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“SWAN NECK” DEVICES IN WATCHES
Due to its length, I’m going to divide this complete study about “SWAN NECK” DEVICES IN WATCHES in three parts: Part I, II and III, to be published on three different Threads.
“SWAN NECK” (Part I) – What is this? How does it work?
A complete technical and theoretical study of the Swan Neck devices installed in watches (gen or replicas)
“SWAN NECK” (Part II) – Does it work in replicas?
Quality, faults and reliability of the Swan Neck devices installed in replicas. Summary of fault percentages statistic. Present and future evolution.
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php?t=84847
The data to carry out this Thread Part II has been obtained through the observation and study of all PAM replicas fitted by Swan Neck I have been able to see and, mainly, through the enlarged pictures of all replicas fitted by Swan Neck (more than 200 replicas) from the catalogues, dated 20th June 2011, of three Trusted Dealers: Puretime, Times Shop y Replicamake (no TD yet) and two no TD: Trusty Time and Kingwatch. I have also studied many replica QC pics.
The conclusions obtained by this study of pictures are really interesting and even curious.
With this study I have been able to get a very reliable statistic of the situation, dated 20th June 2011, of the Swan Neck devices installed in the current replicas.
In this Thread Part II, I will carry out the analysis of quality, faults and reliability of the current replicas, bearing in mind this picture study of 200 current replicas and I will also add a summary of result statistic.
“SWAN NECK” (Part III) – Statistical Analysis of faults and reliability in replicas
A Complete Statistical Analysis of the data from the 200 studied replicas, according to fault types, models, dealers, prices, type of movement (Asian or called “Swiss”). Comparison with the last replica series. Present and future evolution.
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php?t=890737
I will try to publish this Thread Part III as soon as possible, possibly before the end of this year. I have already all data recorded, in fact I have used them to make the Thread Part I and II, but I need some time to arrange and publish all study in a statistical way, in order to get sound and valid conclusions. Besides, I want to wait for more information from the new replicas recent launchings (from the end June 2011) in order to establish comparisons with the studied replicas until 20th June 2011.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE NAME?
“SWAN NECK” (Part I)
What is this? How does it work?
A complete technical and theoretical study of the Swan Neck devices installed in watches (gen or replicas)
1 - INTRODUCTION
Many participants of watch fora (gen or replicas) are interested on knowing what is and how does the Swan Neck work. I have observed that those who don’t know the answers deep enough, reply in an inadequate or incomplete way. And experts don’t dedicate enough time to the answers and haven’t published any exhaustive study of this device. Therefore, many of these questions remain unanswered, thus being repeated in the fora too frequently.
As an example of above said, I have found in a gen watch forum, answering to the question: “What is a Swan Neck?”,a very curious, and obviously wrong, reply as follows: “The Swan Neck is an innovative way to keep pressure on the crown guard enabling the watch to stay waterproof. For me, it is more noticeable with my "swan neck" open then if the "crown guard" is unscrewed...So, the swan neck is a great invention and I think it looks cool.” (???)
This lack of information has led to turn the Swan Neck in a myth, making it an idealized device. There are many high expectations on the Swan Neck, and it is frequent to consider it as an element with the abilities to solve some technical problems of a watch movement. Sometimes, the Swan Neck is even considered like a necessary requirement for a watch to be precise and reliable.
As will be explained further in this study, this is not even close to the truth, since, despite its undeniable aesthetic beauty, the Swan Neck device cannot have those properties.
Luckily for us it happens in this way, because at this moment it is very difficult to find a replica watch with a functional Swan Neck throughout its working field. Thus being in most of replicas just a device with almost decorative or cosmetic functions. This matter will be widely discussed in the Thread Part II.
2 - PURPOSE OF THESE THREADS
It is my purpose, by these Threads about the Swan Neck, to explain in the most deep and organized possible way: what is exactly a Swan Neck device and how does it work, its exact function in the watch movement, and how can be checked if it is fully functional, what happens if the Swan Neck doesn’t work, the quality and reliability of the Swan Neck that can be found in the current commercial replicas and the present and possible future evolution.
I expect to answer most of the questions of the interested amateurs and to establish what we can expect from the Swan Neck devices found in the current commercial replicas.
I insist on the term “current” because the replica manufacture is evolving, and an improvement in the technical coming Swan Neck characteristics could be expected, given the increasing interest on this device shown by the amateurs. Obviously, those improvements, as always, will lead to an increase of the prices.
The last replica series (PAM111-112-177…), that appeared in the market about the end of June 2011, although don’t have a fully functional Swan Neck, present less defects on the fabrication, assembly and quality control, and have a more aesthetically correct aspect, as will be explained in the Thread Part II Section 17 about fault statistics summary.
3 - WHERE IS THE SWAN NECK LOCATED ?
The Swan Neck device is located over the “Balance Cock” surface of the watch movement, embracing the regulator lever, as can be seen in FIGURES 1.A and 1.B.
FIGURE 1.A – SWAN NECK DEVICE LOCATION IN A WATCH MOVEMENT
FIGURE 1.B – PAM UNITAS 6497 MOVEMENT FITTED WITH SWAN NECK
In the FIGURE 2 we can see two movements. The movement on the left has the Swan Neck device installed. The movement on the right side has not this device.
FIGURE 2 – MOVEMENTS WITH (left) AND WITHOUT (right) SWAN NECK DEVICE
In the FIGURE 3 we can see (circled in yellow) what is concretely a Swan Neck device in three different movements.
FIGURE 3 – THREE SWAN NECK DEVICES (CIRCLED IN YELLOW)
4 - WHAT IS A SWAN NECK, AND WHAT IS A SWAN NECK FOR ?
In the FIGURE 4 a Swan Neck device can be observed (circled in yellow) applied to a conventional regulator (circled in red). In that figure we are indicating the names that we will use over this study.
FIGURE 4 - SWAN NECK DEVICE APPLIED TO A CONVENTIONAL REGULATOR
The “Swan Neck” (aka “whip” or “J-shaped”) device is an auxiliary device applied to the conventional regulator of a watch movement, to achieve a fine adjustment of the regulator position and assure the firm maintenance of this adjustment position once established.
The fine adjustment is performed by a micrometric screw MS that determines, with high precision, the position of the regulator lever RL, and a spring swan’s neck-shaped SN, that through its spring tensile strength (orange arrow) keeps the regulator lever RL pressed against the tip of the screw MS.
MANDATORY CONDITION: The regulator lever RL must remain always, throughout its working field, pressed against the tip of the screw MS, due to the pressure made by the Swan Neck spring tensile strength. In this way the established adjustment position is firmly maintained.
When the regulator lever RL has the shape shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is usually called DAGGER and when it has the shape of the FIGURE 4 is usually known as NEEDLE. Although many professionals and amateurs always call DAGGER to the regulator lever RL despite its shape. In this study, and to avoid confusions, it will always be referred as regulator lever RL.
When you make a regulation adjustment, the Swan Neck device works combined with the watch movement regulator, and acts by moving the regulator lever RL, and at the same time it also moves the regulator head RH indicated in the FIGURE 4.
Further in this study we will detail how does the Swan Neck work, by tightening or loosening the micrometric screw MS, when a fine adjustment of the watch movement regulation is performed.
5 - BREAKING THE SWAN NECK MYTH
- The Swan Neck is NOT a type of more accurate or reliable movement. It is just an auxiliary device. It is completely incorrect to talk about a Swan Neck movement, even though it happens frequently.
- The Swan Neck will never improve the accuracy or reliability qualities of a movement.
- If the movement’s quality is good, a good Swan Neck will just allow us to better use its accuracy and reliability qualities.
- If the movement’s quality is poor, it will not at all improve, even though the best technical available Swan Neck was applied.
- The Swan Neck, in a strict definition, is not a regulator device either. It is just an auxiliary device applied to a conventional regulator.
- If the regulator doesn’t work properly, it will never work even though the best technical available Swan Neck was applied.
- It is very difficult to have a replica Swan Neck device which works properly throughout its working field.
- Fortunately, a poor quality Swan Neck or no fully functional will not be able to interfere negatively with the movement qualities and operation, unless it has loosen components inside the watch movement or avoids somehow some process of the watch mechanism.
6 – HOW DOES A SWAN NECK DEVICE WORK ? HOW DOES A REGULATOR WORK ?
COMBINED WORKING OF THE SWAN NECK DEVICE AND THE CONVENTIONAL REGULATOR
The Swan Neck device works combined with the watch movement regulator and acts by moving the regulator lever RL and at the same time it also moves the regulator head RH.
This Section 6 will let us not only describe how does a Swan Neck work but also how does a conventional regulator work.
6.1 – THE REGULATOR WORKING SYSTEM
When you make a regulation adjustment, by moving the regulator lever RL you also move the regulator head RH.
The regulator of a movement works like is shown in the FIGURES 5.A and 5.B
The regulator head RH has a lower device (called Curb pin & Boot) with a narrow slit which can “hold” the last turn of the Hairspring in different positions depending on the regulator lever RL regulation positions, making the “effective length” of the Hairspring longer or shorter (as opposed to its actually total length, because the portion of the hairspring after the slit remains stationary), decreasing or increasing its stiffness, which makes the Hairspring vibrates slower or faster and therefore it slows down or speeds up the watch movement.
FIGURE 5.A – HOW DOES THE REGULATOR WORK?
FIGURE 5.B – THE LOWER DEVICE OF THE REGULATOR HEAD “HOLDING” THE HAIRSPRING TO DETERMINE ITS “EFFECTIVE LENGTH”
In the FIGURE 5.B is shown how and where the lower device (Curb pin & Boot) of the regulator head RH “holds” the hairspring.
6.2 – COMBINED WORKING SYSTEM OF THE SWAN NECK DEVICE AND THE REGULATOR
To explain the combined working system we start from the intermediate regulation position, detailed as MEDIUM POSITION in FIGURE 6
MEDIUM POSITION (FIGURE 6)
- The screw MS stays in an intermediate position.
- The Swan Neck spring SN presses the regulator lever RL against the tip of the screw MS, keeping the adjustment stable.
- The regulator head RH stays in an intermediate position, thus it “holds” the Hairspring in a position that determines an intermediate “effective” length.
- Therefore the Hairspring stiffness will be also intermediate and its oscillation rate will take intermediate values.
- In this way the watch movement will run at medium speed.
FIGURE 6 – COMBINED WORKING SYSTEM OF THE SWAN NECK DEVICE AND THE CONVENTIONAL REGULATOR
FASTER POSITION (FIGURE 6)
- The screw MS has been loosened and, therefore, has been moved in the direction marked by the green arrow.
- The Swan Neck spring SN is making pressure over the regulator lever RL against the tip of the screw MS until it reaches the (+) FASTER position. This Swan Neck spring tensile strength will keep stable this performed adjustment.
- The regulator head RH will be moved towards the right side, according to the direction marked by the green arrow, and it “holds” the Hairspring in a position such that makes a shorter “effective” length for this Hairspring.
- Therefore, the Hairspring stiffness increases and its oscillation rate will take higher values. It will oscillate faster.
- In this way the watch movement will run at a faster speed. The timepiece will gain time.
SLOWER POSITION (FIGURE 6)
- The screw MS has been tightened and therefore has advanced in the red arrow direction, pushing the regulator lever RL in the same direction, until it gets the (-) SLOWER position.
- The Swan Neck spring SN gives and is moved due to the regulator lever RL displacement, but its tensile strength keeps pressing the regulator lever RL against the tip of the screw MS until it reaches the (-) SLOWER position. This Swan Neck spring tensile strength will keep stable this performed adjustment.
- The regulator head RH will be moved towards the left side, according to the direction marked by the red arrow, and it “holds” the Hairspring in a position such that makes a longer “effective” length for this Hairspring.
- Therefore, the Hairspring stiffness decreases and its oscillation rate will take lower values. It will oscillate slower.
- In this way the watch movement will run at a slower speed. The timepiece will lose time.
COMBINED DISPLACEMENTS
FIGURES 7.A AND 7.B show the combined displacements that have to be done by the regulator and the Swan Neck device in order to work in perfect conditions. The position marked in green is the FASTER one, while orange is MEDIUM and red SLOWER.
Tightening the screw we are moving from FASTER to SLOWER, displacing each element in the red arrows way, to slow down the movement. FIGURE 7.A
FIGURE 7.A – COMBINED DISPLACEMENTS OF THE REGULATION FROM FASTER TO SLOWER
Loosening the screw we are moving from SLOWER to FASTER, displacing each element in the green arrows way, to speed up the movement. FIGURE 7.B
FIGURE 7.B - COMBINED DISPLACEMENTS OF THE REGULATION FROM SLOWER TO FASTER
Please notice that in a fully-working Swan Neck device the regulator lever RL must remain always, throughout its working field, pressed against the tip of the screw MS, due to the pressure made by the Swan Neck spring tensile strength, assuring the regulator adjustment position.
7- PROS OF USING A SWAN NECK DEVICE.
- The Swan Neck device facilitates a very precise regulation by the micrometric screw MS.
- The Swan Neck device assures the firm maintenance of the established adjustment, by fixing the regulator lever RL against the tip of the screw MS due to the pressure made by the Swan Neck spring.
- It allows to take a maximum advantage of the good qualities of accuracy and reliability of a good movement. The Swan Neck cannot improve the quality of a bad movement.
- At an original gen market level it is a relative “cheap” device and we can get certain interesting advantages with a low relative cost. At a replica market level, the relative cost is much higher, the economical interest of a good Swan Neck device is more questionable and therefore the application of good quality and fully functional Swan Neck devices on replicas is being delayed.
8- WHAT HAPPENS IF A SWAN NECK DEVICE IS DEFECTIVE OR DOESN’T WORK PROPERLY THROUGHOUT ITS WORKING FIELD
In the case of a working and regulated watch, as well as we said that a Swan Neck will not improve the precision and reliability qualities of the movement, we can assure that, if the Swan Neck device is defective or doesn’t work properly throughout its working field, it will not affect the precision and reliability qualities of the movement. It will not affect either to the correct operation of the watch, as far as the Swan Neck device doesn’t have deformed or loosen elements that affect the free running of the movement.
Summing up, whatever the quality and reliability of a movement may be, the application of a Swan Neck that doesn’t work properly won’t affect at all those qualities, unless it has deformed or loose elements that difficult or prevent the correct work of the watch. In such case, those elements must be removed so they don’t affect the general movements.
To illustrate above mentioned, please read below indicated posts placed after the publication of this thread:
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/thanks-coldi-87007p4
Posts #34-#35-#36-#37
In the next Thread Part II we will explain how it is normally regulated a watch withaSwan Neck device defective or that it doesn’t work properly throughout its working field. And how we can make a cosmetic or decorative semi-functional adjustment or that at least it looks functional.
9.- THE WRONG CALLED SWAN NECK IN A7750 AND 7753 MOVEMENTS
Taken advantage of the prestigious and turned in a myth Swan Neck image and the general lack of knowledge about this device, we are nowadays seeing in some dealers catalogues A7750 and 7753 movements with a so-called Swan Neck applied.
For example you can see:
http://www.timesshop.net/carrera/3261-tg0224---tag-heuer-carrera-white-dial-ss---asian-7750-28800bph
http://www.timesshop.net/big-bang-series-48mm/3013-hb9009---big-bang-euro-2008-48mm-black-dial-rubber-strap---asia-7750-28800bph
http://www.timesshop.net/big-bang-limited-editions/3022-hb3411---big-bang-euro-2008-red-devil-pvd-bezel-black-dial---asia-7750-28800bph
The mentioned device is the one indicated in the Figure 8, and it is a device to move the adjustment regulator, but it is NOT a Swan Neck at all, and it doesn’t have a similar working system either.
FIGURE 8 – THE FALSE SWAN NECK OF THE MOVEMENTS A7750 Y 7753. A COMMERCIAL TRICK
This is just a commercial trick that tries to use Swan Neck’s good image to improve the reasons to sell the watches that have installed this system. But, once again, this is not a Swan Neck at all.
10.- PICTURES OF SWAN NECK DEVICES INSTALLED IN GEN WATCHES.
Some Swan Neck devices installed in original watches of different times are shown now.
Firstly two old Swan neck. The device on the left side should be from 1890-1900, the device on the right side is very curious, it has not screw but a circular “cam”, and it doesn’t seem a Swan Neck but a “Giraffe Neck”, but its working system is the same that a current Swan Neck.
We continues with other two old Swan Necks
We shown below other gen movements with Swan Neck devices installed.
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This study about SWAN NECK devices in watches continues in the following Thread:
“SWAN NECK” (Part II)
Does it work in replicas?
Quality, faults and reliability of the Swan Neck devices installed in replicas. Summary of fault percentages statistic. Present and future evolution
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php?t=84847
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This Thread is open. Therefore, I remain, of course, waiting for your comments, corrections, suggestions, discussions… in order to improve it for all people in this forum.
As always, I hope to have been useful and helpful with this Thread.
Many thanks for your kind attention.
ALE7575
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THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE RWI THREAD
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