Leaving Chrono Function Running?
Discussion
Some will handle it better than others. The gearing is fine and shaped for rapid starting, not smooth power transmission. If it's the original Lemania based manual wind caliber it's probably about as unstressed as you're going to get for a chrono hand.
Of more concern may be the hour counter- when the chrono is off the reset hammer is holding it in place while the barrel wheel, which normally drives it, slides lubricated beneath a friction spring. If you leave it running it will stop sliding and can start to stick. Symptom will be that the hour counter runs even when the chrono is off.
Power reserve and timekeeping will be affected too- running a traditional chrono setup consumes a fair chunk of power.
Regarding damage, if you regularly service your watch it may cost a couple of parts that are usually included in the service anyway. Unless it's vintage or special in some way I wouldn't be paranoid about it lunching itself.
The chronograph wheel is very lightly lubricated to reduce drag and has a friction spring to reduce backlash so those would probably be the wear points if you use it more than occasionally. In theory the teeth of the wheel should wear from 24/7 running as they scrape, rather than roll, over each other. In practice I'm less sure.
Because of the leverage of so many gears, upsetting the chrono wheel will have more dramatic negative effects to running than the hour counter which runs off the full torque of the barrel and is designed with it in mind.
Of more concern may be the hour counter- when the chrono is off the reset hammer is holding it in place while the barrel wheel, which normally drives it, slides lubricated beneath a friction spring. If you leave it running it will stop sliding and can start to stick. Symptom will be that the hour counter runs even when the chrono is off.
Power reserve and timekeeping will be affected too- running a traditional chrono setup consumes a fair chunk of power.
Regarding damage, if you regularly service your watch it may cost a couple of parts that are usually included in the service anyway. Unless it's vintage or special in some way I wouldn't be paranoid about it lunching itself.
The chronograph wheel is very lightly lubricated to reduce drag and has a friction spring to reduce backlash so those would probably be the wear points if you use it more than occasionally. In theory the teeth of the wheel should wear from 24/7 running as they scrape, rather than roll, over each other. In practice I'm less sure.
Because of the leverage of so many gears, upsetting the chrono wheel will have more dramatic negative effects to running than the hour counter which runs off the full torque of the barrel and is designed with it in mind.
Edited by glazbagun on Thursday 31st October 08:41
If you leave the chrono running 24/7, you are obviously not using it as a timer, just as a "big" seconds hand.
No point in even having a chronograph - just wear a normal watch with a centre seconds hand.
I own a couple of decent chronograph watches - Zenith el Primero. I bought them because I like them (and the price was right), never really used the chrono function, just run it every now and again to make sure it still works.
I've also got a few Citizen Ecodrive chronos, which I tend to leave running as they are almost "disposible" watches. Probably wear them out quicker, and reduce the life of the "capacitor", but they were only a couple of hundred quid.
No point in even having a chronograph - just wear a normal watch with a centre seconds hand.
I own a couple of decent chronograph watches - Zenith el Primero. I bought them because I like them (and the price was right), never really used the chrono function, just run it every now and again to make sure it still works.
I've also got a few Citizen Ecodrive chronos, which I tend to leave running as they are almost "disposible" watches. Probably wear them out quicker, and reduce the life of the "capacitor", but they were only a couple of hundred quid.
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