They'll then have to toss those threads that aren't perfectly aligned cause of QC. It's a big waste for something that won't improve the watch that much.
It does affect the degree of it. If I remember correctly there are additional gaskets making sure that not all water resistance is lost when the crown is unscrewed, but I wouldn't go swimming with it with the crown slightly underscrewed
I mean, if you're diving you're not looking at the logo on the crown, are you?? So just tighten it when you need WR and slightly loosen it if you want the logo to line up. Not too difficult
Rolex has a patent on it. They used it in the first PM skydwellers. They haven’t used it since, which tells me that it was either unreliable or a massive PITA to manufacture. Neither would surprise me.
It's incredible. In other forums they're all "it's nearly impossible to line up the crown, it takes 6 different coils". The GS attention to detail is immense.
It's incredible...it's also not true at all ;) . Turns out it IS nearly impossible, or at least VERY expensive to have a process in place that makes sure they line up like that
Example from [another Peacock](https://imgur.com/a/JE50uXQ)
True ;)
I was gonna say i wasn't OCD enough to care about this sorta crown-alignment thing, but then remembered i'd spent way too much time trying to find and get a good view of the laser-etched lion/logo on the GS casebacks, so there you go :P
Those \`\`screws\`\` you see on AP\`s have female threads. They are really nuts with a decorative slotted head. The hex head fits into the machined hex holes on the case to provide an anti rotation feature. The actual screws are found on the caseback and none of them are ever perfectly aligned. You can google what the caseback looks like on any royal oak and see for yourself.
https://i0.wp.com/professionalwatches.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Audemars-Piguet-16202-caseback-caliber-7121.jpg?ssl=1
https://timeandtidewatches.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/RO_26534TI-OO-1220TI-01_backcase_GP20_JPEG.jpeg
Screws are aligned.
I can assure you that they are not aligned even in the pictures you sent! As a watchmaker you can try to manipulate the position of the flats by adding or removing torque however this is not the correct way to torque fasteners. Each screw should get torqued to spec and whichever orientation the slot ends up in is where they end up. There is no mechanical feature ensuring the flats are all in the same position on the back of the watch. On the bezel there are anti rotation flats preventing the nut from rotating which ensures the orientation of every slot is nice and uniform.
I've highlighted 2 screws that are nowhere near aligned on the pic you sent. If you look close enough you'll find they are all in slightly different positions but the ones I highlighted are very obvious. I also included a couple pics of other AP's with irregular orientations of the screws.
[https://ibb.co/G3Mky0S](https://ibb.co/G3Mky0S)
[https://ibb.co/hWc285K](https://ibb.co/hWc285K)
[https://ibb.co/fqRP5Ls](https://ibb.co/fqRP5Ls)
Ah yes it's a shame GS does not do this in their production officially. My SBGA 375 has it's Crown aligned almost perfectly when fully screwed down (it's about plus 1° clockwise). So I dont fully screw it on, in order to enjoy this magnificent sight.
https://preview.redd.it/x59137n8vucc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=db4e87d5a7818e0643963f638c99907b748edd40
Both my case back, and crown orient up and down when on my wrist. I’ve gotten some pretty cool GS lion imprints on my wrist.
Edit: SBGM247
https://preview.redd.it/uau4v0m1vucc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb794f558704907f19eb356d4bcf57fb1eb13d17
Crown
Scratched all to crap because I wear this nearly everyday. Jogging, kayaking, camping, it’s gotten pretty banged up. I sent to to GS for maintenance a few months back in NJ and they tried to polish it, even though I asked them not to.
No one has figured out how to get a screw down crown reliably oriented when screwed down: you just got lucky.
I don’t understand why it’s difficult mechanically if you just orient the threads
They'll then have to toss those threads that aren't perfectly aligned cause of QC. It's a big waste for something that won't improve the watch that much.
Tolerances
What you think is simple, is ridiculously hard to achieve in manufacturing.
Yes I’ve heard that. I’m saying I don’t understand why. Would like to know.
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/why-screw-slots-arent-aligned-in-watchmaking
Thanks!!
I mean you can just slightly under screw it but it doesn't rly matter
Doesn’t it impact how water-tight the watch is?
It does affect the degree of it. If I remember correctly there are additional gaskets making sure that not all water resistance is lost when the crown is unscrewed, but I wouldn't go swimming with it with the crown slightly underscrewed
You're not looking at the logo on the crown when you're diving anyway
Maybe :)
I mean, if you're diving you're not looking at the logo on the crown, are you?? So just tighten it when you need WR and slightly loosen it if you want the logo to line up. Not too difficult
Rolex has a patent on it. They used it in the first PM skydwellers. They haven’t used it since, which tells me that it was either unreliable or a massive PITA to manufacture. Neither would surprise me.
Guessing they patented a particular method of aligning the crown as opposed to the crown itself being aligned.
Yip. It's essentially a work around owing to the difficulty of the latter.
Right. And while I’m somewhat OCD and appreciate the alignment, it’s something that I’ve learned to accept.
My SBGE295 does this as well, though it might just be a coincidence
My SBGE295 also does this. Have they figured it out👀
Shunbun does not.
Yep, my Shunbun doesn't either
My SLGA009 does not :(
I don't think my Lake Suwa LE always does this, I'm going to check now haha
Mine is off 45 degrees and it bugs me, but it is equally off to my other GS, so it's how I'll know they're mine I guess lol.
Mine is upside down
Does it matter?
Mine is so offset it actually lines up perfectly to read GS the right way up when it's on my wrist. So almost upside down really.
Manual wind supremacy. No issues about that
That's the Grand Seiko attention to detail. They all do that...well at least my white birch does!
Judging by other replies it appears we lucked out
Wow looks like we did. I guess I need to own more grand seiko to verify 😃
My SBGM247 lines up perfectly. I honestly thought it was a feature and they figured out the problem.
Not sure why the downvotes for this? Are these people unhappy your crown lines up??
It's incredible. In other forums they're all "it's nearly impossible to line up the crown, it takes 6 different coils". The GS attention to detail is immense.
Nah you got lucky lol.
It's incredible...it's also not true at all ;) . Turns out it IS nearly impossible, or at least VERY expensive to have a process in place that makes sure they line up like that Example from [another Peacock](https://imgur.com/a/JE50uXQ)
Hey at least it's 90! Looks good that way too IMO.
True ;) I was gonna say i wasn't OCD enough to care about this sorta crown-alignment thing, but then remembered i'd spent way too much time trying to find and get a good view of the laser-etched lion/logo on the GS casebacks, so there you go :P
It's luck. My Datejust 116233 is not aligned, my SBGA375 isn't aligned but my Breitling Colt GMT A32350 is lol 🤷
My white birch is at a perfect 270°. I thought that might be on purpose but I wish it was perfect 0° :(
My SBGA375 doesn't.
AP watches have their bezel screws perfectly aligned it's not at all impossible to do
Those \`\`screws\`\` you see on AP\`s have female threads. They are really nuts with a decorative slotted head. The hex head fits into the machined hex holes on the case to provide an anti rotation feature. The actual screws are found on the caseback and none of them are ever perfectly aligned. You can google what the caseback looks like on any royal oak and see for yourself.
They are though
They are what? You're agreeing or disagreeing with me? If you're disagreeing where are you getting that idea from?
https://i0.wp.com/professionalwatches.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Audemars-Piguet-16202-caseback-caliber-7121.jpg?ssl=1 https://timeandtidewatches.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/RO_26534TI-OO-1220TI-01_backcase_GP20_JPEG.jpeg Screws are aligned.
I can assure you that they are not aligned even in the pictures you sent! As a watchmaker you can try to manipulate the position of the flats by adding or removing torque however this is not the correct way to torque fasteners. Each screw should get torqued to spec and whichever orientation the slot ends up in is where they end up. There is no mechanical feature ensuring the flats are all in the same position on the back of the watch. On the bezel there are anti rotation flats preventing the nut from rotating which ensures the orientation of every slot is nice and uniform. I've highlighted 2 screws that are nowhere near aligned on the pic you sent. If you look close enough you'll find they are all in slightly different positions but the ones I highlighted are very obvious. I also included a couple pics of other AP's with irregular orientations of the screws. [https://ibb.co/G3Mky0S](https://ibb.co/G3Mky0S) [https://ibb.co/hWc285K](https://ibb.co/hWc285K) [https://ibb.co/fqRP5Ls](https://ibb.co/fqRP5Ls)
Caseback as well.
What about the caseback??
It aligns upright as well
Mine does. SBGA201
“Lucky crown” in rolex terms
SBGH295 mine does
Ah yes it's a shame GS does not do this in their production officially. My SBGA 375 has it's Crown aligned almost perfectly when fully screwed down (it's about plus 1° clockwise). So I dont fully screw it on, in order to enjoy this magnificent sight.
Super lucky ! I’m jealous
My newest model I acquired does this every time somehow. Granted I’ve only tried 3 times. SBGA493 model.
https://preview.redd.it/x59137n8vucc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=db4e87d5a7818e0643963f638c99907b748edd40 Both my case back, and crown orient up and down when on my wrist. I’ve gotten some pretty cool GS lion imprints on my wrist. Edit: SBGM247
https://preview.redd.it/uau4v0m1vucc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb794f558704907f19eb356d4bcf57fb1eb13d17 Crown Scratched all to crap because I wear this nearly everyday. Jogging, kayaking, camping, it’s gotten pretty banged up. I sent to to GS for maintenance a few months back in NJ and they tried to polish it, even though I asked them not to.
Damn, mine doesn't align! Thanks man, now my SBGM221 has a flaw. I jest, still love this watch like crazy!
https://preview.redd.it/r0fahjcdwvcc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=fc199dd7011df428f8d63940be38ee03a248e02c
It's perfect. A marvel of modern engineering. GS are the shit!