FHF 351

Description

One of the most popular caliber series of the FHF was the series 32, to which the caliber FHF 351 belongs, too. With a beating frequency of 21600 A/h, it is one of the most recent versions.

It was launched in 1970 and produced only until 1974, but in respectable production figures from almost 660 thousand items.

It has got a diameter of only 7 3/4 lignes (17.3mm), which it the same of all movements of that series and fits perfectly into small ladies' watches.

Of course, all bearings contain rubies, even the minute wheel on the movement side. On the dial side however, the escape wheel has got a cap jewel on its bearing.

The gear train with its all silver colored gears is very classical: The mainspring barrel drives the center minute wheel, followed by third wheel, fourth wheel and escape wheel.

The FHF 351 uses a modern, screw-less, three-leg anular balance, which is of course shock protected by two Incabloc bearings. It beats semi-fast with 21600 A/h and uses a swiss pallet lever escapement.

The first thing, you’ll recognize on the dial side, is the pretty crude finish. Such slurred surfaces are normally only known from cheapest asia movements, and a indication, that this movement was released in a time, when the traditional watchmaking business was in big trouble because of the upcoming quarz watches.

Of course, the FHF 351 uses a yoke winding system, and the Incabloc shock protection was pretty standard that time, even on cheaper watches.

In the lab

Timegrapher result

Hard to believe, what a good performance this tiny movement shows on the timegrapher. The low amplitude in vertical positions give an impression, how precise it tells the time, when it is in good condition. I’d see the rates within the chronometer range then.

Technical data

Usage gallery