this was mentioned. He said they remove part of the movement and/or just don't install all the hands ... and then activate the chrono function full time. The Watch Geek video mentioned that the less-smooth tick of the AV-8 seconds hand replicates normal autos ... smooth, but not "too smooth."
You can achieve a smooth seconds hand by using instead the VH31 movement, which is inherently a 3-hander. These can be found in models less than $100. The VH31 is 4 ticks per second, just like your ETA 2824-2 or Selitta SW200 (4Hz). Yes, it sweeps smoother than cheap autos.
But, the VH31 isn't a high-torque movement capable of running larger handsets well, and that may also be why AV-8 doesn't use it (assuming that don't?)
Bottom line: I don't know which movement they are using, and they aren't saying. Either way, it's Seiko (SII) sourced.
Watch Geek did a video about one of the AV-8s some months ago, where this was mentioned. He said they remove part of the movement and/or just don't install all the hands ... and then activate the chrono function full time. The Watch Geek video mentioned that the less-smooth tick of the AV-8 seconds hand replicates normal autos ... smooth, but not "too smooth."
You can achieve a smooth seconds hand by using instead the VH31 movement, which is inherently a 3-hander. These can be found in models less than $100. The VH31 is 4 ticks per second, just like your ETA 2824-2 or Selitta SW200 (4Hz). Yes, it sweeps smoother than cheap autos.
But, the VH31 isn't a high-torque movement capable of running larger handsets well, and that may also be why AV-8 doesn't use it (assuming that don't?)
Bottom line: I don't know which movement they are using, and they aren't saying. Either way, it's Seiko (SII) sourced.
Re: Meca-quartz on a 3 hander?
These are VH31 movements, or at least that is what is in my RBL watch from the series they released last year.deckeda wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:12 pm Mecha-Quartz only implies that it's a hybrid, not a chrono per se.
Watch Geek did a video about one of the AV-8s some months ago, where this was mentioned. He said they remove part of the movement and/or just don't install all the hands ... and then activate the chrono function full time. The Watch Geek video mentioned that the less-smooth tick of the AV-8 seconds hand replicates normal autos ... smooth, but not "too smooth."
You can achieve a smooth seconds hand by using instead the VH31 movement, which is inherently a 3-hander. These can be found in models less than $100. The VH31 is 4 ticks per second, just like your ETA 2824-2 or Selitta SW200 (4Hz). Yes, it sweeps smoother than cheap autos.
But, the VH31 isn't a high-torque movement capable of running larger handsets well, and that may also be why AV-8 doesn't use it (assuming that don't?)
Bottom line: I don't know which movement they are using, and they aren't saying. Either way, it's Seiko (SII) sourced.
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Re: Meca-quartz on a 3 hander?
4Hz = 8 ticks per second. The VH31 is a bit choppier than a Vostok or your typical older Swiss movements, but probably still more pleasing than an once-a-second tick.
Re: Meca-quartz on a 3 hander?
Oof! You're right, I got my beats per second mixed up. Thanks for the correction.fillerbunny wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 12:56 pm4Hz = 8 ticks per second. The VH31 is a bit choppier than a Vostok or your typical older Swiss movements, but probably still more pleasing than an once-a-second tick.