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Showing 1 of 3 reviews about:
MarPabl
1088
Nov 12, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
Drop was late shipping this watch, like a full week later... not good but anyway I finally got the watch. Let me start saying that I don't buy quartz watches. I specially dislike chronograph quartz watches. So I got this one because it's mecaquartz. This means you've got a quartz movement for the timekeeping function and a mechanical chronograph module for the chronograph function. This is indeed an interesting combination IMHO. I didn't have one of those so I wanted to try it. The mecaquartz movement solves the worst shortcoming with the quartz chronographs which is: those are not "instantaneous" Many quartz chronographs work like this: if you want to start using the chronograph, you must wait for the seconds hand to get to the zero mark (when the seconds hand is shared with the timekeeping function, which is usually the case) Normally, that seconds hand will move at around 10x speed, but even in that case, if the seconds hand happens to be @ the 10 seconds mark, you need to wait "50 seconds sweeping" which translates to 5 full seconds if the hand moves @ 10x speed. So if you really needed a precise start in the rush of the moment... it's not gonna happen. But the story doesn't end there... if you've finished using the chronograph and you need to reset it, you must wait for all the hands to get to the zero mark. Some movements are faster and have several stepping motors (maybe even bidirectional), but you must wait for the hands to go to zero mark anyway. Which brings me to the conclusion: if you needed the shortest time to start the chronograph for a second round... it's not gonna happen. And don't lose your instruction manual because you may need it to recalibrate the chronograph hands (because they don't return to the zero mark anymore)... which is a common issue with quartz chronographs. The mechanical chronograph is a game changer: you press the start button and the chronograph starts right away at that very same movement, no wait needed. When you stop and then reset the chronograph, all the hands return to zero mark immediately, no wait needed. So for me the mechanical is the only useful chronograph, always available whenever I need it. If you're even more picky, you've got the flyback (immediate restart from zero, no need to stop->reset) or even the rattrapante (two seconds hands or even two minute hands for laps measures) Watch this video to better understand it: https://youtu.be/sIGhlsQkmIY Returning to this Elysee, it's notable because it's mecaquartz so yes you have the quartz timekeeping function but also a mechanical chronograph module so no wait to actually use it. I don't like the ticking seconds hand, but at least on this chronograph the seconds hand is tiny so I don't mind that much. The watch is nice, but you notice the price point... it's not as solidly built. Also, the marks are indeed tiny, but it's nice having both a tachymeter and telemeter scales. The pushers feel "mechanical" and if you hear the chronograph in action, you'll hear both the quartz ticking as well as the mechanical module working... so you won't hear a "steady" beat, but rather a combination. Upon receiving this watch, I changed the leather band for another hybrid leather band with silicone underneath in order to avoid damaging the leather with normal usage (sweat for example). I really don't appreciate the 60 minute counter @ 12, and I never understood why the Valjoux 775x, the ETA 2894-2, the Zenith El Primero, the Rolex 4130, the Breitling B01 and several other chronographs have a 30 minute counter with the (usually 12) hour counter showing half hours increments, until I tried reading a 60 minute counter... I really struggle determining the minute that thing is pointing to. While I don't mind knowing which second is exactly at the moment (that's also a tiny counter), when I'm reading the chronograph, I need to know exactly how many minutes have elapsed. So I would preferred the traditional 30 minute counter, but I guess you can't have everything you wish for... In conclusion, I'm happy with the watch. It's by no means the best I've owned but it has got an interesting chronograph module.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
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