Perpetual Calendar, too complex for its own good?

[amphr1]

Not sure if this is the right section of the forum, but here it goes.

I've been looking at the JLC watches and their perpetual calendar, and leads me to look at other brands. Rolex doesn't make one, except maybe this one https://monochrome-watches.com/rolex...franck-muller/

I think Rolex maybe doing the right thing here because from what I read, it's just too damn fragile for something that's not really perpetual. Theoretically, you'll never have to set the watch, but if you think about it, you HAVE to get it served every 10 years, so there's no way it'll go on forever. Also I don't care how accurate your movement is, it's going to need an adjustment after a while to maintain accuracy.

I still want to own one, but only if I was rich enough that I have someone to maintain it for me, set it so it's right. Also apparently if god forbid you advanced the year by accident, you have to wait a whole year before you can get the right time or send it for a service!!!

[Harry-57]

I have three watches with perpetual calendars. They are all quartz. A part of the reason for this is what you said.

[mountainjogger]

I have thought about this too, OP. And your reasoning is why I have not seriously considered owning one.

[amphr1]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

I have three watches with perpetual calendars. They are all quartz. A part of the reason for this is what you said.

pic or it doesn't exist =p

[jarecki]

I love the idea of a perpetual calendar, and have always wanted one. But every time I try one on (various brands) they are in practice pretty hard to read. There’s just a lot going on on the dial. Even the IWC Portugieser perpetual, which is a huge watch, is still busy…

My favorite is the Royal Oak perpetual, but still hard to read… Stunning in person though.

As far as maintaining, just put it on a winder if you’re rotating with other watches.

[Adam84]

I love the horology behind a perpetual calendar, but I’m also too lazy to even set a date…all my watches are no date lol….

The only thing I had that came close was my Constellation Annual Calendar, which was quartz….great until I had to change the battery and then a PITA to set again

[powerfunk]

I've been saying for years that annual calendars are an upgrade over perpetual. Leap year display? And how long does it take to advance the date each March? Imho the advantages of a PC are objectively outweighed by the inherently more robust nature of an AC (2 date gears instead of 4) and the easier setting.

[S1mplee]

Pateks can go backwards if you miss the date. Not sure about other brands

[Jfullm42]

Only own one, it lives on the winder when it’s not on the wrist
940906DB-266E-4370-B35C-7799C8717F4C.jpg


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[Alexexec]

No thanks, impressive no doubt but I’ll stick with a date, possibly as much as a gmt or chronograph complication, any more than this and the thought of having to set the damn thing would ensure it stays in the box, not to mention I prefer simple easy to read dials

[eanzenberg]

If Rolex does a PC they’ll do it the Rolex way. Bulletproof movement which cannot be broken. Water resistant sport, flexible and to handle whatever you do in life.

[agsstructures]

I love mine!

[Avs Fan]

Coming from Panerai, it took me several years before I even wanted a second hand. I do however love the aesthetics of the Patek 5004. Unfortunately, it would not be compatible with my lifestyle nor bank account.

[Ichiran]

A mechanical watch is an anachronistic object and nothing beats a smartphone in terms of what a complicated mechanical watch offers. However, I do really like the mechanics of a watch, the finishing and workmanship behind it. There is no charging required every few hours, or changing of battery.

[inadeje]

While the cost wouldn’t be prohibitive the whole notion of having a watch I cannot wear in rotation unless I leave it on a winder spooks me. I’m simply not fanatical even to bestow such attention on a mechanical watch to always be worried it’s getting wound. Also, it negates leaving it in the safe when not in use. Apparently setting them is quite a task too. No thanks.

[Tach24LMS]

Just tried it on. It’s beautiful. And I do love it, but it’s fragile AF.

Maybe one day I’ll end up getting it.

[chocopeluche]

We almost got one, but the quartz haters sunk the ship. https://revolutionwatch.com/rare-fin...-oysterquartz/

It would have looked the same as a regular datejust/day-date and been just as easy to use.

[Oystersteel92]

When I was a much younger man and getting heavily into mechanical time pieces (this was before their current popularity), I thought these were super cool. However, as a 46 year old who has to use reading glasses and sometimes has trouble now making out smaller dials, I would never be able to actually tell what the date or day is. I have a Seiko Flight Master from 1991 and used to be able to read it. Not anymore.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by amphora001

pic or it doesn't exist =p

OK.



The only Speedie that interests me enough to own. Prosaic looking, not much to see at a glance (the dial frequently looks all black), under the radar, but packed with layers of functionality. And I can pretend I'm a spaceman.




This doesn't show the year but it knows what the year is. Very light (all titanium and not PDV coated), runs on solar and GPS. The finish and quality are incredible for the price.




When I put this on I am transported back to 1980. I'd got my first real job and moved to London, working as a biochemist. We though HP programmable calculators and machine code were the future. I should have had a Milgauss (the scientist's choice) but I couldn't afford one. I doubt I could have afforded to buy a spare link for a Milgauss bracelet!

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by agsstructures

I love mine!

Originally Posted by Jfullm42

Only own one, it lives on the winder when it’s not on the wrist

Are these Pateks easy to set if you decide to not use a winder?

[steve099]

Even the annual calendar is fragile, I already broke my SkyD and had to send it in for a warranty repair. Root cause bumped it too hard on something and broke the command bezel mechanism.

[agsstructures]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

Are these Pateks easy to set if you decide to not use a winder?

Yes not bad at all. You just have to follow the instructions that come with the watch. Mine came with a winder and I never use it.

[JadeRaven]

If a watch can't tell me what day easter is then what good is it

[amphr1]

Originally Posted by steve099

Even the annual calendar is fragile, I already broke my SkyD and had to send it in for a warranty repair. Root cause bumped it too hard on something and broke the command bezel mechanism.

What happened to that Rolex reliability and toughness?

[amphr1]

Originally Posted by Oystersteel92

When I was a much younger man and getting heavily into mechanical time pieces (this was before their current popularity), I thought these were super cool. However, as a 46 year old who has to use reading glasses and sometimes has trouble now making out smaller dials, I would never be able to actually tell what the date or day is. I have a Seiko Flight Master from 1991 and used to be able to read it. Not anymore.

Dude I'm only a few years younger than you and never thought of myself as old, not until I read your post LOL

[nosignalbmwdriver]

patek or bust for the PC

[bp1000]

I don’t think it’s about that at all. You are thinking too logically.

I bought a Patek PCC for the horological aspect. The technical genius of such a good movement. It’s just beautiful if you appreciate that sort of thing.

It’s manual wind for god sake so you have to keep it going. But mine just went in for a service as accurate as ever. It’s still about +1.5 consistently each day.

You could in theory wear it as a daily but for me it’s just one watch I own.

You really doing need anything more than a explorer unless you absolutely need a date. Then just get a datejust on oyster with a fluted bezel. That watch ticks all the boxes if you want something logical.

[bp1000]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

Are these Pateks easy to set if you decide to not use a winder?

No and my Patek 5270 is manual wound.

The setup is complicated. I forget if I don’t wear it for a while so I have instructions in my office.

Set it to 6am,
Set it to 1st
Correct month and leap year
Correct date
Correct day
Correct Moonphase
Set time

I may even have that in the wrong order!!

[Passinthru]

Kurt Klaus solved the problem of how to set a PC. Just don't go past the time/date or you have to wait for time to catch up.
Also, never did understand the logic of a manual wind PCC. Given the difference in values between a PP 3940 and 3970 ……. my mistake.

[AlbionJackal]

If it's got any of those tiny pressers that you have to press with some special tool in order to set the watch, count me out.

Get a Sky-Dweller and enjoy that bezel action. It's only an annual calendar but hey, ten times better than having to remember 5 or 6 steps that have to be concluded in the right order... Life's too short and sadly not perpetual for all that mularky...