Pierce 861 SC

Description

A rare representative when it comes to wristwatch movements is Pierce, formerly also known under the brand name “Eclipse”. Pierce is mainly known for its unusual designed chronograph movements and early automatic movements with rattle winding.

The Pierce 861 SC however, is a true windup movement with a center seconds indication and because of its size of only 8 3/4 lignes (19,3mm), it was suitable for smaller ladies' watches.

For the time being, the jewel count of 17 is unusually high and results of a double ruby-beared minute wheel. Besides that, the execution is the usual fair quality standard of the 1940s and 1950s.

The gear train uses compareatively large wheels. For space reasons, the escape wheel runs partially open on the dial side (the slanted rim of the dial side requires the opening).

Construction wise, it follows the usual standard with mainspring barrel, directly driven center minute wheel, thrird wheel, seconds wheel at 6 o’clock and escape wheel.

A second wheel on the third wheel pin drives the indirect center seconds pinion, which is located on top of the gear train bridge and fixed by a flat spring.

The swiss pallet lever escapement is controlled by a two-leg screw balance, which is already beared in two Incabloc shock protections.

The beating rate of 18000 A/h can be adjusted with the help of a long regulator arm.

The Pierce 861 SC uses a separate escape wheel cock. On its top, the flat spring for the center seconds pinion is fixed.

All visible bearings on the dial side have got a golden toned edging to give the impression of chatons, but in fact, they are only normal jewels.

The golden toned edging is not used on the dial side.

There, the yoke winding system, the Incabloc bearing and the slanting of the edges can be seen, as well, as the two screws for securing the dial feet.

Technical data

Usage gallery