PRS-5

[Watchfreek]

I didn’t realise these are in such high demand.

Here’s my seldom worn but much loved one.




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[Rollon]

There's a problem with the ST19, either the mainspring it too strong or the barrel click spring is too weak. There's no way of telling when, if ever, it will fail, it could be after months of use and suddenly the mainspring lets go and you can't develop a power reserve. When it was clear that this was a problem, we got new click springs made and replaced them during assembly of the watches and whilst this reduced the incidence of failure, it didn't eliminate it.

There weren't a huge number which failed but when you have a dozen or so failing with the same problem, it's clear that something is not right. I'm not prepared to continue using this movement as long as the problem exists.

Eddie

Eddie, may I ask whether a Poljot-movement version might work?
Thanks for the clarification on the Seagull movement issue, but I also see (from a sales post I think?) that you previously also used the Poljot movement.
My basic searches indicate that the Maktime factory may have closed, but new 3133 chronos seem to be readily available, so I can only assume someone else has taken over production.
Perhaps I am wrong
Dave

The last Poljot movements we got were supposed to have been "premium grade specially selected" because Felix Huber of Zeno knows the European MD of Poljot. They were so specially selected that we got 80 working movements out of a batch of 100.

Eddie

Just out of curiosity, and given your experience with the Seagull ST19 as already used for the Precista version of the PRS-5, if, hypothetically, you or perhaps Ewan were to preemptively replace BOTH the stock factory "too strong" mainspring AND the "too weak" barrel click spring with properly re-spec'ed counterparts before installing these in-house modified movements into a new Precista 5 or a mechanical version of Ewan's also very nice Newmark, would this then likely transform the heretofore controversial ST-19 into a good, reliable, reasonably accurate, sturdy, and durable mechanical column wheel equipped chronograph movement with good availability and relatively low cost even with the aforementioned in-house modifications factored in?

Or, as a hypothetical alternative to that, with your previous Broadarrow experience using the Poljot 3133 lever type chronograph movements that were apparently based on the Valjoux 7730 that, I believe, was used in the original circa 1970s MOD RN twin button chronos, and assuming the 3133s are still even manufactured and available, if you or Ewan were to somehow order each movement batch of 100 or so well logistically beforehand, inspect and test each individual movement for defects, etc., missed by the Russian factory quality control, and then return the up to circa 20% or so rejected defective movements found to Poljot for replacement until all 100 movements are of acceptable function and quality before loading these into their respective watch cases, would the Poljot 3133 movement so dealt with possibly then be a good and viable and cost effective option for a new production Precista PRS-5 or a mechanical version of the Newmark from Ewan?

[ChronoCop]

After installing Kemmner's hands my PRS-5 became a favourite of mine:



These RAF-modifications seem to be rather scarce.

Cheers
Brane

[Rollon]

I owned a modified PRS-5 as well. It had NOS Precista 6BB 7733 hands substituted and was just a beauty.

After installing Kemmner's hands my PRS-5 became a favourite of mine:



These RAF-modifications seem to be rather scarce.

Cheers
Brane

The photograph (of your modified PRS-5?) you've linked in your post won't load up to view so won't be able to see it, but if yours looks like Myron's above, it looks great

[magirus]

A shot for the PRS-5 purists amongst us, the original, unmolested . . .





I have a short waiting list for this, should I ever wish to sell it.

[Rollon]

A shot for the PRS-5 purists amongst us, the original, unmolested . . .





I have a short waiting list for this, should I ever wish to sell it.

These look great in "purely" original format too (I think it looks perfect on one of Eddie's TF Open-End Aviators), and perhaps the trimmer hypodermic style hour/minute hands don't interfere with viewing the chronograph registers and running subseconds quite so much

https://timefactors.com/precistaprs5.htm

Magirus, especially as my guess is that you've owned your Precista PRS-5 for years and have possibly had a chance to compare it to other mechanical chronograph movements you might also have had, could you please comment on your own experience with the Seagull ST19?

In fact, anybody here who could comment on their own use of either the Chinese Seagull ST19 Column Wheel Type or the Russian Poljot 3133 Lever Type Mechanical Chronograph Movements as used in the Precista and Broadarrow versions of the PRS-5 respectfully, and also in a number of other watches from diverse makers as well, I for one would certainly like and value knowing of it

[Jeremy67]

When my Seagull PRS-5 went to Olivier recently to replace a pusher circlip he discovered both the pusher shafts were bent. It still works fine so we decided not to try to straighten them. Maybe a heavy handed previous owner but maybe it's an issue with the degree of force required by the movement vs. the thickness and material of the rods. Just speculating.

[magirus]

These look great in "purely" original format too (I think it looks perfect on one of Eddie's TF Open-End Aviators), and perhaps the trimmer hypodermic style hour/minute hands don't interfere with viewing the chronograph registers and running subseconds quite so much

https://timefactors.com/precistaprs5.htm

Magirus, especially as my guess is that you've owned your Precista PRS-5 for years and have possibly had a chance to compare it to other mechanical chronograph movements you might also have had, could you please comment on your own experience with the Seagull ST19?

In fact, anybody here who could comment on their own use of either the Chinese Seagull ST19 Column Wheel Type or the Russian Poljot 3133 Lever Type Mechanical Chronograph Movements as used in the Precista and Broadarrow versions of the PRS-5 respectfully, and also in a number of other watches from diverse makers as well, I for one would certainly like and value knowing of it

Apart from an issued Seiko chrono some years ago, I've only had/have 2 chronos, the PRS-5 and a Damasko DC56, quite different in style, movement and layout, so not really comparable. My Broadarrow version of the PRS-5 has the Poljot 3133 movement, pictured in the link in your post above, so I can't comment on the ST19 movement. I think the Broadarrow version was discontinued around 2005, so I've had it a while now. What I like about the hands is that along with the fine markers on the minute track the time can be set very precisely, with a little back pressure on the crown to hack the watch. For a bit of interest and fun I once measured the power reserve and it was a little under 68 hours, not all usable of course.