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Good evening everyone!
This week, we will be bringing you our new series, "Things you're too embarrassed to ask about now." In this new project, we will explain the basics of luxury watches in an easy-to-understand way, for those who are not very familiar with luxury watches and those who want to learn more about them.
This is the 22nd time
[ Introduction to luxury watches ]: " Antimagnetic watches "
Watches are vulnerable to magnetism, and being affected by magnetism can lead to problems such as "time gain or loss." A "magnetically resistant watch" is a watch that is equipped with features to protect the watch from such magnetic products around us. For those who are wondering "Why are watches vulnerable to magnetism?" and "What kind of watch can withstand magnetism?", we will explain why watches need magnetic resistance and introduce recommended magnetically resistant watch models.
What is an "antimagnetic watch"?
When mechanical and quartz watches are exposed to strong magnetic fields, they become magnetized, causing their accuracy to be affected. Many of the products that emit magnetism are found in our daily lives, such as smartphones, computers, microwave ovens, and magnetic bag clasps. This is why things like "I left my watch next to my smartphone" or "I put my watch in the inside pocket of my bag and the magnetic force from the bag clasp was transferred to my watch" can happen.
An "antimagnetic watch" is a watch that is resistant to magnetism and does not easily become magnetized . The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard for an "antimagnetic watch" requires a magnetic resistance of 20 gauss ( 1,600 A/m ), while the JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) requires a magnetic resistance of 60 gauss ( 4,800 A/m ).
Why are watches vulnerable to magnetism?
As the title suggests, why are watches vulnerable to magnetism in the first place?
The reason for this lies in the metal parts of the movement. Metal has the property that when exposed to a strong magnetic field, the magnetic force is transferred to the metal. Furthermore, even after the watch is removed from the magnetic field, the magnetic force is retained for a while. Therefore, if you bring your watch close to a magnetic field without realizing it, it can become magnetized.
The most common problem caused by magnetism is poor accuracy.
The reason is that the part that is most affected by magnetism is the " hairspring ," which controls the accuracy of a wristwatch. The hairspring keeps accurate time by repeatedly expanding and contracting, but when it becomes magnetized, this expansion and contraction is disrupted, resulting in poor accuracy. Furthermore, magnetized parts attract and repel each other, causing the gears to shift position and sometimes even causing damage to the parts themselves. Incidentally, quartz watches are said to be more resistant to magnetism than mechanical watches, but their step motors can be affected by magnetism and stop.
※Commit TV: Check out the video to see the accuracy of a magnetized watch here⇩
How to ensure anti-magnetic properties
"Antimagnetic watches" are sold by a variety of brands, but how exactly do they ensure that they are "magnetic-resistant"?
The most common method is to encase the entire movement in a material that is resistant to magnetism . Most of this material is made of "soft iron," but it varies by brand. For example, Rolex's Milgauss uses a proprietary ferromagnetic alloy.
In addition, instead of covering the movement, OMEGA uses a material that is not affected by magnetic forces in the movement itself to ensure magnetic resistance.
Recommended antimagnetic watches
Here are some recommended anti-magnetic watches.
[Rolex]
"Milgauss"
"Ref.116400GV"
Released as an anniversary model for the 50th anniversary of the Milgauss, this model features the popular lightning-fast hand and is the only Rolex to feature a green sapphire crystal windshield. It is available with a black dial and a Z-blue dial, which was added in 2014. The Oyster case and ferromagnetic inner case provide magnetic resistance of 1,000 gauss (equivalent to 80,000 A/m).
【omega】
"Seamaster Aqua Terra 15,000 Gauss"
"Ref.220.10.41.20.01.001"
The OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra, which is resistant to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss (1,200,000 A/m), is made of silicon and titanium, which are not affected by magnetic fields, ensuring high magnetic resistance. It also maintains the original waterproof performance of the Seamaster, making it safe to use in everyday life as well as in marine sports.
[Vacheron Constantin]
"Overseas"
"Ref. 4500V"
This is the third generation of the "Overseas" that was released in 2016. It is a simple three-hand watch, but it has a soft iron anti-magnetic case and is anti-magnetic to 300 gauss (25,000A/m). Combined with water resistance to 150m, it has specifications that make it stand out among the top brands.
summary
I have explained about "antimagnetic watches" but what do you think?
With the spread of the Internet and advances in technology, there are many magnets and magnetic forces around us. Antimagnetic watches have practical mechanisms that protect watches from such magnets and magnetic forces, and although it may be difficult to tell at first glance due to their internal structure, various brands have released a variety of models. We encourage you to try looking for an antimagnetic watch that suits your taste.
Once again, I hope that this article will help inspire as many people as possible to become interested in luxury watches!
see you!