Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce as Watch Movement Identifier – Part 2

A while ago, I wrote about how the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC) can be used as a movement identifier for the period from 1900 to 1946. There I described that registered designs and models were also published in the SOGC from 1889, including movements.

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Oiling Watch Movements

Today I’m going skating on black ice! Why? Every watchmaker and watch hobbyist has their own philosophy when it comes to oiling movements. Ask three watchmakers and you’ll get five different answers. And many movement manufacturers, in turn, have their own ideas and sometimes regulations.

Oil cups [source: bergeon.ch]
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IWC Pellaton Automatic Winding System Model

In 1950, IWC launched the automatic calibers 81 (small seconds) and 85 (center second) with a new automatic winding system developed by Albert Pellaton. I was able to get hold of a 5:1 scale model of this winding system made by IWC and present it to you here, as it illustrates the functioning of the Pellaton winding system particularly clearly.

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Hebdomas – a look into the watch movement

Hebdomas pocket watches have a high recognition value due to their appearance – the off-centered hands and the balance visible on the dial side with a large balance bridge immediately catch the eye. Here we take a look at the techniques of the movements of these watches.

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