コラムホイール VS カム式 - コントワーヌ

Column Wheel vs. Cam

Column wheel type


The column wheel rotates to control the start, stop, and reset functions of the chronograph. Not only is it easy to operate, but the force required to press the push button does not affect the operation, resulting in a generally light and smooth operation.

In addition, the movement of the parts is delicate, making it easier for the chronograph to function stably. This is important.
*OMEGA's Cal. 321, famous for its chronographs , looks gorgeous, but the reason we chose the column wheel type is that the "click" you feel when you press the chronograph push button is also appealing. It has a slightly softer feel when you operate it than the cam type.
The downside is that it's also expensive. OMEGA, which started using column wheels at the time, extended the warranty period to five years when they started using silicon mainsprings. This shows their confidence in their products.
Certainly, the column wheel visible through the back of the movement is appreciated as a beautiful, complex mechanism. However, the downside is the high price (many parts and high manufacturing costs!!).

Cam type


The low manufacturing cost, simple shape of the parts, and ease of mass production through press processing have made it possible to keep costs down and mass production possible. High durability and ease of repair are also cited as advantages. The structure is relatively simple, highly durable, and repair costs tend to be low. (Valjoux 7750, ETA 7750, etc.)
Cam-type chronographs are no less impressive. As for chronographs, Lemania is also a leading name in the chronograph world. The feel of this cam-type chronograph is a little heavy, and it has a solid "grip" feel.

In the past, there was a tendency to think of column wheel watches as high-end and superior, and cam watches as cheap and inferior, but in modern times, technological advances have improved the quality of cam watches, and the functional differences between them have almost disappeared. Cam watches have also evolved in terms of decoration, and have advantages such as being beautiful even with a see-through caseback and being thin. When we repair watches, the fewer parts there are, the simpler and easier they are to handle. (Old parts are also easier to obtain!)

Column Wheel vs. Cam


Conclusion: Which is better? The " feel" of pressing a column wheel and a cam is different, but this is a matter of personal preference.
Column wheel watches are easy to press, while cam watches offer a sense of pressure, but the development of mechanical watches has progressed rapidly over the past 30 years. When you actually touch a watch, you can tell which " pressure " feels better, and it depends on the individual watch, but it's completely different. Even if they're manufactured in the same factory with the same parts, unless they have a see-through caseback, it can sometimes be completely impossible to tell whether they're column wheel or cam watches. Not just chronographs, but the strength of the winding process also varies depending on the individual characteristics of the watch.

Many people are probably wondering which watch is best for them online, but it can also be fun to actually touch a chronograph at a watch shop and make a decision. Hobbies vary widely. Go out and explore the city to find the mechanical watch that best suits your taste, with its "feel" and "winding feel."

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ETA7750

Excellent versatility and cost performance
The greatest feature of the ETA7750 is its high versatility thanks to its highly manufacturable design, which in turn makes it very cost-effective.

Cam-type chronograph mechanisms are easier to manufacture than column-wheel mechanisms, and are designed for mass production, with parts stamped out using a press (cam-type chronograph). This reduces manufacturing costs, allowing many brands to produce high-performance chronographs at relatively low prices.

There are many variations (e.g., 7751, 7753, 7754, etc.) that take advantage of the basic design, and it is highly customizable with the addition of day-date displays, moon phases, GMT functions, etc. Many luxury watch brands, including IWC, Breitling, and Omega, have made improvements based on the 7750 and incorporated it into their products.

Cal.321

The greatest technical feature of Cal. 321 is the use of a complex yet elegant "column wheel" in the mechanism that controls the operation of the chronograph.

Smooth Operation: Although column wheels have more parts and are more expensive to manufacture than cam-type watches, the push-button operation to start, stop, and reset the chronograph is extremely smooth and reliable. This superb "click" feel is one of the main reasons why watch enthusiasts prefer column-wheel watches.

Visual beauty: The column wheel, located in the center of the movement and visible through the case back, highlights the artistic quality of the movement with its intricate structure and beautiful style.