Well I'm dabbling with watch making a little and am currently trying to restore a 1925 Elgin Pocket watch so I got a timegrapher. I found a very inexpensive option on E-bay for about $34. It was way cheaper than the common Weishi 1000's seriers. I couldn't find much info about it so I thought I'd share my experience here. There was one thread somewhere and someone chimed in saying they believe the sensors come from the same factory as the Weishi ones but take that for what it is, third hand info from an internet forum. I did however test all the watches in my collection and posted the results below. Initially I didn't have any idea about how to test it's accuracy but I think the findings below point to it being pretty accurate based on what you would expect across manufacturers. The only surprise to me was the last watch, the TAG. I have paperwork from the UK seller that has a great reputation showing it having been fully serviced by TAG in 2022 so I guess I thought it would have run better but at least it's an ETA and easy to service/regulate locally.
So you have to download and install some software that is easily found online by googling it. I'll also post a link here:
It is a super basic install and then you just connect it to your computer via the provided USB cable and once you put a watch on it and open the software it immediately gives you what you are looking for. (Screenshot provided below) It was quite easy and quick to set up. To test in different positions you simply flip the box over or on it's side or whichever way you want to test the watch. I only tested face down and face up to save time.
I didn't post any of the beat errors or amplitudes simply because there were no surprises and to save unnecessary typing. Anyway, that's it. Hope this can help someone in the future that might be considering one of these inexpensive units.
Orient Neptune..............................................................................Face up = -4spd Face down = +5spd
Seiko Turtle Padi (pepsi)...............................................................Face up = +12spd Face down = +8spd
Tissot Seastar (Older, 2010? model, never serviced)...................Face up = +14spd Face down = +15spd
Steeldive w/ Seiko NH35 mvt........................................................Face up = -4spd Face down = -7spd
2nd Steeldive with same mvt........................................................Face up = +14spd Face down = +1spd
Pagani Design w/ Miyota mvt........................................................Face up = +7spd Face down = +7spd
Omega Aquaterra 2021 model......................................................Face up = +1spd Face down = +4spd
Omega Seamaster 300 2022........................................................Face up = +2spd Face down = +4spd
Grand Seiko Snowflake.................................................................No reading
Cartier Santos...............................................................................Face up = +3spd Face down = +5spd
Ball Engineer marvelite III.............................................................Face up = -5spd Face down = -2spd
Seiko 5 SNXS79...........................................................................Face up = +11spd Face down = +25spd
Tag Heuer Carrera (50th anniversary release of the
63 Carerra with ETA mvt...............................................................Face up = +21spd Face down = +18spd
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So you have to download and install some software that is easily found online by googling it. I'll also post a link here:
Tg timegrapher - download page
Tg is an open source timegrapher. The tg program is used to assess the health of mechanical watch movements, and to regulate mechanical watches.
tg.ciovil.li
It is a super basic install and then you just connect it to your computer via the provided USB cable and once you put a watch on it and open the software it immediately gives you what you are looking for. (Screenshot provided below) It was quite easy and quick to set up. To test in different positions you simply flip the box over or on it's side or whichever way you want to test the watch. I only tested face down and face up to save time.
I didn't post any of the beat errors or amplitudes simply because there were no surprises and to save unnecessary typing. Anyway, that's it. Hope this can help someone in the future that might be considering one of these inexpensive units.
Orient Neptune..............................................................................Face up = -4spd Face down = +5spd
Seiko Turtle Padi (pepsi)...............................................................Face up = +12spd Face down = +8spd
Tissot Seastar (Older, 2010? model, never serviced)...................Face up = +14spd Face down = +15spd
Steeldive w/ Seiko NH35 mvt........................................................Face up = -4spd Face down = -7spd
2nd Steeldive with same mvt........................................................Face up = +14spd Face down = +1spd
Pagani Design w/ Miyota mvt........................................................Face up = +7spd Face down = +7spd
Omega Aquaterra 2021 model......................................................Face up = +1spd Face down = +4spd
Omega Seamaster 300 2022........................................................Face up = +2spd Face down = +4spd
Grand Seiko Snowflake.................................................................No reading
Cartier Santos...............................................................................Face up = +3spd Face down = +5spd
Ball Engineer marvelite III.............................................................Face up = -5spd Face down = -2spd
Seiko 5 SNXS79...........................................................................Face up = +11spd Face down = +25spd
Tag Heuer Carrera (50th anniversary release of the
63 Carerra with ETA mvt...............................................................Face up = +21spd Face down = +18spd
