#marine chronometer

[ltwilliammowett]

A marine chronometer used on the second voyage of HMS Beagle and subsequently for the North American Boundary Expedition, 1830s

[ltwilliammowett]

Two day marine chronometer used and owned by Captain Robert Fitzroy on board HMS Beagle in 1828.

The Beagle had 22 chronometers on board during her expeditions (1826-1830 and 1831-1836), but not all were provided by the Admiralty. Only 10 came from the Admiralty, 6 were brought by Fitzroy himself ( he became Beagles captain in December 1828) and, one by Lord Ashburnham and the remaining 5 by the clockmakers themselves. The high number of chronometers was needed to test their quality and accuracy, during the expeditions. 

[vesperal-kite]

Sketching ideas for a blind-friendly marine chronometer.

[steampunkdepot]

John Harrison's Marine Chronometer.

 John Harrison was a self-educated English carpenter and clockmaker who invented the marine chronometer, a long-sought-after device for solving the problem of calculating longitude while at sea. Harrison's solution revolutionized navigation and greatly increased the safety of long-distance sea travel.

[pkansa]

Now, the more clever amongst you – or those with really good memories – might be asking how we could be revisiting a watch when it’s coming from a brand that we’ve never reviewed before?  Well, things change over time, and amongst those things are watches and watch brand names.  So, today, we’re talking about the Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer.

You see, we have looked at this watch before – or it’s forbear, at least.  Back in 2012, it was known as the Offshore Professional Field Engineer, and now it’s known as the Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer.  Under the old name (and style) we did do our own hands-on review, which you check out here (part 1, part 2, part 3).  This time around, due to them being built-to-order, we’re just talking about the new watch.

And you might wonder, well, why is Patrick talking about a chronograph?  Back when I checked out the older version, I really got to liking the piece, even if I wasn’t particularly using all of the functions.  Here, we’ve got the same sort of functions (base is still the Valjoux 7750), but there is a very noticeable change – the day/date windows.  These are custom to the brand, and presented just below the logo (ie, where you’d normally expect the date window to pop in).

In my opinion, the new dial configuration of the Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer is an improvement over the original as well.  It’s still got the dimensionality and layers, but we’ve got some additional color popping in.  I’m also a fan of the tachymeter bezel being added (though you can get the Roman numeral one instead if you like, and am really glad the knurling stayed present on the crown and pushers.

At the end of the day, the asking price of £1650 (~$2,300) feels pretty reasonable – as we said before – for what you’re getting here.  Particularly for the fact that the fellow behind the brand, Lorne Gifford, is actually traveling the world as a field engineer (hey, look at that title!) and putting his watch through some more extensive paces than we might actually put the watch through ourselves (some photos of that are in the gallery below).  So, if you’re in the market for a small-brand chronograph with a storied movement in it, the Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer should be on your short list to check out.  marinechronometer.co.uk

Watch Overview

Brand & Model: Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer

Price:  £1650

Who we think it might be for: Well, for field engineers, for one.  Or for anyone who wants a chronograph from a small brand ready-built to handle whatever you can throw at it

Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen? Probably not, since I’m not much for chronographs

If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Wouldn’t mind seeing what Gifford could do – in this design language – for a GMT (I mean, he is a traveller!)

What spoke to me the most about this watch: All the thought and effort that goes into the creation of the watch (seriously, check out the details on their site)

Tech Specs from Marine Chronometer Co

44 mm diameter, 14.5 mm thick, 132 grams on leather composite strap

Bespoke 316L low carbon stainless steel Faraday cage outer case, mechanically isolated rhodium plated Cu inner movement holder

Dual sealing on all outer case penetrations, triple seals on floating crown, all case components in 316L, 316H or Cr22

Three layered shock resistance with mechanically isolated movement and floating crown

Perfectly flat single crystal sapphire front & back crystals

Anti-reflection vapour coating on inner faces of sapphire crystals

Bespoke triple complication, 25 jewel, modified Swiss Valjoux movement with anti-magnetic timing & drive chains

Custom grade movement with temperature resistant Be-Cu balance wheel & Co-Ni-Cr-Ti-others alloy hairspring

Machined and rhodium plated Cu-Zn mainplates, blue head screws

Unique in-house movement modifications and replacement of day & date system, all parts Cu-Zn

Timing to within chronometer standard (4 sec/day, 0.5 sec/C.day)

Self-winding mechanism with approx 4 hours of normal wear to fully wind & Co-Ni-Cr-Fe-others alloy mainspring

In-house self winding rotor with cut out Trident and individual serial number engraved onto rotor arm, rhodium finished

48 hour power reserve, protected against overwinding

Hour, minute and 1/8 second chronograph, day and date display

Pressure rated to 10 ATM with each watch tested to 12 ATM and the outer case deigned and tested for a collapse pressure of 30 ATM

Long term climate tested in the arctic, tropics & deserts

Bespoke 4 layer dial designed for low-light and harsh-light visibility, electrically continuous with outer case

Bespoke handset with C1 Super Luminova solid wafers in hour and minute hand and C3 hour markers on dial

No luminous markings on subdial or second hands to ensure clear night time legibility of hour and minute hands

All dimensions, layouts and colour shades based on numerical ratios from the Fibonacci sequence

Leather strap with profiled natural rubber core and inner anti-sweat lining

Fixed departure angle of strap from case to provide maximum comfort and stability on slim as well as thicker wrists

316L stainless steel butterfly-hinge strap clasp with engraved Trident logo

316L stainless steel bracelet with Trident logo deep engraved into butterfly clasp. Adjustable links secured with 316H double headed screw bolts

Both the bracelet & strap are included with each watch

Leather presentation and travel case suitable for up to 2 watches

2 year Warranty & a Lifetime Guarantee

Standard build is with a Tachymeter bezel case, with the Roman Numeral bezel case available as a no cost option

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Revisiting the Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer #chronograph #british #luxury Now, the more clever amongst you - or those with really good memories - might be asking how we could be revisiting a watch when it's coming from a brand that we've never reviewed before?  

[stricklandvintagewatches]

“Longitude”, based on the book by Dava Sobel, highlights 18th century horologist Harrison (Michael Gambon) building a marine chronometer for safe navigation and 20th century Gould (Jeremy Irons) obsessed with restoring it.

[thegildedrage]

Thomas Earnshaw marine chronometer c.1798.

[nationalwatchclockmuseum]

Deck Watch Chronometer, Model 22, 21 jewel, adjusted to six positions, serial # 2F23992 in felt-lined case with viewing window. Case has metal panel explaining how to set the watch (see photos).

Dial has power reserve indicator below the 12:00 position and seconds indicator above 6:00 position. Marked: "Hamilton" and "Lancaster, PA., U.S.A"

Base metal case back marked: "Chronometer Watch / Mfr's Part No. 37615 / Serial No. AF/45-D-1118 / P.O. No. (33-038)45-13085-AF / Hamilton Watch Company"

Movement marked: " Hamilton Watch Co. / Model 22-21 Jewels / Adj. to Temp. & 6 Pos. / Made in U.S.A. / U.S. Navy-BU. Ships-1942"; with serial number "2F23992".

Object ID: 83.82.2333