Bifora 85

Description

One of the most beautiful after-WW-II movements from Bifora was the 8 3/4 ligne caliber 85, the successor of the Bifora 84/1.

On the pretty small (only 19 millimeters diameter), you can see the well made finish of the movement. All important bearings except mainspring barrel and center minute wheel are equipped with rubies and the balance is already shock protected.

The gear train is a classical construction, state of the art of the early 1950ies. The center minute wheel is direcly driven by the mainspring barrel, followed by third wheel, seconds wheel at 6 o’clock (which carries the decentral second hand) and stell escapement wheel. This one has got a cap jewel for its movement side bearing.

The Bifora 85 has got a golden toned screw balance, which is already beared in two inhouse Bishock shock protections. Its frequency of 18000 A/h can be fine-tuned by a long regulator arm. The escapement is a swiss pallet lever escapement.

Looking on the dial side, you don’t think at first, that this is a movement from then 1950ies, since it already looks pretty modern. Of course, the Bifora 85 uses a yoke winding system - a detail, which is not yet present on its successor.

In the lab