I'm not sure what this is now . . .
F.T.F.A.
I love twin register chronos and this thread has thrown up some amazing examples. Some real vintage beauties as well a smattering of some modern ones.
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Here’s my Hamilton 6bb IMG_4035.jpg
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So, am I right in thinking a chronograph with 3 sub dials, one of which is a running seconds, would be described as " bi compax"?. Or, is it a term which means a number of things and is not, yet, a definition? I may well have missed a crucial point but am b*****d if I can determine it.
Yep, still struggling with Tap Talk....one of these days I'll figure it out and be able to upload some pics. It is getting a tad frustrating.
No, originally a Compax chronograph had 3 sub-dials, one of which is running seconds. So a Compax has 2 chronograph-related sub-dials
Uni-Compax has 2 sub-dials, only one of which relates to the chronograph (hence Uni), the other being running seconds
And Tri-Compax, when it was (rarely) used had 4 sub-dials, one running seconds, 2 for the chronograph, and the fourth for date-moonphase
So the Compax was considered by UG to be the 'normal' state of affairs wrt chronographs, with Uni being a simplification of it, and Tri being further complicated.
Bi-Compax never existed, until modern hipsters, wanting to show they have some knowledge of chronograph heritage, starting trying to use the 80-year-old Compax terminology, and got it completely wrong.
Remember, in 1936 when this was all invented, almost all watches had 1 sub-dial for running seconds, very few had centre seconds, so a running second sud-dial was considered normal, and not a complication at all.
So,
"Uni-Compax" = 1 sub dial chronograph related (two sub dials in total)
"Compax" = 2 sub dials chronograph related (three sub dials in total)
"Tri-Compax" = AGAIN 2 sub dials chronograph related? (four sub dials in total)
Does the date & moonphase make the "Tri-Compax" a more complicated chronograph?
Last edited by Artium; 15th September 2021 at 23:46.
Dave, thanks for that. It seems as clear as it ever will and I will not and never have used "compax" in any descriptions of any of my watches. As an aside, the Fortis Ducati (5100) edn chrono I bought from you on a very rainy day many years ago now resides in Texas with a Ducati enthusiast. We are both delighted with the outcome.
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Think of the Compax being 2 complications, added on to the running second.
Uni, one, for a single chronograph sub-dial (2 sub-dials in total)
Compax is Compax, 2, both on the chrono (3 sub-dials in total).
Tri, 3 has 3 complication sub-dials, 2 are on the chrono, one is calendar (4 sub-dials in total)
Ok. Second go at loading a picture. Hamilton 6bb 1972.
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I might have shared this before on this thread. If so, apologies, I lose track!
I've no idea what the actual definition should be but. Taking it as a watch with 2 sub dials, as opposed to the relatively common three, these are my contributions - all Panerai: two regatta timers 526 and 652, one 'basic' flyback 654 and a non- chrono, but two sub-dials, Equation of Time 670.
My 2010 Zenith EP Pilot..
I have a small group of 2 sub dial chronographs, 3 are variants of the Sekonda 3017 and the third is a V7733.
Cheers..
Jase