Is there a reason for this?

[zapot]

Hi,

Is there a reason for Rolex and other watch makers to only put a date dial that goes from 1 - 31? I meant wouldnt it be good if the dial is from 1 - 31 and then 1 - 30. This way,we just have to adjust our watch only once a year (Feb). Too squeezy to put all of them in? Or any other reason(s)?

[esm]

Originally Posted by zapot

Hi,

Is there a reason for Rolex and other watch makers to only put a date dial that goes from 1 - 31? I meant wouldnt it be good if the dial is from 1 - 31 and then 1 - 30. This way,we just have to adjust our watch only once a year (Feb). Too squeezy to put all of them in? Or any other reason(s)?

i think that is because date wheel only comes in single layer.... so it'd be very unlikely the designers going to spend time and effort to make/find another location for a second date wheel/2nd layer


(google pic)

[Numismatist]

To do this is a much higher 'complication'; Patek, Vacheron, A. Lange & Sohne and others do this, but it significantly raises the price.

[zapot]

Originally Posted by Numismatist

To do this is a much higher 'complication'; Patek, Vacheron, A. Lange & Sohne and others do this, but it significantly raises the price.

But I thought if they are able to squeeze another 1 - 30 into the date wheel instead of any complication or second date wheel, doesnt that solve it? Well, no perpetual calendar per say but at least need to unscrew the crown only once a year.

[MikelSS]

Originally Posted by zapot

But I thought if they are able to squeeze another 1 - 30 into the date wheel instead of any complication or second date wheel, doesnt that solve it? Well, no perpetual calendar per say but at least need to unscrew the crown only once a year.

But you still have July & August and December & January with 31 days

[Mosco]

Originally Posted by MikelSS

But you still have July & August and December & January with 31 days

Right. What OP is saying is that there would be ONE date wheel with 1-31, then 1-30 - basically with 61 markers. It is actually a good idea, IMO. That's close to an annual calendar, not perpetual, though.

[MikelSS]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Right. What OP is saying is that there would be ONE date wheel with 1-31, then 1-30 - basically with 61 markers. It is actually a good idea, IMO. That's close to an annual calendar, not perpetual, though.

Right, but you would still have to change it in Feb, August and then Jan instead of Feb, April, Jun, Sept & Nov.

My point was that it not 1 change a year, it's 3 instead of 5. I love changing the date on my watch (it's my alone time with it hahaha)

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Right. What OP is saying is that there would be ONE date wheel with 1-31, then 1-30 - basically with 61 markers. It is actually a good idea, IMO. That's close to an annual calendar, not perpetual, though.

And add a 5x cyclops, the numbers would be half the size, and you are good to go.

[Roja]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Right. What OP is saying is that there would be ONE date wheel with 1-31, then 1-30 - basically with 61 markers. It is actually a good idea, IMO. That's close to an annual calendar, not perpetual, though.

Then, each time you'd adjust the date, you'd have to flip through 30 numbers instead of 2...

What Bighaole said!

[Roxas]

Originally Posted by zapot

But I thought if they are able to squeeze another 1 - 30 into the date wheel instead of any complication or second date wheel, doesnt that solve it? Well, no perpetual calendar per say but at least need to unscrew the crown only once a year.

Not easy like that. The date wheel is not big enough to contain 61 numbers.

[johnnyc]

local watch shop told me that a perpetual calendar is at least a 40k watch. don't know how true that is. higher complication

[mitchy]

Originally Posted by johnnyc

local watch shop told me that a perpetual calendar is at least a 40k watch. don't know how true that is. higher complication

not true omega makes a Deville Hour Vision PC for about 15K in SS which is a remarkable price

[Danand]

Originally Posted by mitchy

not true omega makes a Deville Hour Vision PC for about 15K in SS which is a remarkable price

Even cheaper is the omega aquaterra annual calendar at about 9-10k in ss. It's quite a nice watch.

[Casey VP-26]

If you include Feb. This would be a perpetual calendar

[Onikage]

It would be a BIG datewheel. Wouldn't the watch face have to be more than twice as big? Could maybe do it with two small wheels each going from 0 to 9. like a rolling counter. As for the movement I dunno how complicated that would be to include it in a watch movement.

[Onikage]

Adjusting the date has never bothered me. It's about becoming acquainted with your watch!

[Onikage]

Maybe use smaller numbers. It would NEED a cyclops though :p

[Tri-Tip]

How about one with a whole year on it, it would have to have a Feb 29, and all but leap year, you'd have to move it forward once a year.

A friend of mine has some fancy watch that is supposedly good on dates for up to 100 years from now.

[clarencek]

Originally Posted by Tri-Tip

A friend of mine has some fancy watch that is supposedly good on dates for up to 100 years from now.

Is it a G-Shock?

[bighaole]

Originally Posted by clarencek

Is it a G-Shock?

From a description of the IWC perpetual calendar mechanism:

The calendar will function properly until the year 2499, though it will require an internal adjustment on March 1, 2100 (in which year the normally expected leap year will be skipped). Those watches with century display will also require a special service on January 1, 2200 to replace the century slide with one numbered 22, 23, and 24. Interestingly, those watches with the century display create one of the most extreme ratios in the history of watchmaking: for each movement of the century slide, the escape wheel has completed about 6.3 billion rotations and the balance has completed approximately 94.5 billion half-swings.

[bighaole]

The other problem to consider is, with a single 31 day wheel, you have to click ahead 1 to 3 days, 5 times a year. With this 61 day wheel, you'd be good until August 31st, when you'd have to click through 30 days to reset your date. The same would happen when you cycled back around to January.

[Onikage]

Come on guys, it's not really a chore to change the date is it? It's part of owning the watch. I seriously don't see what the deal is here. I'm sure they've already thought of this and decided it was pretty pointless? It's a tried and tested thoroughly robust movement. It can only be something else to malfuntion if they add extra datewheel mechanisms for the sake of people being too lazy to change the date. :p!!

[Abid]

I for one get excited to open the crown of my watch, just to see the trip lock and how smooth it is! To each there own tho!

[zapot]

Originally Posted by Abid

I for one get excited to open the crown of my watch, just to see the trip lock and how smooth it is! To each there own tho!

Me too, excited to open the crown. But scared that I will not screw the crown properly and water will get in, also afraid that I might damage the screw threads. Not to mention I still have to adjust the time correctly... : )

[rolexertion]

Originally Posted by zapot

I meant wouldnt it be good if the dial is from 1 - 31 and then 1 - 30. This way,we just have to adjust our watch only once a year (Feb). Too squeezy to put all of them in? Or any other reason(s)?

There are actually three spots where an alternating 30/31 would not work: December and January both have 31 days, as do July and August. February of course would also need adjusting for.

[zapot]

Originally Posted by rolexertion

There are actually three spots where an alternating 30/31 would not work: December and January both have 31 days, as do July and August. February of course would also need adjusting for.

That's right, I didnt think abt that earlier on, perhaps that is why no watch maker bothers to do that.

But what about making August 30 days, Sep 31 days and so on to our calendar instead, then maybe that concept will work? Then only one change a year?

[dnagwhogas]

You guys have too much time on your hands to have thought of this...LIKE ME!

[Zed Homme]

Everybody is forgetting that October has 31 days as well. So from oct till Jan, you'd need to stay at 31. An annual calendar movement would be easier...