Random thoughts thread

[wrxgoose]

I miss tye 90s. Watching SNL of the 90s, and having rum. So aweesome. Best cast, too

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Dimman

I'm not sure you do. Think of fantastically complex non-electronic machines. That cost as much (some even more than) as cars. And fit on your wrist.

$200,000 skeleton watch what what?

[6-Shift]

I feel like ichitaka05 would love Google Glass. Then again, who wouldn't?

[Spd229]

Originally Posted by Dimman

I'm not sure you do. Think of fantastically complex non-electronic machines. That cost as much (some even more than) as cars. And fit on your wrist.

I do love me some watch movements.

My grandfather actually used to make his own brand of watches, but it was at the wrong time it seems. He couldn't make much of a profit as each of his were hand made, compared to the common watches of the time (not sure if this was before or after quartz...it's been nearly a decade since I've heard the story). He's still got one or two.

I spent a summer or two learning jewelry repair from him, but never got into the watch / clock side of the business. Granted, putting seamless repairs into jewelry seems much easier than making those mechanical wonders operate. Laser welding machines make it a hell of a lot easier too, though it's pretty impressive to watch him rebuild some of the gears for watch movements with it...or the hands.

[Nevermore]

Saw a Lincoln MKX on my way into work this morning with the license plate AU FNGR. I found it amusing.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

$200,000 skeleton watch what what?

I have discovered a Jaeger LeCoultre moonphase that has me seriously thinking 'I don't need an 86...' It's 9k...

Originally Posted by Spd229

I do love me some watch movements.

My grandfather actually used to make his own brand of watches, but it was at the wrong time it seems. He couldn't make much of a profit as each of his were hand made, compared to the common watches of the time (not sure if this was before or after quartz...it's been nearly a decade since I've heard the story). He's still got one or two.

I spent a summer or two learning jewelry repair from him, but never got into the watch / clock side of the business. Granted, putting seamless repairs into jewelry seems much easier than making those mechanical wonders operate. Laser welding machines make it a hell of a lot easier too, though it's pretty impressive to watch him rebuild some of the gears for watch movements with it...or the hands.

Sounds fun.

It could have been pre-quartz and he would have been competing with cheap Swiss and American Hamilton, which was one of the best in the world back then.

Or the dawn of quartz when every mechanical maker was shitting their pants.

These days if he made most of his own movement he would be commanding a significant premium. Economic markets, sigh...

The watch thing is because I don't think the CFD thing would be worth the time/investment. I wanted to do heads and intake manifolds, but that ends up with complex supply chains and low margins, since casting would need to be outsourced, and finishing in-house. Then margins are razor thin.

Then I bought a Seiko 5 last weekend and have been fascinated with it. It's the Toyota Corolla of automatic mechanicals (cheap, reliable, Japanese engineered, foreign assembled), but the concept of it blows my mind. It runs about 15 seconds fast per day which is on-par with non Top or Chronometre grade Swiss. And is really just a spring powered transmission. Amazing.

But getting into the high-end stuff. What they can do doesn't even make sense. Look up Minute Repeater...

[Giccin]

Omg the Siracha Lays potato chip is soooo gooooooooood. ermygerdddddddd~~~~~~~~

[ayau]

Originally Posted by Dimman

I have discovered a Jaeger LeCoultre moonphase that has me seriously thinking 'I don't need an 86...' It's 9k...



Sounds fun.

It could have been pre-quartz and he would have been competing with cheap Swiss and American Hamilton, which was one of the best in the world back then.

Or the dawn of quartz when every mechanical maker was shitting their pants.

These days if he made most of his own movement he would be commanding a significant premium. Economic markets, sigh...

The watch thing is because I don't think the CFD thing would be worth the time/investment. I wanted to do heads and intake manifolds, but that ends up with complex supply chains and low margins, since casting would need to be outsourced, and finishing in-house. Then margins are razor thin.

Then I bought a Seiko 5 last weekend and have been fascinated with it. It's the Toyota Corolla of automatic mechanicals (cheap, reliable, Japanese engineered, foreign assembled), but the concept of it blows my mind. It runs about 15 seconds fast per day which is on-par with non Top or Chronometre grade Swiss. And is really just a spring powered transmission. Amazing.

But getting into the high-end stuff. What they can do doesn't even make sense. Look up Minute Repeater...

I have a Seiko automatic and it goes out of sync after a week or so. Gets pretty annoying. I'm thinking of just getting a G Shock. I need a beater watch like my Civic. Thoughts?

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by ayau

I have a Seiko automatic and it goes out of sync after a week or so. Gets pretty annoying. I'm thinking of just getting a G Shock. I need a beater watch like my Civic. Thoughts?

That's pretty much standard for any mechanical watch. A top of the line COSC-certified Swiss Chronometer grade movement can be a minute fast over 10 days and still be within spec. Mine gained a minute over 3-4 days so far.

There is a regulation mechanism inside that can speed up or slow down the movement, but it's quite sensitive. Mechanical accuracy also varies based on how wound the spring is and position it is in.

Pretty much any quartz will kick the ass of even the best mechanical (so far the Grand Seiko High Beat automatic seems to be the most accurate mechanical that's not a special one-off). For the best accuracy, you can get the quartz that radio-synch with atomic clocks. There are several G-Shock models that do this.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by Dimman

That's pretty much standard for any mechanical watch. A top of the line COSC-certified Swiss Chronometer grade movement can be a minute fast over 10 days and still be within spec. Mine gained a minute over 3-4 days so far.

There is a regulation mechanism inside that can speed up or slow down the movement, but it's quite sensitive. Mechanical accuracy also varies based on how wound the spring is and position it is in.

Pretty much any quartz will kick the ass of even the best mechanical (so far the Grand Seiko High Beat automatic seems to be the most accurate mechanical that's not a special one-off). For the best accuracy, you can get the quartz that radio-synch with atomic clocks. There are several G-Shock models that do this.

Is basically any watch that's not a mechanical watch is a quartz watch?

I'm thinking of getting this one.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Casio-GW9200-1-G-Shock-Riseman-Alti-Therm/dp/B001A62M04/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1361467203&sr=8-6&keywords=g+shock+9300"]Casio Men's GW9200-1 G-Shock Riseman Alti-Therm Solar Atomic Watch: Watches: Amazon.com[/ame]

Also, when you say it syncs with an atomic clock, don't you mean it syncs with an "atomic radio"? An actual device that syncs with a real atomic clock is actually rare from what I've read. Atomic syncing seems to be more of a marketing term than anything.

[M-17]

Originally Posted by Giccin

Omg the Siracha Lays potato chip is soooo gooooooooood. ermygerdddddddd~~~~~~~~

Is it really hot?

[boead]

I have a ZODIAC Titanium Men's Speed Control Watch I bought a few years ago and wore maybe twice! Its like new in the box with the plastic wrap on it.
VERY light, Awesome watch its just too big for me.

I wear a Raymond Weil W1 most days.

Id sell it if anyone is interested? $250?

http://www.ashford.com/watches/zodia...rol/ZO7702.pid

[Guff]

WANT


http://www.wheelkinetics.com/sales/10545/Asve.html

[M-17]

I pretty much feel like this today.



Not this.



Ahahahhaaa!!!


And for those who are confused on what the hell I'm talking about.

Here's something else you'll find amusing instead.

Recently a routine police patrol parked outside a local pub. Late in the evening the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated that he could barely walk.

The man stumbled around the car park for a few minutes, with the officer quietly observing.

After what seemed an eternity and trying his keys on five vehicles, the man managed to find his car which he fell into. He sat there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off. Finally he started the car, switched the wipers on and off (it was a fine dry night) flicked the indicators on, then off, tooted the horn and then switched on the lights. He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed a little and then remained stationery for a few more minutes as some more vehicles left.

At last he pulled out of the car park and started to drive slowly down the road. The police officer, having patiently waited all this time, now started up the patrol car, put on the flashing lights, promptly pulled the man over and carried out a breathalyser test. To his amazement, the breathalyser indicated no evidence of the man having consumed alcohol at all!

Dumbfounded, the officer said "I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the police station. This breathalyser equipment must be broken."

"I doubt it", said the man, "tonight I'm the designated decoy."