Groundbreaking invention: Restart on the fly

Chronographs are precision tools for measuring the duration of an event. This stop function primarily enhances wristwatches that have been developed for professional or sporting purposes. The flyback mechanism optimizes handling: the special models have two pushers for stopping a time stage. The one at the 2 o’clock position starts and stops the measuring process. The button at the 4 o’clock position is used to return to the starting position.

Flyback watches allow an alternative use of the second pusher: If you press it during the measuring process without releasing it, the second hand returns to its original position. All you have to do now is take your finger off the button to start the next measurement. The flyback function is also known as the flying zero position or “retour-en-vol”. If you like it trendier, you could use the term “reset” to explain this functional feature to a layperson.

Efficient operation for time measurements

Anyone who sees wristwatches not only as a style statement, but also as an instrument for sports or at work, will recognize the advantage: if you want to restart measuring processes or start the next measurement immediately, three actions are normally necessary. Stopping is followed by zeroing and starting the next counting process.

Mechanical stopwatches, which used to be used for sporting events, are intuitive to operate. It rests in one hand and the fingers hover over the buttons for quick reactions. It becomes more awkward when you have to reach for the opposite arm and press small buttons three times in the correct order. If every second counts, efficient flyback watches are a great help: They combine three steps into one action that you can complete without looking at the timer.

More safety and accuracy thanks to on-the-fly zero setting

The first flyback watch had barely been invented when it accompanied Richard Byrd, who flew over the South Pole for the first time in 1929. Anyone familiar with the conditions of early aviation will understand his enthusiasm. Wristwatches were important navigational instruments. For example, the chronograph was activated at the sight of a prominent landmark in order to safely plan the further course of the flight.

For long distances, it was necessary to stop time periods several times. Even if you performed the three maneuvers for zeroing as quickly as possible, the seconds lost added up. If you didn’t take this into account, you risked navigational errors, which could be fatal at high flying speeds. It was conceivable to miss the target or misjudge the fuel supply. Professional aviation pioneers took these differences into account using complicated calculation methods. They were simplified when the flyback function made its debut. The same applied to scientific and military measurements, which required precision to the second.

The initial spark: patent from Longines

The pioneering work was carried out by the Swiss brand Longines, which presented a flyback watch in 1925 that was praised by pilots. Around ten years later, it patented the function that characterized the legendary L13ZN calibre. It was a milestone in the art of watchmaking with an innovative movement design:

The classic design stipulates that the relevant movement element must be disengaged when the chronograph or the hands are moved to the zero position. If it remained engaged, damage would be inevitable. Longines has succeeded in integrating a mechanism that disengages and engages the zeroing process in an instant. It is the heart of the flyback function, which is one of the most sophisticated complications.

Refining inspiring ideas – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms

One brand ensured the comeback of the additional function in 1996 and still cultivates it today – for example with the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback. It shows that the complication is also practical for diving when the manufacture masters a challenge: the more operating elements there are, the trickier it is to ward off penetrating environmental influences. The black Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback with 300 m water resistance, ceramic case and canvas strap succeeds in this mission.

Watch history brought to life – Chopard L.U.C. Chrono One Flyback

The flying zero setting is often a tribute to watchmaking tradition. The Chopard L.U.C. Chrono One Flyback is a prime example of this. The premium manufacturer has abandoned its preference for gold to create an authentic homage for this limited edition. The automatic chronograph pays tribute to the titanium alloy that plays a role in aviation. The watch design thus builds a bridge to aviation, for which the flyback function was developed. The khaki-colored dial and light brown leather strap reinforce the vintage charm.

A breath of fresh air for the tried and tested – Hublot Big Bang Unico Gourmet 42 mm

The luxury brand based in Nyon only made its debut in 1980. By then, the relevance of the flyback function had long since been put into perspective. Ambition and a love of high-contrast design were behind the idea of giving the colorful Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer Purple 42 and the Unico Gourmet the watch complication. It proves that unconventional approaches and traditional craftsmanship do not contradict each other. The same applies to the built-in chronograph movement: with its double clutch system and column wheel on the transparent dial side, it stands out from the ordinary.

By no means threatened with extinction – chronographs with flyback function

Aircraft, research or professional sport: there have long been measuring instruments that outperform mechanical flyback wristwatches in terms of accuracy and functionality. Apart from a brief pause during the quartz crisis, the chronograph add-on mechanism has held its own. Those who have a soft spot for it are catered for by ambitious watch manufacturers in a variety of ways, for example:

• Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle (RD#4)
• Breguet Type 20 Chronographe 2057
• Frederique Constante Chronograph Manufacture Flyback watches
• Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer Purple 42 Special Edition
• Hublot Big Bang Unico Gourmet 42-mm
• Longines Spirit Flyback
• Patek Philipp 5935A Worldtimer
• Raymond Weil Freelancer Pilot
• Rolex Yacht-Master II
• Tag Heuer Monza Flyback watches
• Zenith Pilot Big Date

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Source image for the article: From File:Heuer Fliegerchrono 1.jpg: Gordito1869derivative work: Superbass – This file was derived from this work: Heuer Fliegerchrono 1.jpg:, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=114514042

Der Beitrag Flyback watches: What does the flyback function of chronographs do? erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.

A self-confident bow to watchmaking tradition: Tissot T-Classic Le Locle Powermatic 80 Open Heart

The collection, whose name refers to the brand’s Swiss hometown, pays homage to the traditional craft of watchmaking. The automatic watch with a 39.3 mm case lives up to this idea. The horseshoe nail pattern on the dial, also known as Clous de Paris guilloché, is as classic as the bicolor look. The same applies to the open balance wheel at the 12 o’clock position – the most original form of open balance wheel design. It is hard to imagine an occasion for which the men’s watch with its shiny stainless steel finish and rose gold tone accents would not be suitable.

Anyone who still wants to take it off at the weekend will be pleased to know that the caliber of the open heart watches has earned its presentation. With its 80-hour power reserve and anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring, it is one of the more recent masterpieces of watchmaking. The icing on the cake: The manufacturer brings state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques into play to ensure that the timelessly elegant Tissot T-Classic Le Locle Powermatic 80 Open Heart with elaborately engraved glass back fits the budget of many watch enthusiasts.

Purist at heart – Rado True Secret

Absolutely minimalist and innovative on the outside, highly complex and tradition-conscious on the inside: the Open Heart watch sums up in its purest form what the brand is valued for. It revolutionized the watch scene in 1986 with its adept use of high-tech ceramic for the case and straps. The ultra-light, comfortable and hypoallergenic material is shown to its best advantage in the Rado True Secret because the dial matches its dark color and is presented without indices.

The consistent purism underlines another special feature of the 40 mm unisex watches: the open balance wheel. Circular at the 12 o’clock position, it makes it clear that innovative material design does not contradict a mechanical movement. On the contrary: just like the design of watches with an open balance wheel, the automatic caliber with 80 hours of autonomy, which can be admired through the glass case back, has evolved. On the wrist of women or men – the ceramic watches are an unconventional style statement that makes hearts beat faster.

Open balance wheel in modern style – Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart Auto

The open-heart design with circular recess has established itself, but is not set in stone. The luxury brand with a US history proves this: the smoky blue dial with dynamic color gradient magically attracts the eye so that no one misses the attractive movement presentation. Through the distinctively shaped cut-outs, you can see not only the open balance but also some parts of the movement without removing the time indicator and looking through the glass back.

The insights are more effective than with classic open-heart watches, while the reading is easier than with “genuine” skeleton watches. They would allow the automatic movement to shine through over the entire dial surface. This is an H-10 caliber with an 80-hour reserve, which is based on the ETA C07.111 and is known as the “Powermatic 80”. Hats off: The Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart Auto brings a breath of fresh air to watch design without detracting from the subtle grace of an automatic watch.

Brilliant performance in skeletonizing and polishing – Rado True Automatic Open Heart

Boundaries are fluid – even when it comes to watch genres. The unisex watch first catches the eye with its open balance wheel, as befits a concept with an open balance. Shortly afterwards, the gold-colored wheel around the center of the hand and the two circular recesses beneath it are revealed. Only at second glance does it become apparent that the matt black dial is not geometrically patterned, but is interspersed with loosely distributed “movement views”.

This aha effect is due to the unagitated color design as well as the clear indices. They tempt you to turn your attention to the essentials first and read the time. This reveals just how exciting the design of the Rado True Automatic Open Heart is, whose overall impression is pleasingly unagitated. It has another surprise in store: the shiny chrome strap suggests stainless steel, but like the watch case, it is made of plasma high-tech ceramic.

He who dares wins hearts: Open Heart watches from Zenith

Ever since Georges Favre-Jacot rethought watchmaking in 1865, Zenith has been one of the most lauded manufacturers. However, its reputation never led it to sit back and relax. Instead, the traditional brand developed into the epitome of innovation – both technically and aesthetically. This also applies to the art of open-heart and skeleton watches. The Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Open brilliantly demonstrates that a chronograph can also provide insights that go beyond an open balance. The Zenith Defy 21 collection is just as boldly designed, especially the limited edition Chroma II. The open-heart watch with a 44 mm ceramic case showcases the automatic movement in rainbow colors, which cheekily winks at the observer between the hands and indices.

The inner workings of the chronograph with transparent case back match the bold design: The El Primero caliber with 293 components completes 36,000 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of more than two days. With independent regulating organs for the chronograph function and timekeeping, it impresses with a precision of 1/100th of a second. It would be a shame if milestones like the Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Open or the Defy 21 didn’t embrace the open heart concept, wouldn’t it?

Open Heart bonus tip for fans of the extravagant

When the Ventura from Hamilton made its debut in 1957, it was doubly eccentric. It was the first wristwatch to be battery-operated and to feature futuristic asymmetry. Wait a minute, isn’t there a balance wheel flashing out of the watch with an open balance? That’s right! The design icon has dared to return to the tried and tested field of mechanical automatic watches, making it look even more unusual. Anyone who completes their outfit with it is positioning themselves as a connoisseur of watch designs that really rock: The Ventura became famous on the wrist of Elvis Presley in the musical comedy Blue Hawaii.

Der Beitrag Top 5 open heart watches – Wonderful insights erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.