The year was 1905 and the month of May. Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) was then aged 26 years and yet to scale the ladder of his yet-to-be-heralded greatest achievements. Walking down the streets he had a Eureka moment (as it transpired later). He imagined sitting in a streetcar and traveling at the speed of light. Within the streetcar, he found that the time on his wristwatch was still ticking. Looking back out of the car, he realised that the time on the clock tower at the end of the street had stopped. The Archimedean moment crystalised into the "Special Theory of Relativity" and the science of space-time was born with the result that Man is proposing to colonize Mars (Elon Musk on Sep 27, 2016 at International Astronautical Congress). Going back in time of Einstein's streetcar imagined tableau the place was Bern, Switzerland and the Clock tower named Zytglogge is still ticking (cared by the Governor of Time Mr. Markus Marti - a retired engineer) and has the distinction of being a landmark icon. This story comes courtesy of the BBC titled The Clock that changed the Meaning of Time.
The BBC along with Britain is now at another crossroad of Time. The approaching countdown trigger of formal exit from the EU (European Union) is ticking. Perhaps the BWCMG (British Watch and Clockmakers Guild) had an inkling of the impending events when they met in a meeting after a gap of 54 years in April 2015; and the meeting's agenda "The way ahead for British Watchmaking". Watchmakers in Britain already have a stellar reputation of integrity as several Perpetual Time reviews have eloquently posted. Perpetual Time is among several gifted watchmakers in Britain who service world famous brands with quality generic spare parts that are better than the original parts in terms of both caliber and costs. The onset of Brexit is sure to provide the needed impetus for British watchmaking to take the all-important step of British brands. The time is right, the skills are there and there is no dearth of service technicians with three reputed watchmaking schools such as British School of Watchmaking in Manchester, Birmingham School of Jewellery and West Dean College. The needed investment should not be a cause for concern with the falling pound making it attractive for perceptive investors. Another Perpetual Time review has commented on this aspect when he was concerned at the delay in service by big watch brands. Related Source: https://perpetualtimereviews.wordpress.com/2016/10/21/tell-me-the-way-british-watchmaking/ https://sites.google.com/site/perpetualtimereviews/tell-me-the-way-british-watchmaking
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December 31st 2016 will be one second longer as a leap second is added to atomic clocks everywhere in the world. Atomic clocks are derived from a variant of the cesium atom. The metallic element cesium ticks unfailingly at nine billion times a second. The scale of slicing time to that atomic level is incomprehensible. The atomic clock is the UTC (coordinated universal time) which is set by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures located in Paris. The time is set after getting information from about 50 countries and the average computed by consensus. The need to add a leap second Time is based on the rotation of the Earth. This rotational time is divided into 86,400 seconds (24 hours x 60 minutes x 60 seconds = one day). The Earth spins slower each year due to pull of tides and other internal factors, which create the difference between the atomic time and exact or rotational time. So is one second important? Yes, in satellite systems one-second difference is too much as navigation systems operate on the measurement of time it takes for a signal to traverse from a receiver and a satellite. Light travels 30 centimetres in one billionth of a second. Cellular networks will be out of sync if this time is not adjusted. So is the case with electricity grids. Ships at sea will get lost Fortunately our personal timekeeping watches do not have to undergo this exactness unlike the Shepherd 24-hour atomic clock on the gate of Greenwich's Royal Observatory in England. The difference between rotational time and atomic clock is one hour for 1000 years. Just a normal adjustment is required for regular watches. But what is important is regular servicing by watchmakers.. If you happen to own a Patek Philippe or A Lange Sohne watch then checking the Perpetual Time reviews should give you an idea of who and where to approach for reputed servicing. Perpetual Time reviews on watch forums is the place to refer for knowledgeable advice on watch restoration and service of rare watches. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) the watch guardian of economy all over the world has sounded alarm bells on the impending Article 50 triggering Britain's formal divorce from the European Club. In a recent report (WatchPro) it was stated that retailers in Britain are increasing their cash savings to match the national average of 38% with the aim of building a cash buffer. The British watchmakers Guild is of the view that it is time for British watch brands to step out of the shadow of big watch brands and establish their place in the watch world. The signs are ominous. Robert Hooke and John Harrison Robert Hooke’s (1635 - 1703) inquiring scientific mind resulted in the pendulum as the perfect regulatory mechanism in clocks. He also introduced the balance spring that sparked the revolution of a watch on the wrist (there was heated debate about this claim as Christiaan Huygens had also invented the verge escapement. However, the debate was settled firmly in Robert Hooke’s favour in 2006 when forgotten notes handwritten by Hooke were found in a cupboard). It was his work as part of being a royal commissioner under the aegis of King Charles II in 1674 that led to the establishment of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich that furthered the program of measuring the position of stars accurately which in turn helped the Board of Longitude to establish the Longitude Prize. This prize along with similar prizes offered by France, Spain, Holland around the same time (1600-1700) is understood to be the greatest scientific endeavor to determine a practical method of calculating the longitude of a ship at sea. It is to the credit of another Englishman born a carpenter named John Harrison from Yorkshire who created the world's first marine chronometer that worked perfectly during sea trials. (Since he did not have Royal patronage he was not given the prize; Harrison fought and eventually was recognized and awarded the Longitude Prize in 1773). These stories testify to the times and prove the point of original British watchmaking skills are embedded into the English DNA. A Perpetual Time review remarks on this wonderful trait of originality. Perpetual Time is headed by another Englishman Alex Photi who has the genes of Robert Hooke, John Harrison and other English horologists flowing in his blood that augurs well for Britain to regain its rightful place in the world of watchmaking.. In the same report of WatchPro it came to light that leather straps are more in vogue as compared to steel. This is another British tradition befitting the compliments paid in a Perpetual Time Review of the excellent restoration work done by this reputed watchmaking firm. Related Source: https://perpetualtimereviews.wordpress.com/2016/10/18/the-legends-in-british-watchmaking/ https://sites.google.com/site/perpetualtimereviews/the-legends-in-british-watchmaking The speeches are done, the rhetoric spoken and the die is cast as Mrs. Theresa May, British Prime Minister announced that Britain would formally start the process of leaving the EU (European Union) in March 2017. Paraphrasing Mr .Winston Churchill's famous words of "Never in the field of battle has a nation owed so much to so few" it is clear a similar rhetoric should now be said such as " never has British trade owed so much to the collective spirit of a nation that voted OUT". It is time and it is now for British watchmakers to put their stamp on producing truly British made watches establishing brands worldwid e;in the true tradition of George Daniels (1926 - 2011) the legendary watchmaker and considered as among the best in the world. His signature of lubricant-less caliber is a step in the right direction that of concern for the environment. Britain dominated watchmaking in the 1700's starting with
Modern day British watchmakers such as Roger Smith, Robert Loomes, Schofield, Bremont and Meridian among a few others craft entirely British watches in the classic traditional way. There is also no dearth of talented watchmakers who are known in the trade and by watch collectors for their passion and exactness. Many a watch forum has written about the excellent service such as a Perpetual Time review that lauded the attention to detail during a restoration or another Perpetual Time review that alluded to the use of generic spare parts in world famous branded watch at affordable prices. These facts go to prove that British watchmaking skills are alive and robust. Putting mass production technology and creating high quality watches on the lines of Glasshute is the message of Brexit to the watchmakers of Britain. They owe the denizens of the United Kingdom and the debt can only be repaid with Made in Britain watches to be among the best in the world. Related Source: https://perpetualtimereviews.wordpress.com/2016/10/18/time-for-british-branded-watch-is-now/ https://sites.google.com/site/perpetualtimereviews/time-for-british-branded-watch-is-now The race is on, the tide has turned; just like the minute hand, traversing 360 degrees, has watchmaking come full circle and become important in the United Kingdom. It will not be long before British watch brands sit atop the summit of luxury watches. It is fitting for the British styles are understated with an elegance that only they can craft. There is hardly any ostentatious styling nor is there an outlandish pop cultural signature; British watches speak bespoke, solidity and resilience.
Rosie Kirk is the recent recipient of Trailblazer award from the School of Jewellery located in Birmingham. She may well be a true trailblazer in the real sense of creating a signature lady's watch in the classical British understated style. There is a vacuum in women's wearable fashion as envisaged by Charlotte-Parks Taylor who attests the need for engaging customers with proper information that will boost the purchasing power of luxury watches (courtesy of a well-researched article "The missing link in luxury watch marketing"). Britain has top class institutions devoted to learning the skills of watchmaking such as BHI -British Horology Institute and aforementioned Birmingham's School of Jewellery among a few others. A former alumni of BHI Alex Photti is the CEO of Perpetual Time brings passion to the field of watchmaking that is verified by stellar words of appreciation in Perpetual Time reviews on watch forums. Education in horology in the UK is on par with legendary institutions such as Finland School of Watchmaking and WOSTEP in Switzerland. In another Perpetual Time review the credentials of WOSTEP certification was lauded due to the excellent service rendered by Perpetual Time (also certified by Guild of Master Craftsman, UK). It augurs well for British Watchmaking as brands such as Accurist, Alfred Dunhill, Backes& Strauss, Benney Watches, Christopher Ward, CWC, Dent London, Graham London, Harold Pinchbeck, J & T Windmills, Meridian, Peter Roberts, Robert Loomes& Co, Roger W Smith, Schofield among others are making a name synonymous with British bespoke style and elegance. Brexit has now given the opportunity for British Watchmaking to take the next step in the evolution of truly world class watches with mass production technologies. The people of Britain have spoken and so has the Government via British PM, Theresa May’s announcement of Article 50 that will be a defining moment. The future is perfectly poised for boosting British watch brands to the pinnacle of luxury as well as affordable watches. Related Source: https://perpetualtimereviews.wordpress.com/2016/10/14/horology-education-is-backbone-in-rise-of-british-watchmaking/ https://sites.google.com/site/perpetualtimereviews/horology-education-is-backbone-in-rise-of-british-watchmaking Watch collectors will pay handsomely for perpetual calendars of proven vintage. The reason is not so obvious to the person who is used to modern day gadgetry that uses digital technology. In mechanical watches with normal calendar mechanism, the setting of February 29 is just a matter of pulling out the winding mechanism and advancing the date. In a perpetual calendar mechanism, the engineering is much more complicated. Adding an extra day adds not only to an engineering puzzle but also the cost. Perpetual calendars work fine as long as it is wound regularly and used often. All the features of day, date including month work perfectly as they are synchronized. In the event that the watch is not used and the mainspring is run down then all the functions have to be reset, There are pushers at the side of the case and they need to be pushed to advance the settings. However, there is one perpetual calendar watch called the Da Vinci. The resetting function is similar to the winding operation on a regular mechanical watch. Pulling out the setting crown and setting to the current time and date is all that is required to synchronize. Kurt Klaus from the legendary International Watch Company (IWC) located in Schaffhausen designed this watch; British watchmaking needs to take a leaf out of Florentine Ariosto Jones (1841 -1916) who founded (1868) IWC by combining American engineering expertise with Swiss watchmaking skills. Brexit is a golden opportunity to match both skills that of watchmaking craftsmanship and British engineering leadership. Watchmaking skills are a tradition in UK with integrity and passion being cornerstone carried down generations. Several watch forums in UK testify to this great British trait. As an example reading Perpetual Time reviews brings this trait out in full measure as people are appreciative of the professionalism by this WOSTEP certified craftsman. Other Perpetual Time reviews elaborate the care and attention to detail that this Guild of Master Craftsman badge holder bestows on their work and is a worthy recipient of the highest honors. Preserving traditional skills and refining them is embedded in the British psyche. The example of watch making is apt as ever since the 16th century, watchmakers have belonged to guilds and this tradition has continued to flourish. The Guild of Master Craftsmen is Britain’s oldest trade association that represents skilled trades persons, artisans and other professionals that are achieving excellence and aiming for perfection in their skills. Over 400 such professions are represented by the Guild. To become a member is an arduous exacting process as the assessment is very thorough before the coveted badge of Guild of Master Craftsmen is bestowed. One such member is Perpetual Time who can be called as watchmaker extraordinaire. The highest quality of watch service, watch repair and watch restoration services can be had at their premises in Liverpool and Manchester. The bespoke WOSTEP (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training Education Program) trained and BHI (British Horological Institute) alumni are up there with the best of the best. Having a state-of-the-art workshop and access to generic spare parts with the capability of even turning out the elusive vintage spare part enables this gifted watchmaker to handle all kinds of watches – from world-class brands of modern and vintage classics to everyday timepieces of people who appreciate time on their wrist. No movement or caliber is beyond them, even a tourbillion. Among their many talents is watch customization that has evoked stunning appreciation. Perpetual Time reviews has several mention of family heirlooms restored to pristine condition and ticking. Headed by a passionate watchmaker named Alex Photi (CEO of Perpetual Time) it can be safe to comment that the legacy of George Daniels (famed British horologist 1926 - 2011, CBE, DSc, FBHI, FSA, AHCI founder of coaxial escapement) is alive and in good hands. Several Perpetual Time reviews echo similar appreciation for the professionalism. Related Source: https://perpetualtimereviews.wordpress.com/2016/10/10/british-watch-making-legacy-ticks-on-splendidly/ The world of watches is becoming increasingly intricate and there is no reason to doubt the veracity of this statement as it is fitting and in sync with the complex movements of watchmaking. In watchmaking 'caliber' term is used to indicate the movement or the mechanism of calibers. Mechanical watches or timepieces to be exact have clockwork movements that consist of many moving parts. It is an intricate dance and to the passionate watchmaker it is keeping time dancing to the melody and rhythms of the gods of time.
This philosophy of calibers has been put into practice by renowned watch movement designers such as Mark Braun who designed the world famous Metro wrist watch featuring NOMOS swing system. Nomos make high-end watch movements and the interesting bit to note here is that Nomos is manufactured in a small village of 7000 inhabitants called Glasshutte in former GDR (that is East Germany to the uninitiated or to the millennials). This village in Free State of Saxony has the following watch manufacturing enterprises
The watch aficionado will recognize most of these high end watch brands and the watch world is watching with interest as the Swiss citadel of watchmaking excellence is under threat. The happy news for watch lovers is having acquired a high-end watch it is possible to get the timepiece serviced in England by professionals who are as adept as Mark Braun. One such enterprise is Perpetual Time who brings to the horological table passion that transcends even Time. A quick reading of Perpetual Time reviews will inform the most discerning that the rarest of chronometers is in the most capable hands of Perpetual Time and will keep perfect time after they have serviced it. The horological Gods guarantee it. Most Perpetual Time reviews agree to this statement as evidenced by sincere appreciation for the excellent service of their watches. Related Source: https://perpetualtimereviews.wordpress.com/2016/10/07/watchmakers-caliber-extraordinaire/ Gravity is a fact on earth, and taken for granted. The forces of nature impacts people's activities every waking moment or asleep. This force occupies space and time and is so omnipotent that only when going against gravity the enormity of the force makes us realise the power it commands. The invention of the watch around the 15th century became a significant anti-gravity invention. Peter Henlein used the principle of the hairspring and fashioned a device that ran for 40 hours and chimed the hours. Pins and wedges to counter gravity held the early movements. The effect of gravity on the escapement was and is still up for refinement. Regulating the watch in various positions reflects the effect of gravity and subsequently its accuracy. Most watches are regulated in the standard eight positions of dial up or down and changing the position half way and quarter wise. The tourbillon mechanism (patent credited to Swiss watchmaker of French descent Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801) countered the effects of gravity by encasing the escapement and balance wheel in a cage. The errors balanced out by rotating the assembly of about one revolution per minute. That is the reason a tourbillion watch needs to be worn. The constant wrist motion achieves negating positional errors.
The value of a tourbillon watch is more towards the aesthetics and craftsmanship. The design and engineering of a tourbillon watch movement is challenging. Breguet produced the first production tourbillon mechanism as a carriage clock for Napoleon. The accuracy of a tourbillon is always up for debate but what cannot be disputed is the beauty of the mechanism. Most tourbillon mechanisms are visible and this is the reason that this watch fetches thousands of euros. Very few watch repairers and restorers can handle the mechanism. One among the select few is Perpetual Time in Great Britain. Both their peers and clients as evidenced by several testimonials gracing Perpetual Time reviews acclaim them for the professionalism, passion and precision. Alex Photi is the Managing Director of Perpetual Time and possesses credentials from WOSTEP - Watchmakers of Switzerland Training Education Program and BHI - British Horological Institute. These august institutions train watchmakers in an exacting and rigorous program. Apart from the experience of working for many years with some of the best Swiss watch brands Perpetual Time is recognized by The Guild of Master Craftsmen; this certification cannot be bought; it can only be earned.This badge adds to the credence that several Perpetual Time Reviews have alluded repeatedly. Related Source: https://perpetualtimereviews.wordpress.com/2016/10/05/tourbillon-watches-defy-gravity-to-set-the-time-and-price/ The concept of tourbillon watch movement is interesting to read and more than that to own. The question arises who wears a tourbillon. The simplest answer - person with passion; Tourbillon watches are fun watches. Purists in the design world may argue that the tourbillon design is over designing describing it as complicated technical wizardry, which ultimately just tells the time.
The technical virtuosity of the watch mechanism is the regulating organ that is based on Christian Huygens invention of the balance spring (1675 reference Journal de Scavans) although it is the English philosopher and otherwise known as "England's Leonardo", Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703) who is credited with the invention of the balance spring around 1660. The debate regarding the veracity of the invention has added references with the discovery of a clock that has the imprint of IssacThuret the French clockmaker who made the clock with spiral spring regulating the balance wheel's mechanism for Christian Huygens in 1675. Coming back to the tourbillon, Abraham Breguet invented the concept and executed the idea of the balance wheel turn on itself by allowing the spring to move the point of gravity eccentrically. The debate about the over designed movement rests on the following hypothesis - one it was designed as a precision timekeeping device; second the instrument compensated for an imperfect regulating mechanism and third the watch mechanism did away with frequent lubrication necessity. The tourbillon that Breguet designed functioned in the vertical position as watches generally ended in a pocket of the waistcoat. The design regulated gravitational errors and in several tests of vertical timekeeping the tourbillon was unmatched. However, the advance of manufacturing techniques and wristwatch design going the automatic route made the tourbillon's popularity to wane. Today the tourbillon boasts a pedigree that any watchmaker is honoured to affix next to his or her name. To give an example Vianney Halter's Deep Space Tourbillon is a tour-de-force of watch making design (this watch sells for nearly 200,000 euros). Continuing in the fine tradition of Robert Hooke is the Manchester based watchmaker Perpetual Time; Taking apart the tourbillon mechanism and servicing it is a piece of cake for this WOSTEP (the independent and premier institution for excellent training in the field of horology) trained as well as BHI (British Horological Institute) certified watchmaker. Several Perpetual Time Reviews are testament to the professionalism and skill of this talented watchmaker. It will not be surprising as evidenced by detailed observation in watch forums about Perpetual Time Reviews extolling the passion that has earned this watchmaker the coveted badge from The Guild of Expert Craftsmen. |
AuthorPerpetual Time is a company of professional watch makers. We provide the top quality watch servicing & watch restoration services. To know more about our company name read our Perpetual Time Reviews online. Archives
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