Jump to content
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
  • Current Donation Goals

Ultimate Mille Miglia GT XL worth the doh..


verbal

Recommended Posts

Is it possible to hack the seconds on the XL? If not, that lends support to your theory (i.e. the chrono function runs constantly, independent of the movement). If the seconds do hack, I think it lends support to mine (i.e. the seconds are powered by the 9 o'clock subdial, which does hack on a standard 7750). :)

Hacking on a watch has nothing to do with the chrono seconds or normal seconds. Its a small thin metal strip which, when the stem is pulled out, the metal strip presses on the balance wheel thus stopping it. even if the seconds are running from the chrono seconds, if you pull out the stem to adjust the time it should stop just like any normal watch.

I dont think there are transfer gears

Link to comment
Share on other sites

even if the seconds are running from the chrono seconds, if you pull out the stem to adjust the time it should stop just like any normal watch.

You're right. Hacking it would still stop the chrono seconds.

Someone's just going to have to take one apart to get a real answer. Or, someone could just ask Angus...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just got this watch, and it is an amazing watch in my opinion. The case, strap and clasp are all very high quality and feel like an expensive watch. The detail of the dial is just stunning, and the real AR really gives this watch character. But damn that seconds hand is jerky, and it almost looks like a quartz watch to me at times. The genuine is also jerky from what I hear from genuine owners, and seeing one in person myself. I'm told that it is due to huge surface of the seconds hand, and therefore it is more apparent than say, if the running seconds were at 9 on the 7750, but again, it's still too jerky to be ignored.

Edited by thomasng
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No matter what movement you use, the datewheel has to be modified, I still have an old 7750 from a panny and that datewheel has a smaller diameter than the one used in the GTXL.

I haven't measured it yet but it's very obvious.

So on the cheap Asian 21J movement they needed to modify the datewheel, but also on the 7750... I don't get it :blink:

I believe the maker claimed the 7750 was necessary in order to put the datewheel in the correct place near the edge of the dial. However, the makers of the $100 version somehow managed to accomplish that using the smaller 21J Asian movement. For the price, it should really have at least a 2824 in it.

The gen uses a new derivation of the Valjoux 7750 known as the "Valgranges" movement, so the Asian 7750 would be the closest movement to the genuine. I think the real problem here is in the execution, not so much with the A7750 movement itself.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A continuously running chrono does not effect power reserve and according to The Zigmeister puts no more stress on the movement than a non running chrono. He has posted this a few times now.

actually, here's what The Zigmeister said:

Running the chronograph will:

1) wear out the second

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I received mine today and was quite disappointed also. The jerking second hand grabs your attention and undermines an overall good dial. The strap looks cheap and the keepers are really cheap. I will be looking for a replacement which will not be easy as it appear that the strap is 23mm in width not 22 or 24? I have had enough disappointments with rep watch lately to give this hobby up!!

TimeShare

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just received a response from Angus regarding the seconds hand in this movement. He gave me permission to share the information in this thread.

"I have contacted the factory already, the second hand is jumpy because the second hand is long and big, the geunine is also jumpy, you can check out the gen, the second hand is modified same as the genuine, the factory has all the ETA movements modification graphs and it will not be wrong."

In response to my follow-up question asking exactly how the seconds hand is powered, he writes, "I can tell you the movement uses transfer gears to run the second hand (I called the maker when I received your first mail about this)."

Has anyone who already purchased this model compared it to the gen? Is the seconds hand noticeably more "jumpy" on the rep in comparison to the gen? Perhaps they're both like that!

I tried on a gen a few months ago at a local casino. I honestly don't remember much about the seconds hand, but then again, I wasn't consciously looking for problems with the watch either.

Someone's just going to have to take one apart to get a real answer. Or, someone could just ask Angus...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Has anyone who already purchased this model compared it to the gen? Is the seconds hand noticeably more "jumpy" on the rep in comparison to the gen? Perhaps they're both like that!

I tried on a gen yesterday and there was a slight jumpiness, not quite as pronounced as my rep but if you focused on the second hand you could see that it didn't sweep as smoothly as other (rep) watches that I have. Perhaps this is due to the very long seconds hand making it more obvious?

Obviously I didn't take my rep into the AD but I have to say that I couldn't see, feel or smell and difference between the gen and my rep (other than the jerkiness of the seconds hand). I'm sending my Mille Miglia to The Zigmeister tomorrow so I'm sure he will be able to say somethings about the movement when he's had some time to look at it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I tried on a gen yesterday and there was a slight jumpiness, not quite as pronounced as my rep but if you focused on the second hand you could see that it didn't sweep as smoothly as other (rep) watches that I have. Perhaps this is due to the very long seconds hand making it more obvious?

Obviously I didn't take my rep into the AD but I have to say that I couldn't see, feel or smell and difference between the gen and my rep (other than the jerkiness of the seconds hand). I'm sending my Mille Miglia to The Zigmeister tomorrow so I'm sure he will be able to say somethings about the movement when he's had some time to look at it.

Awesome Rob. Keep us posted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got this watch from neil. the only concern I have is the noise the movement makes when I move my wrist about...very loud as the rotor moves around. Is this same as gen or should I get the thing oiled and cleaned???

Sorry i am ignorant to real terms. By the way, mine was the cheaper asian movement (black face and whited date)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Considering one of these and interested to read the posts about jerky seconds hand, and the comment from the factory that it is because it is long.

I have a gen Big Pilot, and the seconds hand is much longer than even the GT XL (47mm vs 44mm). This has an awesome movement as you'll know, but I have to say, the seconds hand on it is also noticeably jerky compared to say my gen Rolex - it can actually grab your attention. It is possibly because it is so long, but if this $10,000 watch with a superb movement is jerky, then it is not surprising that even the gen GT XL is too, never mind the rep.

I also have the rep of the IWC Portugese Chrono and agree that the 6 o'clock seconds hand is jerky.

mmmm - not sure what to do - perhaps just best to wait for the IWC Cousteau!!

My 2c!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I totally missed this one...

If it has a 7750 inside the watch, then:

- the center seconds are nothing more than the chrono being ON all the time. There is already a center seconds transfer gear system, the chronograph gears. It is impossible to "modify" a 7750 to make it have center seconds without using the actual chrono functions. And if you already have center seconds, why would you remove the parts and install new parts, to achieve the same effect - namely center seconds.

- The quote from my review of the 7750 is taken out of contex, if you read the whole post, basically it says this:

"Running the chrono ALL the Time, will NOT wear anything our, NOR will it affect the power reserve..."

If this is the new A7750 at 28.8K, it should be smooth as it's 8 beats per second, if it's the older version (which is what I suspect), then at 6 beats per second, it can be a bit rough. However, there is an adjustment on the engagement of the tilting pinion to the center seconds gear, if this is out (on most every A7750 I service, it's not adjusted correctly) then you will have jerkiness due to poor engagement of the teeth.

Never had one pass the work bench, but this arrangement would not concern me, since the A7750 even with the chrono ON all the time, is as reliable as with the chrono OFF...

Hope this clears up and answers the questions raised.

RG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I received mine today and was quite disappointed also. The jerking second hand grabs your attention and undermines an overall good dial. The strap looks cheap and the keepers are really cheap. I will be looking for a replacement which will not be easy as it appear that the strap is 23mm in width not 22 or 24? I have had enough disappointments with rep watch lately to give this hobby up!!

TimeShare

Timeshare, get a leather strap of 24mm, it will fit : half a mm both sides is easy to insert, as leather is flexible.

Better to go one size over, whereas if you take 22, it will be noticeable.

Look at my Festina in my collection (see signature), it's also 23mm at lugs. I've put a 24 mm strap for Panerai. Do you spot anything ? ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ziggy,

do you see any good reason why the 7750 was chosen against a Swiss ETA or a common Asian 21J (as for the cheaper version) ?

Thank you.

Not really, I am not sure what the thinking was...

BUT as luck would have it, guess what arrived in the mail yesterday??

Yes, one of these very watches, for a full service, so I will post some pics later next week of how they did the center seconds, I still believe it's just the chrono on at all times...but we will see later this week...

RG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...
Please Sign In or Sign Up