Luch 1814

Description

From Russia, there’s this 8 ligne windup movement with date indication, which reminds construction-wise of compareable ETA movements. It is the caliber Luch 1814.

Although the execution seems quite crude, it is technically flawless, and in one point even superior to the ETA movements mentioned above: For the center seconds hand, there’s even a bearing ruby on the dial side.

Unusual for russian movements, there’s no center minute wheel, and the hands are driven indirectly on the dial side by the drive of the third wheel.

So, the mainspring barrel drives the second wheel with its thick axle, followed by third wheel, center seconds wheel and finally the escape wheel. As escapement a swiss-type pallet lever is used.

Different to the ETA movements, only the last three wheels are beared under the gear train bridge, while the second wheel bearing is part of the barrel bridge.

With 21600 A/h, the Luch 1814 beats already semi-fast. The exact frequency can be adjusted at the very short hairspring key only.

The balance is a three-leg Glucydur balance without screws, which is beared in a pair of generic three-arm shock protections.

On the yet empty dial side, you can spot near the center at position 8 o’clock the drive of the third wheel, which engages with the dial side minute wheel. On this, the cannon pinion is attached with a slipping clutch.

Of course, the Luch 1814 uses a yoke winding system, here with a very rugged setting lever spring.

The date indication is advanced instantly at midnight. Only few parts are required for that, the large date switching wheel at position 11 o’clock, a lever, which is tensioned by with the help of a spring until it discarges at midnight, and the date ring.

By turning back the hands to 8 pm and forth again to midnight, the date can be corrected semi-fast.

Technical data

Usage gallery