Liga galvanic process

[Zsprings]

I have recently read about parts in ‘complication’ movements being made by the Liga process, I feel concerned that this might result in future servicing costs being increased, as perhaps such parts made by the galvanic process might only have a limited lifetime, to be replaced at each servicing? If I want to buy a new watch that runs and keeps time for years without servicing, should I buy only a rolex with a movement that contains all conventional parts?

[Robf52]

Had to google UV-LIGA process since I had never heard of it before; after reading, still don't understand it. Buy a Rolex and don't worry.

[Zsprings]

Originally Posted by Robf52

Had to google UV-LIGA process since I had never heard of it before; after reading, still don't understand it. Buy a Rolex and don't worry.

Yes, I know what the next all too often quoted response might be along lines of:- ' If you can't afford the cost of servicing, you can't afford the watch!

[77T]

What movement uses parts having this type of fabrication?

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[Zsprings]

Originally Posted by 77T

What movement uses parts having this type of fabrication?

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I searched UV-Liga, quite interesting, I found reference to 4130, and a pic of a 'curious' meshing wheel found under the auto winding bridge has individual teeth made up of cantilevered springs which flex inwards when the wheel meshes.
So from now on, I am going to make sure my Daytona is wound up and cogs rotating, because on another post, we were informed springs left in one position for a long period can lose spring tension and take up the set position?

[77T]

Originally Posted by Zsprings

I searched UV-Liga, quite interesting, I found reference to 4130, and a pic of a 'curious' meshing wheel found under the auto winding bridge has individual teeth made up of cantilevered springs which flex inwards when the wheel meshes.
So from now on, I am going to make sure my Daytona is wound up and cogs rotating, because on another post, we were informed springs left in one position for a long period can lose spring tension and take up the set position?

Thanks for clarifying what movement you were concerned about. Your reference to another post - a few were found. But none that I found mentioned a concern about the part made by the UV-Liga process causing a problem.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=637842

That’s just one example but all others were in similar vein - just marveling at the process.

The process for making the “curious wheel” is also discussed in a nice technical article:

https://watchesbysjx.com/2020/11/rol...4130-liga.html

As to your concern, I believe you are intending to leave the Chrono module engaged so the large center seconds hand on the Daytona is running continuously. That’s fine IMHO - but you’ll find more articles about the pro’s and con’s than about UV-Liga.

BTW, when the Chrono is left idle, and you press a pusher to start it up, the teeth will be engaged for the sweep seconds by a vertical clutch that wouldn’t cause breakage - the “curious wheel” just makes sure there is no gear lash or stutter that would cause a timed result to display an inaccurate reading by a fraction of a second.

Buying only older movements doesn’t make them more robust in this regard - just less accurate with solid teeth and a horizontal clutch.

Hope that allays your fears.


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[Zsprings]

in similar vein - just marveling at the process.

It's not that I don't marvel at the process, it's just that in my opening post I wonder if such tiny 'Liga' parts have a limited life span and would be replaced at service, thus increasing the overall cost of servicing a complications watch?
Take the 'curious' 'spring cog' wheel, would a watchmaker not automatically want replace it at service along with other 'Liga' formed parts?

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Zsprings

in similar vein - just marveling at the process.

It's not that I don't marvel at the process, it's just that in my opening post I wonder if such tiny 'Liga' parts have a limited life span and would be replaced at service, thus increasing the overall cost of servicing a complications watch?
Take the 'curious' 'spring cog' wheel, would a watchmaker not automatically want replace it at service along with other 'Liga' formed parts?

Quite possibly.
Just keep in mind that service centres routinely replace parts as part of the fixed priced structure.
So it's included in the service cost.

[77T]

No - i wouldn’t think so - it should last as long as any other gear in normal use. That gear is not likely to be replaced feee of charge except during warranty work.

Maybe Bas can chime-in about the service protocol for it.

But if you actually have a 4130-powered Daytona, and leave the Chronograph running continuously, you might induce some metal wear to that gear.

Remember the process itself is not the issue, it is the lightness of the spring teeth.



So if you actually leave the Chronograph idle for the most part - only using it to time events as it was designed to do - you will likely never replace it.




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