Lube Free Movement???

[Jimbits76]

Okay fellow members...

Taking a leaf out of the fab Larry's book I am actually going to try and post a technical question regarding the future of Rolex movements.

Yesterday, Jaeger le Coultre sent me their latest grogeous hardcover catalogue and watchclub doodads and something caught my eye.

Their new Master Compressor Extreme LAB uses no lubrication whatsoever within it's movement.

Hard to believe? I did a bit of research and found some info which I've pasted at the back of this post.

We have spoken before about Omega and co axials but with ever more technological developments appearing, will Rolex start setting new trends?????

Quoted from The Watch Quote

"Revolutionary by its very nature, the Master Compressor Extreme LAB does away with the need for any lubricants in the movement. All watch parts have been entirely rethought to achieve the supreme horological quest to eliminate oil so as to ensure optimal operation. Traditional mechanical movements use oils or grease to ensure the ideal operating of all the parts in motion. These take the form of oils in varying degrees of fineness for parts with high translation or rotation speeds, or grease for parts subject to powerful pressures or stresses.Unfortunately, the properties of such oils and grease deteriorates over time and the performances of the movement likewise decline if these lubricants are not replaced in due time.

Watchmaking is no exception to this rule, which is why only a lubricant-free watch movement could be genuinely considered as perfect.

Testing conducted during the 1970s on plastic movements had already shown the way towards doing without some of the oils and grease. However, these watches did not stand the test of time, which resulted in wear on the parts that in turn rapidly diminished their chronometric and functional performances.

In its ongoing search to enhance the reliability of mechanical movements, Jaeger-LeCoultre had already renounced the use of lubrication in the ball-bearing mechanisms of automatic winding systems, by introducing ceramic ball-bearings as early as 2002.

Today, the research team at the Manufacture in Le Sentier is raising the bar even higher, exploring totally uncharted territory by making a mechanical movement run without the help of any lubricant whatsoever. This research has culminated in the brand-new Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 988C: the first mechanical movement in watchmaking history to operate in an accurate and reliable manner with no lubricant.

The engineers and watchmakers have resorted to new materials and new combinations of materials in order to rise to this historical challenge. The EasiumTM carbonitride thus makes its grand entrance onto the watchmaking stage. This extremely hard material features extraordinary tribological properties and is therefore particularly suited to the making bearings able to operate without lubricants. This is why, in Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 988C, Easium replaces the traditional jewels lubricated with a fine oil. The burnished steel pivots of the balance-staff are coated with a special surface treatment and turn inside an Easium bearing. The endstone is also made from Easium. This is also a material used to make the two bearings allowing the carriage to turn in the bridges without any need to add jewels that would require lubrication. Watchmakers examining the movement will look in vain for the red gleam of the pallet-stones, noticing instead a distinctive dark substance: black crystalline diamond, a synthetic material as hard as natural diamonds but with considerably enhanced operational properties. Its friction on the silicon teeth of the escape-wheel does not require any oil to improve its operating longevity. All the burnished steel pivots of the wheels and pinions are coated with a surface treatment that obviates any need to oil the jewels.

On the other end of the movement, the barrel grease has also disappeared. Instead, a graphite powder helps the bride to slide smoothly inside the drum when the mainspring has been wound beyond the maximum power reserve by the automatic winding mechanism. The molecular structure of graphite consists in a stack of microplatelets; contrary to grease, it retains its lubricating properties over time, whatever the temperature and the hygrometry level. As for the ball-bearing mechanism of the oscillating weight, in addition to the use of ceramic ball- bearings mentioned earlier, friction has been reduced by optimising the rotor which features carbon fibre arms and a distinctly lighter and more rigid base. Finally, the oscillating weight segment is surprising in itself with its iridium platinum alloy, the densest non-toxic physical body currently machinable. The entire winding/time-setting mechanism is coated with Nickel-PTFE in order to eliminate the customary greasing points. The date jumper-spring features a frictional surface that also operates in “dry” mode.

The early years of each century are particularly propitious to creativity. On behalf of all watch connoisseurs, one may sincerely hope that the discoveries being made by Jaeger-LeCoultre will have a lasting influence on 21st century horology. "

J

[DSJ]

Of course graphite powder is a lubricant, albeit a dry one. Ask any locksmith.

Pretty cool though.

[mfer]

This is amazing, but I wouldn't call this a lubricant free watch. Just an liquid lubicant free watch. Graphite is a lubricant. So is all of that coating they are doing. A lubricant isn't necessarily a liquid. I bet that these parts/coatings will wear out as well, but they may very well last much longer than the 5 years that oil lubs do.

Lubricant:
Any substance interposed between two surfaces in relative motion for the purpose of reducing the friction and/or the wear between them.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by DSJ

Of course graphite powder is a lubricant, albeit a dry one. Ask any locksmith.

Pretty cool though.

Damn! You beat me!

[Jimbits76]

Aha you clever gits....

However JlC are saying it will never ever need replacing (relube)

J

[Timber Loftis]

Originally Posted by mfer

I bet that these parts/coatings will wear out as well

That was my thought as well. I read "coating" and immediately thought "deteriorates over time." Maybe this will change over time, too, for what is a coating today can become an anodized process tomorrow.

[Goodwatch]

It looks like this and will set you back something in the order of 350 thousand Pounds. It was introduced over a year ago.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

It looks like this and will set you back something in the order of 350 thousand Pounds. It was introduced over a year ago.

350? That all? Man, I'll take two!

[Tools]

I think that with the new technologies and man-made products like Delrin, Synthetic Sapphires and rubies, epoxies, stone and plastic, ceramics and even self-lubricating bronze, it's only a matter of time until we see a fully synthetic, exotic metals/materials, water impervious, maintenance free watch on the market..


I'm gonna stick around until it happens..........

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by mfer

350? That all? Man, I'll take two!

You can have mine, I don't like the red crown any more

[mfer]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

You can have mine, I don't like the red crown any more

Thanks for the chump change!

[Goodwatch]

With all that talk about people noticing one's Rolex, can you imagine the following:

There you sit in a bar, sporting your half a million dollar JLC, when someone next to you asks: "Hey buddy, what kind of Swatch is that, never seen that model before!?".

[mfer]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

With all that talk about people noticing one's Rolex, can you imagine the following:

There you sit in a bar, sporting your half a million dollar JLC, when someone next to you asks: "Hey buddy, what kind of Swatch is that, never seen that model before!?".

So funny b/c it's true!

[subman999]

Lube free watch!!! rubbish!! would you fly in a lube free airplane ?

[Lol-x]

Frans is right the watch has been announced a year ago, and I think they are only making a very small quantity. So you need to start saving those pennies

The lack of 'traditional lubricants' that are applied to movement is a new concept, but the surfaces of the components of the movement are specially treated with friction modifying agents. This is a special watch that is true. However, all mechanical devices do eventually require maintenance whether it be 5, 10, 15 or 20 years.

[Mars]

....these days with technological advancements are not necessarily liquid in nature. I agree that it is not a 'lube free' watch. The use of graphite, coatings, etc utilise the inherent properties in these materials to lube themselves. The only thing that I know of that comes even close to being lube free is the Atmos clock. But even that needs a service.....albeit measured in decades.

350K pounds!! That's a hell of a watch with no bling!

[mickeydainish]

very interesting... man that price seems dear!!!! not for me.... it just seems uncomprehendible!! :-)

[Jedi]

I put one on two nights ago.

A very nice timepiece, very light and boy does it look cool. I love the cut-out balance bridge.

Price point is also equally high.

Perhaps this thread needs to be moved?

[tudorman8276]

....OUCH....toooooooo much mula!!

[Z-Sub]

Lube doesnt' have to be liquid