There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
Since the sundial was invented some 5,500 years ago, humans have taken a keen interest in horology, or the science of timekeeping. And it’s no wonder why. Clocks break up the day in standard sets of intervals, allowing us to better organize our lives. Today, we’re utterly dependent on the clock—the world revolves around it. So it’s no surprise that timekeeping devices are everywhere, from our phones and computers to our walls and dashboards.
Why, then, do wristwatches still exist? Because watches—especially mechanical watches—are more than just timekeepers. When watch enthusiasts see a watch, they see a wearable work of art. They see craftsmanship, innovation, and a way to express their personal style. They see adventure, history, provenance, and sentimental value. Watches are given as heirlooms and as milestone markers, and they’re passed on across generations. They are daily companions on the road of life. Indeed, they are not just keepers of time but also of memories.
Like wristwatches themselves, mechanical wristwatches seem outdated. After all, they were invented some 500 years ago. Not only are they less accurate than battery-powered watches, they also require more frequent cleaning and calibration. And yet, since the 1980s, mechanical has been the primary source of fascination for watch enthusiasts.
Why mechanical? Much of the appeal lies in the watch’s movement: the motor that keeps the watch ticking. As its name suggests, the movement comprises tons of tiny brass and steel components working in unison—the escapement, rotor, springs, and gears, to name only a few. It’s little wonder why many enthusiasts refer to mechanical watches as tiny cities.
In order to activate those moving parts and keep the watch accurate, mechanical watches must store power mechanically, then release that power in a controlled manner to turn the gears. Some mechanical watches are manually wound by hand, though most mechanical watches today are automatic, or self-winding, which means they’re wound by the wearer’s natural movement—all without the aid of a battery. Mechanical watches are true wonders of engineering.
Quartz watches, on the other hand, use a battery and a tiny synthetic quartz crystal. The battery emits an electric current, which oscillates the quartz crystal at a precise frequency. While they are more accurate than mechanical timekeeping devices, quartz watches lack the intricacy and soul of a mechanical watch.
Basic Watch Components
To understand watches, it’s important to familiarize yourself with basic watch componentry and terminology. Below is an incomplete list of the elements that make up the modern wristwatch.
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