Gyromatic
Gyromatic ( suitcase word from Greek γύρος gyros , German 'rotation' and English automatic ) describes a model series of wristwatches by Girard-Perregaux , which were manufactured from 1957 to 1979.
properties
Gyromatic watches were automatic wristwatches . In the first few years the Gyromatic was equipped with calibres from the 21 and 22 series, the balance of which had an oscillation frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour. This was followed in 1962 by the series 32 calibers with an oscillation frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (with the exception of calibers 32.7 and 32A). The calibres in the 32 and 42 series are based on the AS 1687/1688 hand-wound calibres from Anton Schild . The automatic elevator was developed together with the companies Doxa SA , Eberhard & Co. , Favre-Leuba , Girard-Perregaux and Zodiac .
From 1966 the Gyromatic was brought out with calibers 32.7 (in small numbers) and 32A with an increased swing frequency of the balance of 36,000 vibrations per hour, which enabled a higher rate of accuracy of the gear regulator . These calibres had a diameter of 11.5 lignes . These watches were as Gyromatic RF designated ( French haute fréquence , RF ') and had also a micrometer screw , a dry lubrication (without clock oil ), a Clinergic-21 - inhibition , a ISOVAL -Spiralfeder the balance and a monometallic balance wheel.
Chronometer HF
In 1966 and 1967, 662 wristwatches with caliber 32A were produced, based on the Gyromatic caliber from 1957. This caliber had an increased oscillation frequency. All 662 watches were the Bureaux Officals de contrôle de la marche des montres sent (BO), where they checked over fifteen days at six positions and three temperatures and with the remark particularly good results as a chronometer certified and therefore as a chronometer HF were called . The Gyromatic Chronometer HF was offered with a stainless steel watch case in the US market for a price between $ 170 and $ 485.
Observatory chronometer
Of these 662 clocks, 40 were selected and submitted for certification to the Neuchâtel Observatory , where they were tested for an additional 40 days. These 40 clocks were all certified as chronometers by the Neuchâtel Observatory and subsequently referred to as Girard Perregaux Observatory Chronometer . The 40 certifications represented 73% of the certifications issued there in 1967. In 1967, on the occasion of its centenary, the Neuchâtel Observatory awarded a special prize in recognition of the accuracy of the submitted Gyromatic watches.
The following models
The successor to the caliber 32A was the caliber 42 from 1968, which had an increased power reserve of over 40 hours and a stop-seconds mechanism. This caliber was based on a GP-exclusive caliber from Anton Schild.
Subsequently, in 1970 the calibers 440 and 441 (both 12.5 lines) with a quick setting of the date display (change by pressing the crown ) were developed based on a GP-exclusive caliber by Anton Schild. These calibres did not have a micrometer adjustment screw and were used until 1979. The Gyromatic with a stainless steel housing was offered in 1974 for 520 German marks.
Quartz crisis
From 1969 Girard-Perregaux also developed quartz movements and established the standard of oscillation frequency for quartz movements of 32,768 Hertz , which is still valid today . The significantly higher accuracy of the quartz movements led to the quartz crisis from 1969 .
literature
- Hans F. Tölke: Everything has already been there. On Girard-Perregaux's "Gyromatics". In: Old clocks. Volume 3, 1988, pp. 63-68.
Web links
- 1966 advertisement for the Gyromatic HF .
- Tim Siragusa: Insider's Story - The 1967 Girard-Perregaux Gyromatic Chronometer HF Caliber 32A
Individual evidence
- ^ The Illustrated London News , Volume 253, Issue 2. Illustrated London News & Sketch Limited, 1968, p. 19.
- ↑ Paolo De Vecchi: Orologi da polso: Conoscere e collezionare il meglio dell'orologeria da polso del XX secolo. De Agostini, 2012, ISBN 978-88-418-7693-0 , p. 62.