The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I'd thought I contribute to this section by asking in layman's terms what the difference is... I'd be interested to hear the pros vs. cons or if it's a pure engineering decision based on each movement... I did google some pics and am trying to grasp the concept...

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

Column wheel is traditional, lever was an attempt to lower the cost.

Basically a chrono needs two settings - on and off, one engaging the hands, the other allowing for reeset (ignoring a flyback). This was traditionally achieved with the column wheel which was a wheel with columns and gaps - kind of like the top of a castle keep and the arms of the chrono would move into and out of the gaps between the columns as the chrono was started and stopped.

This was a fairly complex piece of engineering and hence expensive, and it also needed quite a lot of effort to rotate the wheel meaning more substantial engineering and more effort to activate the chrono.

The lever chronos is basically a series of levers that moves the chrono arms depending on its setting. That achieves the same results but is much easier to make - a piece of flat steel onpieces of flat steel on an arbor vs. a column wheel. That makes it easier and cheaper to produce and simpler to maintain. It also reduces the effort required to activate the chrono.

There is a third type which is a cam activated chrono which is effectively the same as the column wheel but with a cam that rocks back and forth - again a cheaper option.

The historic arguments are that the column wheel is 'better' because it's historical and looks better, etc, but there is no real logic to that argument. There is some argument that lever is actually a better approach because the act of engaging the chronograph has less impact on the beat of the movement and therefore less impact on the accuracy of the watch.

That's a very quick answer - does it help?

Couldn't have said it better thank you professor...

From some of the pictures I've googled earlier on, I can start to point out the movements that have the column wheel...

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

Column wheel is fairly easy to spot. Here's a shot of Breitling's B01 showing the construction fairly well.

Column wheel is visible below the rotor hub where the plate is cut out and you can see part of the chrono activation - the arm below the column wheel that currently is in one of the 'gaps' between the columns.

That's a beautiful pic of the 01 movement... where did you get that?

Below I posted a pic of another solid movement the Lemania 861...

this one has a cam correct?

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

Google helped with the image - just found a B01 shot and then clicked on the 'more sizes' option for the biggest available.

Lemania 1873 / Omega 861 is cam actuated chrono, the cam is the pressed steel with the large sxrew through it at the top of the photo - you can again see one of the chrono activation levers coming off of it down and to the left.

Is there any way someone could put a pointer on the column wheel?

I can clearly see it; in there somewhere!

TIA

R/

Highlighted in red on the attached.

roffstein. you are a legend

Although apparently not enough so for you to know my name

LOL Roffstein.

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I think it's easier if we stick to just Roff.

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