How this Electrostatic Watch Works - Watch and Learn #84

[@islandwatch]

*** Correction. One hour of walking (6000 steps) correlates to one day of power reserve. ***

[@andreidoanca4262]

now that's more like it!

[@RonInNapa]

Aha!

[@deliverancelyngdoh9023]

Oh!

[@Pip2andahalf]

Also, I thought someone else said accuracy was 5 seconds in a MONTH? Confirm?

[@scottyh1509]

+/- 5 seconds per month for accuracy per the manual

[@WATCHingJames]

Thanks Mark. I just re watches this video because I just bought this watch. You answered a bunch of my questions about it. So thank you.

[@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR]

Loved this one Marc! Such a beautiful watch! The turbines !!! I was mesmerised !!! The watch looked big on my phone let alone seeing it in person! It’s a statement piece for me and it needs to be this big!

[@natemillsap7279]

You mentioned so many great milestone movements in this video, including spring drive and kinetic. I own them all except for this one (for now). I love the history of the Accutrons. I have a rebuilt piece from the original series and am looking forward to picking one of these new ones up soon. So glad you mentioned the Precisionist - they are so underrated. I was fortunate to pick up a solid blue dial few years back before they just went a little too crazy for my personal tastes.

[@marcuslieberman3577]

Mr. Millsap, Rebuilding an Accutron is quite a accomplishment!! I love the sweeping seconds hand of the Accutrons and The Precisionist!! I found the blue dial with spiral pattern on it; under $160. Yes, I agree, most of them are too "crazy". The 2020 is big and expensive. "So many Watches; Not Enough (Money)(Time.)"

[@3rdstone1]

I know that you've been doing these Watch And Learn episodes for quite some years now. And of course you've been covering most of the important stuff already through the years by now, and it's getting harder to find interesting stuff to put up. Still I get super happy whenever you manage to find some new angle to teach us something many of us didn't know before. And of course all of this was new to me, thanks for sharing. Keep up the good work!

[@wrenside]

i'm watching and learning! many thanks.

[@islandwatch]

That's the idea!

[@jw4111]

Great review! My cousin had one after they landed on moon. I have a battery unit from that era. Very sentimental to me.

[@JusttheWatch]

Been waiting for this one! Great to finally get an idea of what's going on with this movement. Crazy interesting and I love the look of those rotors spinning around. But if it only generates 1 hour of power for one day of wear, doesn't that mean the accumulator is going to run dry in these than a year? Oh wait, you answered this already in another comment.

[@jakelee1344]

Marc, these are so great. Thanks for still doing the watch and learn vids.

[@islandwatch]

Thank you

[@fletchoid]

Miniaturizing an electrostatic generator and motor to drive a wristwatch is an absurdly beautiful and nerdy endeavour. I would never pay the ridiculous price for a watch like this, but it pleases me that such a thing exists. I wonder what's next.

[@drgjs]

I love it! But it sounds like a commitment to wear it often!

[@JustWatches1]

Was super excited about this when it was first announced. Really nice pick up. The technology behind it is amazing (thank you for explaining it) but I'm very put off by the size (especially the thickness) and the price. Hopefully, we will see a smaller (and maybe more affordable) version in the future :)

[@CorvusHyperion]

Wears smaller than what you might expect. The Spaceview 2020 wears smaller than the Accutron DNA (despite that one appearing smaller in pics).

[@Xoan-Diaz]

I definitely prefer the old tuning fork model 😏 Thanks for the review!

[@DanielNoblett1111]

My thinking too, it would be nice if they brought out the tuning fork watch.

[@Xoan-Diaz]

@@DanielNoblett1111 totally agree 👍 it would sell like crazy

[@islandwatch]

Love the tuning fork.

[@Br0ns0n]

I just love the W&L segments!

[@drmexicoii]

Never stop doing these Mark! As a relative novice i learn so much from every video in this series.

[@JinKee]

i am put off that the actual time keeping is kept by a battery. and where is the tuning fork? the tuning fork was thing that made the original spaceview cool

[@leonidaslantz5249]

Thank you for the tutorial. This watch is so cool. Looking forward to the different watch movement series. Your watch and learn videos are great. Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@robh.2400]

I have a 1966 Spaceview. You could probably fit 4 of those inside the case of this new one. I had no idea what was going on in this new electrostatic movement, so thanks for the video!

[@islandwatch]

Thanks for watching

[@DJTripleBypass]

I just ordered the LaPalina edition and am waiting for it to arrive. Love your Vids and Content!

[@hugohugo37]

There were electric movements too- they had a balance spring but driven by a battery. It was just before quartz. I have a Timex from that era.

[@unixnerd23]

I think Seiko have updated the capacitors in the Kinetics. I fitted a new capacitor and the watch now sits at full power over many months of not wearing it. Massive difference, changed my view on kinetics.

[@alandye4654]

One on my Grail Watches! Thanks Mark!

[@islandwatch]

Awesome

[@greamespens1460]

Great looking forward to the next watch and learn, save if for Christmas as there is nothing on telly.

[@randyhelzerman]

Klepshydra-- you are such an engineer!

[@mikemantho9426]

Very cool, but not at $3500 IMO. Thanks for the great videos Mark.

[@ChrisR]

Got one of these today in Blue. It's definitely a fine piece of engineering.

[@markbyrum4743]

Amazing watch. I have an original Spaceview which I purchased new in 1973 (bearing a 1971 serial number). This one is a little too big for my wrist. I hope they can make it smaller. Good vid. Keep at it!

[@johnhebert3855]

Nice looking watch. However, it seems like all those "power saving" features might be a pita. At the beginning of your video, you were moving it pretty good describing its dimensions, etc., yet nothing moved until you took it aside for a vigorous shake. How about those who wear it while sleeping at night? How much vigorous activity before seeing the time?

[@webe1309]

Thanks Mark! Really enjoyed that.

[@michaeldefillipo6833]

Complicated but still a cool watch, thanks Marc for sharing your knowledge always good to learn something new.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks for watching!

[@LS1007]

Interesting watch. I feel that if I owned one I’d have to spend 15-20 minutes explaining how it works every time someone asked what is that. 😵‍💫 Thanks for sharing it Marc. Have a great day! 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸

[@islandwatch]

That's the joy of it, right?

[@velocity_bullittjimray3116]

I love this watch.. thanks for featuring it on the channel.. Was talking to a jeweler friend of mine about it the other day. Saw you mention it when you were on with The Urban Gentry channel. Love those vids, BTW..

[@Dave062YT]

Gorgeous ,love the size and stunning looks .

[@potgieterl]

Thank you for your time Marc, very interesting.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@pizza.doctor]

I found your video because i was curious how this watch functions but I am honestly underwhelmed. It has both a rotor and a battery so it's just like a kinetic. The only thing that's different is the way current is generated (or used in the case of the second hands). Like they wanted to add a sweeping seconds hands to a kinetic watch at all costs I would have been more impressed if they found a way charge a quartz watch both with light and movement, and then try to use that extra power to make the seconds hand tick more often honestly

[@vapingwithjames3370]

Would love to see what’s under the case back. Definitely a intriguing watch. Great video.😊

[@johnsrabe]

$3,000? That’s my question. Meantime, there are a lot of lovely non-battleship-sized vintage Accutrons available for reasonable dough. I just picked one up for $60. Works great; still very accurate.

[@islandwatch]

Cool!

[@johnsrabe]

@@islandwatch and it was a 30 Year presentation watch from Weyerhauser to one of its workers. I love those personal history watches. (Marc, thanks for explaining how the watch works.)

[@armandr1613]

$60 bucks how? They hover around $400-$700 everywhere I look. I do agree with you though Bulova is putting it out there at $3,000 to see who bites. But who knows maybe they know the market better than me. 🤷‍♂️

[@Pip2andahalf]

$60?!! Wow. Most of the original Accutrons I've seen are $300-$600 or even $1300 for some...

[@willholly1844]

​@@armandr1613 Bulova has nothing to do with them now. They sold it all to Citizen. I've heard.

[@kingsford73]

Very cool watch, and yes it belongs in your collection. I'm used to my casio solar watches going to sleep that took a bit of getting used to after 30 ish years of macanical watches.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@tobyrawlings9665]

Cool watch, thanks for the video. Also if you have the watch in your hand you always have a reference point for 12 by feeling which side the crown is on.

[@Every_Day_Adventure]

Cool watch and a neat application of technology to time keeping. When will we see and Islander variant? LOL

[@cretan911]

so after five minutes on the night table it stops and you have to reset it in the morning? Thats not good, but I still love it!!! Or does it catch up to the correct time? In video when it started back up it didn't fast forward.

[@robertgladstein]

The hour and minute keeps moving except for the second hand if its sitting on a night table..no need to reset it..

[@fifififo5918]

Great info. BTW- I can't get over how much you sound like Bill Hader impersonating Alan Alda!

[@TheWatchCorner]

Wow that's pricey Mark but a beautiful watch. I owned a 1962 M1 Spaceview Accutron which I just traded for a Bulova Precesionist last year. They are amazing watches and that humming sound is amazing. Very cool video and thanks for sharing. Crazy how they don't like to share information on their technology but glad you did your best explaining to us! Keep up great content. Always enjoy any content you put out👌 My 97 Seiko Kinetic only has 1 month power reserve versus new ones have 6 months power reserve. So I have to shake it 2000 times a day!🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@islandwatch]

Thanks Steve. I'll have a video on kinetics soon.

[@whoknows8678]

Is there an IC quartz controlled electronic regulating board in it sort of like what a Spring Drive movement has? Also, when the watch fully shuts down, does it still keep/remember the correct time when it wakes back up or is the function solely to save the charge in the energy cell thingy?

[@jeboccuzzi10]

Wish I still had my mid 60s Spaceview. It was cool and it hummed.

[@marcuslieberman3577]

I love the movement/Mechanics of this piece. I have a Space View and a Precisionist. I want to get this SpaceView 2020 to round out the collection.

[@islandwatch]

That's why I did it, just for the completion of history.

[@jbonsai3224]

Great detail thanks for sharing.

[@Bass.Player]

I'm looking at my original Accutron Spaceview with a green alligator Accutron strap that is in almost pristine condition. They are a lot smaller that the later model mentioned here probably 34mm?

[@thehrethgir679]

Only thing I think would make this watch better is the second hand being a little wider to make that smooth sweep easier to see. Very cool watch.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks for watching

[@BManningtree]

Cool movement and I like that you can see some of it instead of covering it with a dial. The size completely kills it as an actual wearable watch.

[@vincentdoran1148]

After 10 days of non movement, does the watch actually stop keeping time, or do the hands go into hibernation mode like the second hand?

[@davelowey3074]

Very interesting that Mark, pitty you can't take it apart to show us but that really would be an expensive video, thank you my friend great vid.

[@islandwatch]

Lol. No thanks!

[@greamespens1460]

I am not into open heart automatics but this is by far more appealing.

[@petergplus6667]

Hey Marc, a seiko kinetic doesn't wind on a watch winder. It needs some speed to charge and my winder is too show. Maybe that's also the reason.

[@tlufo]

its neat, i still like my railroad hum, size also fits me better lol

[@oOoScarecrow31oOo]

😱👌😎 Wow, what a piece ! 👍 Quartz before Quartz after Seiko Quartz... 🤪😏

[@lanthanien]

Very cool. I’m not upset the entire movement is not electrostatic driven. I think this solution is better to see the operation of that smooth seconds hand. I wonder if this piece will inspire other watchmakers.

[@islandwatch]

It's different for sure.

[@vikeyto]

i love watches with new fresh ideas

[@islandwatch]

Yeah, this is new for sure.

[@EsbjornWristwatchReviews]

Super interesting, thanks Marc 👍

[@ajbones4207]

One of a million reasons why I love this channel and Marc. This is somewhat complex and Marc breaks it down for the layman to understand. I'm not a fan of gimmicky watches but I would buy this one if it were a 40 or a 42mm size. (Never going to happen!) but if it did?

[@islandwatch]

Thanks so much

[@mdunawaym]

This is such a cool watch!

[@islandwatch]

Thanks.

[@Pip2andahalf]

Nice video, thanks.

[@sananselmospacescienceodys7308]

I bought the Accutron 2020 yesterday and it looks spectacular. However I have one issue with it. To get the sweep second hand to run I need to shake the watch vigorously. The second hand with then run but only for a few minutes. Then it stops and I need to start the process over again. Am I doing something wrong or is there an issue with the watch?

[@bigdreams5554]

I think that's expected. How do you like watch a year later? So tempted to pick one up

[@sananselmospacescienceodys7308]

@@bigdreams5554 More than a year latter I love the watch. Just a little jiggle will get the second hand moving if it isn't already running. I've come to consider that a charming quirk. It's a great time piece and it gets a lot of time on my wrist.

[@Laz_Arus]

G'day Marc. I presume this movement hacks like normal? I noticed when the second hand hit 12 the minute hand wasn't hitting the minute markers precisely. Would this be because you didn't precisely align the minute hand to the start of a minute?

[@commandZee]

Super geeky cool! Thanks! You know with the lume orientation issue, I wouldn't mind if the solution was to simply not lume the 12 or even 6 o'clock indice. It would only be noticeable at night when it really maters.

[@islandwatch]

True, good point.

[@nrs6956]

Look forward to more elaboration. Thank you.

[@islandwatch]

Thank you.

[@elyashadi9534]

Cool ! I've been eyeing some watches from stuhrling , what are your views on them (the skeleton mechanical ones) ?

[@harakaz007]

very interesting watch

[@Lup0Solitario]

@08:10 i though accuracy is +/- 5 a month not a day according to some resources and reviews.

[@galacticcaveman4045]

the power save features seem to be integrated from citizen eco drives. i used have one and it had the same concept. after 15 minutes of no light source, the second hand would stop. and after 48 hours(i think) of no light, all hands would stop.

[@islandwatch]

Right. I remember those.

[@jackdillon4467]

Very interesting!! I may be selling my Tudor and if I do, I just may pick up one of these! Very cool!! Thanks Marc for sharing this with us!!! PS I love all my Islander watches!!!

[@rosemarymillet9526]

How does it work?

[@SwanDog318]

Great video!

[@Laz_Arus]

The lust is high on this one. 🤤Always liked Bulova growing up, and now I'm old enough to afford a few of their models, I have done. A lunar pilot, a precisionist chrono, and a Curv. This electrostatic would make a nice addition to the collection albeit a fairly significant jump in price from the others though. 😞

[@danielmelendez9943]

My first watch at 19 was a Bulova marine star, i actually bought it at my local jeweler, later i learned that the woodside factory was selling watches and i would go and buy my watches at the factory store. Unfortunately now Bulova has lost its MOJO.

[@williamedwards8658]

So cool and interesting

[@felo6035]

Very interesting from a technical perspective....love it 👍👏

[@islandwatch]

Thanks.

[@dns711]

Marc, Are you familiar with the Seiko YTO2A kinetic watch charger? They were sold to dealers and repair facilities and never sold to the public. Do you think this would charge the electrostatic movement of this watch?

[@WeibenWang]

Thank you for the video. I've read a bit about the watch, and was still rather confused. This helps. IIRC from what I read, if you depleted the capacitor, you have to send it in for service, hence the full charge when you get the watch, and the power saving modes. According to the FAQ: "The second hand has stopped at 4 o'clock on my Accutron electrostatic timepiece: Your timepiece's energy reserves are below operation and recharge levels. Please send to an authorized service center."

[@sepehrdjamnezhad1409]

I have an old manual Swiss watch that I found in the storage, it’s in terrible shape but amazingly still functional. Can’t find anything on it online, is there somewhere that I could look? Curious to measure it’s age! It’s a Lausanne 17 jewels

[@islandwatch]

Try ebay maybe

[@sepehrdjamnezhad1409]

Long Island Watch can’t find the specific model, and there’s so few of Lausannes around and no mention of the year they were built, judging by the styling I guess it’s from 60’s or 50’s.

[@dunderhay9169]

Thanks, that is a fascinating watch and it is great to get some more informationon how it works 👍

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@khronokraze]

Pretty cool. I like very industrial looking designed things and this certainly has it. Interesting tech. I like the fact the generators look like turbines. A very uniquely dynamic dial. Very cool operation on how it wakes up and continued time keeping.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@EMX2023]

So every time it stops I have to set the hour all over again and again?

[@thatguy6111]

I have a Elgin with a “Swiss Sonic” movement. If you get really bored in these watch and learns I’d love for the Swiss sonic movement to get a day in the sun on your channel.

[@islandwatch]

Okay!

[@thatguy6111]

@@islandwatch let me know if you want to borrow it. Not the prettiest thing but very much of it’s era.

[@simoncrawford350]

That’s cool 😎, Merry Christmas to you and the family 🍻

[@islandwatch]

Thank you.

[@CoordinatedCarry]

Great video, thank you. Still excited & hoping to see a “State of the Collection” & a showing of the fancy Amish watch chest.

[@islandwatch]

Me too. Lol.

[@rbmwiv]

In my experience those big domed crystals are good for getting hit on stuff.

[@GinkgoJoe]

51,994! Big flip coming!! Love the evolution of movements idea -- i.e. how did Hamilton do that electronic thing then miss the quartz angle?! Stellar!!

[@islandwatch]

I'll discuss that.

[@GinkgoJoe]

@@islandwatch huzzah! 👍

[@freakasaur100]

I wonder if the battery change is just like any other watch

[@islandwatch]

For sure it is not.

[@freakasaur100]

@@islandwatch lol thanks for the reply

[@niksoncutts]

Awesome video on this really cool piece! I found out about this watch from the series you did with TGV and it's been occupying my mind ever since. Hope to get one someday! :)

[@islandwatch]

Thanks.

[@richardtwyning]

Morning Marc, excellent video. Very interesting. It does sound like it's got a similar capacitor to Citizen Eco-Drives. I'm also sure it's just a coincidence, but the hands look very much like the Citizen Skyhawk. They're not identical, but very similar.

[@Guspech750]

Pretty Awesome!! I love it.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks.

[@lordpagano]

Bulova nailed it with the innovative technology and the looks are reminiscent of the 214 SpaceView. But man, that's huge!! Almost Hubloty 😅 BTW, I'm wearing my 1940 Bulova President while watching this video. It's a tad smaller, just 20mm wide on a rectangular case. ⌚🤟🏻

[@paulhiggins8774]

I have seen it on your wrist a few times now and was wondering if those generators were spinning or was the light catching it. Interesting concept and looks very cool

[@islandwatch]

Spinning!

[@stevefox8605]

Very cool, love it. Just the gentleman to explain how it works too, spot on. Thank you Marc Merry Christmas everyone 🍻🎅🏻☃️

[@islandwatch]

Glad you enjoyed, thank you!

[@ScopeUndefined]

I was never big into watches, discovered Accutron only a week ago :) Big thanks for explaining this amazing piece of technology. Now I'm actually more curious... Does it really make no sound? ... I guess the kinetically driven electrostatic generator (miniaturized dual Wimshurst machine) and mini electrostatic motor, they are not operating at high rps here but still spinning. At least center bearing of the kinetic drive should make some noise. The electronics in this watch is equally interesting as the the electrostatic stuff... has to rectify and drop the relatively high voltage, probably 3 phase, from I would say tens or hundreds of Volts to single digits to charge the battery (probably Lithium), drive the hours/minutes-hand stepper motor and power the controller (quartz clock, catch up function, battery protection power save and energy save modes), probably there is also a step-up converter(DC to 3 phase?) built-in to power the seconds-hand motor or there is another energy storage in there like higher voltage capacitor just to store energy to drive seconds... Again... what a watch! should last at least 10 years before 1st service - probably for battery replacement, looks great, and the lume is very nice and discreet.

[@MiniMotoAlliance]

It's a rube Goldberg machine for a single complication. If they had to add the date it would need a backpack and a second watch case on the other wrist

[@islandwatch]

Ha! You are correct, great way to put it.

[@Awkwardfruitfly]

Hey mark .. saw that islander date just on Insta. You know what you need to do now? Make that strap fit the alpinist! Lol

[@islandwatch]

You like it that much?

[@Awkwardfruitfly]

@@islandwatch we just need a decent bracelet for the alpinist.. even if you make endlink and clasp upgrades for the strapcode one - which has already sold out - im sure it will sell like hot cakes

[@jayh9144]

Very cool

[@islandwatch]

Thanks.

[@danpaterson244]

So where does the original Hamilton Ventura fit in this progression?

[@islandwatch]

I'll get to that.

[@troynasello2085]

Did I hear you right? It accumulates about an hour of energy per day of wearing it? Wouldn't it eventually run out of power if it's running 24 hours per day & only generates 1 hour of energy? That can't be right. Please elaborate.

[@islandwatch]

I think that's with the seconds hand running continuously