The Accuracy Debate - Does Wrist Watch Accuracy Even Matter? 

Accuracy absolutely matters! The whole point of a watch is to accurately measure time.

If accuracy isn't that important then just use a sundial during the day and a candle clock at night.

Personally, as long as my watches are close, I’m happy. I change watches daily, so it doesn’t matter that much. Great video Guy. 👍🏻

Accuracy is all about tolerance, how much you can you tolerate your watch accuracy. My £60 Seiko loses 35 seconds a day, I could regulate it but am willing to tolerate it rather than open that case back. If I purchase a brand new Rolex OP and it was 35 seconds a day slow, I wouldn’t be happy. I do seem to link how important accuracy is with cost of the watch :-)

For all practical purposes, unless you are running for a commuter train, +/- 60sec a day will not make that much of a difference in your life. That said, the accuracy of any instrument used to measure any quantity is critical. If a manufacturer states their products should function within a certain range, then they need to be held to that standard or they are not a reliable manufacturer. In addition accuracy of any measuring device is an indication of its true quality, value, and usefulness. You are correct.

For mechanical watches no; they're never going to be anywhere near accurate as a $10 Casio. There's something to be enjoyed with chasing that dragon though, and that goes for high accuracy quartz too. I would love a Quartz Grand Seiko

I really enjoyed this video. My concerns with accuracy is twofold. First I agree with you that a watch should live up to the stated marketing. If it is performing within those metrics then one really can’t complain. My watch habits are such that I wear a watch in my collection for about 5 days when it is up for rotation. I might wear it for 7 days depending upon what I’m doing during the weekend when I will often switch it out for a beater. Given this cycle I prefer my watches to keep accuracy within a minute over the 5 days. This way my watch is reading the correct time as indicated by the minute hand and I don’t need to adjust it during the rotation. This means I’d like it to be accurate plus or minus 12 seconds a day. Having said that, if as I said above the watch is advertised to perform even better, I expect it to do so Now a question. I have a watch that will perform different across several days. I assume this is due the what positions it is in during those days. I’d like to get a time grapher to help me analyze this. Any recommendations for a device that is good but won’t break the bank. Thanks and keep it up

On my Rolex it does upset me when it’s more/les than +-2sec a day but if my seiko is -+ 15 sec a day I don’t get bothered

Very interesting. I was one of those people concerned about accuracy as I have Breitlings with their COSC and an Omega with its METAS. When the Omega was running -1 in spite of its 0 advertisements I was worked up till I learned about cumulative error and just put it in a fast position for the night. I’m much more chill now!

I am with you in the topic of movement accuracy. Thanks for doing this video.

Believe it or not I just had a guy comment how he finds one second a day terrible accuracy 😂😂. I had to tell him that he should just give up on watches. I totally agree about the marketed accuracy needing to be as described!! It's like saying, it's 200m-ish water resistant. Would these same people say it's ok for a divers watch that states 200m be close to that but not necessarily exactly that water resistant

Enjoyed your presentation.... fully understood as well explained... many thanks for posting the video,,

Great video and I totally agree. I change watches every couple of days and find that while I do like my watches to be accurate, when I change I’m usually resetting so it is no big deal. Keep up the good work. Love your site.

I just finished regulating my one month old Invicta ProDiver with an NH35A. It’s been consistent at about four or five seconds slow a day and it drove me nuts. I got it to within 2.5 to 5 seconds fast a day now according to my time grapher app. It took me an hour but another thing to consider is position variance, when I put the watch flat on a table with the crystal facing the ceiling it usually holds or gains a couple of seconds overnight. During the day is when I seem to lose the four or five seconds probably because your arm is in the down position and the balance wheel has to fight gravity. So I’m hoping that now the extra few seconds faster will compensate for the slow down during the day and I hope I’ll break even.

Great explanation bro, really make sense

For me accuracy is part of the hobby: I practised with Seiko 5 to how accurate they can actually be, and it is surprising and enjoyable after dedicating part of your free time getting to know these mechanical marvels accomplishing the small triumph of getting as accurate as possible. And they can very accurate. I also do it with 2824, 2836, 7750, etc. (My Hamilton Khaki Chrono is at +1 spy after regulation and with my normal pattern of wear). It is just fun.

I voted that I`m concern about the accuracy. But now video is talking only about +-2 sek in Rolex. If the pole would have 1 more option (+20sek) I will choose that option. But I understand that someone can be dissapointed about the movement in Rolex which do not keep the guaranteed + or - 2sek.

Great video Guy. I agree completely!

When a watch costs thousands of dollars it matters more than anything else to me. Anything more than 5 seconds plus or minus a day is unacceptable in my opinion. Little details matter in every aspect of design,finish and function where thousands of dollars are being spent. Servicing is expensive too it has to be a priority. I like your views and opinions Guy,very well balanced and sensible.

Hi Guy, Very interesting topic. I noticed that not many people are talking about it. Even the manufacturers ( with some exceptions) are very shy about the subject. My opinion is that very much depends on how do one looks at the watch: if you see it more as piece of jewelry, then you don't really care about accuracy. If you see it as a tool - yes, you care. I do care. Very much. That's why my love/hate relationship with Seiko. I like my Turtle and I would wear it more but ... -20 seconds / day ... is driving me crazy. This holds me back from buying some other models I like. I had it regulated ( at the watchmaker) and lasted a couple of days!! Then again -20. I rather wear my Atlantic ( +12 seconds/day) . And the most wrist time goes to my Hydroconquest, running between +1 and +2 secs/ day. Appreciate your work, keep it up!

Guy, u rock! Im with u 100%. I"ll never understand how ANYONE would b satisfied with +/- 60 secs/day! The majority of my collection r Chronometers (COSC) & I simply will NEVER accept any more than +/- 5 secs/day. I have sent Rolex"s back that were off by 4 or 5 secs/day...UNACCEPTABLE! (but hey, thats me) & yes patina is DAMAGE! I think ppl who call it "desirable" just want to sell their old watch, LOL!

Came to see Seiko army in action, wasn't disappointed

I am pretty late to your channel. Love the content. I have an Orient Esteem gen 2 with F6T22 movement. It turned out to run 1 minute fast per day at the first day I bought it. Initially I was so worried and confused. I brought it to a watch repairer nearby to have it regulated. One week later, it seemd to run well, accuracy was no longer a big deal. Then, 2-3 weeks later, it started to run 1 minute fast again per day. I got so bored and I decided to let it just perform whatever. 1 year past, still 1 minute fast a day, but I no longer care much about that. I know that I did not pay much for a watch, so I can't ask for too much things. On top of that, I realize that buying that watch was because I really loved the machenical movement. Hence, I enjoy the feeling of wearing something working machenically great. In case I am in a hurry and need much accuracy, I also have a Casio in the collection to simply grab it and go.

For me,the accuracy is absolutely a must.That's why i gave up of all my automatic watches and i am wearing now only one Casio from 5600 series

Yet another great video, and I agree with you again. I care about accuracy and check all my (7) watches at a regular basis 😊 I own 3 mechanical Seikos with 2 being equipped with the 6r27 movement. Those are really, really accurate with the best of them doing an average of +0,5 s/d over a month. My Alpinist with the 6r15 is about +7 s/d, not so bad either. My two swiss watces is about +5-6 s/d, so all in all I'm very happy with all of them. The last two are quartz so my accuracy alibi is well covered. Thanks for taking time to make these interesting videos, I really appreciate them 👍

Outstanding ! Fully agree with all your comments and understanding about the accuracy subject . Respect is the key for a meaningful communication ! As a long time watch collector and enthusiast, you learn that the best watch sometimes is not the more expensive nor accurate one , but the one that most please you and bring some kind of meaning when you wore it on the wrist . Thanks 👍

Great vid guy! You're absolutely right on the point you made about a certificate a company issues about their product regarding quality or performance matter which product, but specially in watches. I still don't get how GS or even Bulova with their high frequency quartz watches do not rely on this for more agressive advertisement and product placement. You should make a video regarding those movements as well someday. Great content keep it up!!!

Second that. I only wear watches over weeks, when they operate within COSC standards. I can't stand to correct the time every day. But i've decided to see this more relaxed. Because the problem ist: The need for accuracy can lower your enjoyment of the watch. Some watches should be more accurate than others. So perhaps we should ask: How important is accuracy for what type of watch? Ig i don't want to see a vintage Omega Constellation on my wrist which gains more then 5 sec a day. But i will tolerate this in case of a big Flieger with a poljot inside or a Seiko 5.

Another superb video, Guy. Loved every “accurate” second of it 😉

Great video. I’m in the 20-30sec per day limit. Well done addressing toxic trolls.

Great topic!

I think it matters to me, I'm bummed out if something is more than 10 seconds a day off, I have a few cheaper autos (Seiko and Citizen Signature) both are less than 10 seconds a day, the other watches I have are a lot more expensive and noted for there accurracy so would expect them to be better, I think I still have a watch of my fathers and one of my grandfathers, both I suspect are not that accurate but I don't wear either of them to know, agree with you Guy, if you are spending a lot of money then they should fit within that limit.

I could not agree with you more. You nailed it in every sentence. Thank you.

One of my watches is an omega seamaster 300. It had not been serviced in about 10 years and was losing 20 seconds a day. Doesn't sound much does it. Well in just 9 days I'll lose 3 minutes. Adds up doesn't it. But my main concern was constantly unscrewing and screwing down the crown roughly once a week to adjust the time. And when necessary (date changing). 6 months of this and the thread in the crown was stripped. Off to omega for repair. When I got it back it was within 10 -11 seconds a day. Again unscrewing and screwing down the crown roughly every 3 weeks for two years and yep thread in the crown stripped again. Now on the omega forums I have read a lot of people complaining of crown problems in this model so maybe it's a poor design in this particular model but my main issue with (accuracy) is with the constant having to screw and unscrew the crown. All my 3 watches an omega a breitling and a Rolex have screwdown crowns because I want my watches to be waterproof /dustproof. To me these are very expensive watches and costly to repair so accuracy I think is important. All the best to all you watch nerds out there. Happy new year all the best for 2019.

Actually many old watches had -/+60s per day rated accuracy. Like today, most of them did better anyway. To be honest, as long as the drift is consistent, you get to know your watch enough that you’ll always know fairly accurate time even if the watch is not that accurate

I used to have an interest in Rolex. That is until a flying buddy had one that wouldn't keep time within several minutes a day. My Hamilton was much more accurate than his Rolex. He kept sending it back to Rolex for lengthy warranty visits to fix it but to no avail. On each occasion it was returned unable to keep accurate time - sometimes the condition was even worse. After several unsuccessful trips to Rolex he finally got it back with a letter which in effect told him to stop obsessing over a few minutes a day and just be happy to have a Rolex. That was pretty much it for me as far as ever wanting a Rolex and my pal later sold his and got a Breitling. Perhaps Rolex has improved their QC and attitude since then (the late 90s) but as for me I'd rather have a Timex that works.

Most excellent topic and I agree with your take and opinions on this matter 100%.

Would you agree with me that an automatic watch will keep better time accuracy if the user wears it and is more active such as going walking regularly instead of wearing it and sitting in watching tv.

Superb topic and understand of human psychology. I think you need to mention the size of the poll, so we can judge the accuracy of your results. Also don’t forget that it’s likely most of your subscribers have something in common; which will bias your poll. Totally agree with you re those who jump on others with crass responses. They are basically taking what the posters said to heart and feel threatened in a some way. We all have insecurities after all. Very nice video - keep them up. Regards Sam

I have a 2020 Aqua Terra that's about plus 8 secs per day and a Tudor that's no more than about minus 2 ...The Tudor was about £2K less and that bugs the crap out of me

A different perspective. I saw how Seiko 5 adjustment goes smoothly and I can tell you I could do it for fun, daily. If, on the other hand, I had to do the same with my Adriatica Aviator (quartz)... I'd lose my mind! There's huge amount of looseness ony the mechanism, the hour and minute pointers diverge depending on how you move them and they SHIFT significantly when you lock the crown!

Very solid video, Guy. I didn't vote in the survey, but I appreciate your common sense approach. So, I guess the answer to the question about accuracy is, "it depends." Price of the watch, personal preference, and circumstances all play a part. Pursue what's important to you, but allow others the same respect. 👌

Great video and discussion points. Most watchmakers who work on watches will state that with modern manufacturing techniques that most intermediate to high end watches are capable of running at chronometer specifications and there isn't any real excuse that they shouldn't. I know there are folks who don't care about accuracy and it seems like those are people with big collections so they have to set a watch whenever they put one on. I'm probably going on a rant here, but I'm starting to form the opinion that most high end watches are more about snobbery and some brands (and their owners) are particularly worse offenders than others. Also, some brands may use selling points about how well honed the manufacture of their gear teeth are or the particular features of the watch enhance accuracy. Yet the watches they sell aren't necessarily regulated to near chronometer specifications. This has to some extent ticked me off with respect to higher brands and is a bit off putting for me with respect to mechanical watches in general. What is the point of high horology, when they are forgetting about the horology part of the equation? I've also seen a lot of watch snobbery towards the use of silicon as if it is some grand watchmaking sin to use silicon in any part of a watch. Gasp, oh my, even considering silicon for the balance spring? What are you thinking? To be perfectly honest, high horology doesn't appear come with a guarantee of accuracy and the current trends seem to be that a lot of people chasing those exclusive brands seem to care less about accuracy. I'm actually kind of fed up with collecting because of this and I'm not sure if I will keep any of my higher end pieces. It's almost to the point where I have considered just keeping my GS spring drive or chucking that also and getting a Citizen Chronomaster that would probably require less maintenance and just wearing that. I would have my accuracy and no worries or costs associated with regular servicing. It would also break the cycle of chasing the dragon for the next best watch that promises, but fails to deliver.

The degree of accuracy should correlate to the price of the watch. Also, I would never buy a watch that is below what the best movements in that pricerange offer in term of accuracy. So I would always consider the quality of the movement (and accuracy) first, regardless of price or design.

You have just nailed it thankyou.I wear a quartz as a daily beater but use an auto for an occasional piece.Best of both worlds ?Yes I do like accuracy but for short term enjoyment as you mention a few seconds are neither here or there.Great topic.Cheers ,Len.Uk

I can see people getting upset if product makes a claim & you are paying for that. Especially if you pay lots for that. Concerning how accurate people need thru their day in real terms is different. When I grew up wearing a watches in 60’s we never discussed accuracy to these levels. Most people worn hand winders, & checked it once a day and usually wound it then. Now if you launch missiles, or seal team attacks, or timed rocket burns, then maybe. But the Pog by Seiko worked for timing rocket burst & skylab work and it work, and was the first auto chrono in space. How accurate was Yuri’s Podeba ? Or the Strella? Came across some forums that say Omegas cal 321 is +/- 10 secs a day. I have to agree with quartz comments if accuracy is the absolute driving catagory.

Accuracy does matter. I like Chronometers and I am paying more for that ability. The logic that it doesn't matter isn't logical.

I believe if you are wearing a watch as a statement and don’t even look at the time... then be happy with what you like... but if you buy a dive watch and literally every second counts, you want to rely on accuracy. If a Dr is using his/her watch to time something medically they are doing - I sincerely count on their watch being accurate. That said, I do not yet own a Swiss made watch, I do not have a Rolex, I do want a Swiss made watch, I want a German and French made watch (got Japan covered). It’s not about my likes as much as about my budget, but it’s a good place to start - to know what you like!

My new Hamilton khaki field automatic H 10 movement is 2 sec + /- a day . Amazing . My Seiko Serb o35 is about 5 sec + / - that is great . . I'm happy . My cheap Timex expedition quartz watch is always the right time . Lol.

Funny enough I know a guy on here that doesn't even measure his watches accuracy. I really enjoy my accuracy on my luxury watches but on my beaters I'm not too worried about it. Rolex has been calling watches Superlative Chronometers for so long that they didn't used to be +2/-2. I think it used to be +6/-4. Either way. Great video. Lots of good insight here. Keep it up.

Superbly & thx

Speaking of accuracy, I’m curious how accurate your Ginualts are? Do they keep the tested time provided by Ginualt while on the wrist?

I think the accuracy is important for all maniacals like me lol

Excellent video as always. For me, precision is important but not crucial otherwise I would have a quartz watch. My two Tudors give me full satisfaction: 1 sec. / day for one and 1 sec. / week for the other. Interestingly, my Black Bay ETA is more accurate than my Black Bay COSC!

I think most loud people on forums arguing against accuracy are either trolls or irrational stans who just can't tolerate any questioning of their favorite brand whatsoever. If you're using a watch as......a watch.....then there is absolutely no reason you shouldn't want it to be as accurate as possible. If you're using it more as a jewelry / fashion / collectible item, then I guess it doesn't matter as much, but I am definitely not in that category.

From a military mind set. Accuracy is very important. Its very irritating for a “high end” field watch to be almost a minute off within 3 days of setting. That’s 60 seconds too late. That’s the main reason I don’t wear mechanical watches more often, however I do own 3 mechanical Hamilton’s which I love dearly and wear for church and office stuff mostly. But if I had to give up all my watches and pick one to live off of then I would have to be a accurate and reliable quartz. Changing a battery once every few years when the watch is telling you to is far less nuanced than resetting the TIME on your TIME telling device several times a week.

What do you think of the Seiko NH36A Movement, I have that inside my Cadisen C1032 Automatic Mens Watch and it lose 6.1 seconds per day, the watch cost me $70 from Gearbest.

My vintage oyster perpetual (6569) from (I believe) 1968 is accurate to between +3/+5 seconds per day. For a watch of it's age I am beyond happy with that. But I would expect any watch with the superlative chronometer stamp to live up to Rolex' claims. I am currently saving the money up to get a datejust 36mm. It will be the first hight end watch I buy new. I shall be making sure that it is indeed keeping "superlative chronometer" timing. Keep the content coming Guy. I always enjoy it.

As long as my watches fall within plus or minus 60 seconds a day I care not one jot. I have high accuracy quartz and atomic clock controlled pieces if I need to know the time more precisely ( which come to think of it I never actually do). For me it’s all about the aesthetic.

Great honnest video Guy👍👍👍

Just put my Ball on the Timegrapher and it’s running +1 , amplitude of 330, beat error at .1 ms love this watch! ( Sold all my Seiko 6R15 based watches due to crappy inconsistent accuracy , an SBDC051, An SBDC063 and an Alpinist , however my SRPA21 Turtle with 4 R36 is quite accurate to my surprise! Great Vid Guy!

The Ball personal Watch was designed on the purpose of having the most accurate time as possible based on importants of safety when safety relies on time.

I was wondering what is considered acceptable for loosing or gaining seconds. My watch gains 12 sec a day, have to say im not very active. But im happy its considered good.. btw its a rep

I don't care as long as the watch works as advertised. I look at the spec prior to buying the watch; if the watch isn't working to spec then I feel like I paid for something that I didn't get.

Tell them Guy! I concur with your points about accuracy!

I get wanting accuracy from a expensive watch as it is the novalty that it is the whole package of luxury and performance (like a sports car that has good performance and luxury interior). But for me, I do not want to exist without my Rolex for like 2 months because it is doing maybe 6 to 8 seconds a day off. I am one of those guys who wears his watch twice a week or a little more when I get home from work. But before the warranty is up, I will send it in for the full shabbang (cleaning, servicing, etc).

I rarely wear the same watch two days in a row, and I would never chart the accuracy of my watches, so it's never been a matter of personal concern to me. That's not to say I would say accuracy is irrelevant or mock anyone who cares about it. A watch is a tool to measure time, so gross inaccuracy actually violates the core purpose of a watch! And, of course, if a watch doesn't meet the advertised accuracy rating, anyone who has purchased that watch has a legitimate grievance.

I have a Seiko presage, The fact respects are minus 35 to + 45 I'm running minus 32 seconds a day, on the watch forums many people say they have much better timings but it's still pretty bad for a 400 pound watch though it looks unbelievably pretty. I have to say I don't really mind because I think it makes a difference if you only have one watch like myself within the time loss is a sort of quirkiness that I quite like correcting the time is kind of fun I have hacking which is a bonus. I want when I was younger had a really cheap manual watch It was like some Eastern European fashion model and it used lose all gain about 3 minutes a day I wore it for ages because it was such fun I could throw do calculations what the real time was because it was stable.

If you wear a different watch every few days or only wear a watch for a week or even just for an evening... you aren't going to care very much how accurate it is... just check it/ set it each time you put it on. I wear the same watch for months at a time and for me the set it and forget it quartz aspect is perfect for me, and the more accurate the better really. A few seconds a month accuracy would be ideal. I just don't want to add the concern of having to second guess what time it is.

One week later after adjusting multiple times the speed of the 4R35 in my Seiko King Samurai (SRPE35K1), I've finally hit the "sweet spot", and now it runs with only between +-5 to 10 sec. per day!

Nice, good job..

I like my mechanical watches to be fairly accurate but I do tend to change them out daily to match my attire, so I'm more concerned with it being easy to set. This is why I prefer no-date 3-hand watches.

great vid

Gives the watch companies something to work to. I like mine to be a little fast and hack. Seiko non hacking movements that don't hack are not in my collection. Easy to set and you are never late. My most accurate new watches are Seagull Ocean Star and Orient Bambino V4. +10 on both. I am looking for a Vostok Precision vintage watch now. Something to look at. There is a glass caseback for the Vostok Precision too. A good original one is hard to find. But it's fun searching. Yes Accuracy is important to me. However my Citizen Eco Drive is boringly in synch with my radio controlled wall clock but I don't wear it much. But that's what ordinary non watch enthusiasts should buy.

I'm a punctual person and guess what, I used to wear a Seiko turtle as my daily beater , it's an inaccurate time piece like almost entries mechanical watches run between+/-20sec since open the box, and I haven't do any regulation as it still fell in factory spec. I always come on time and never get late for any appointments been made, because I used to turn 3 mins faster in every weekend, and I always come at least 2 ,3 mins early for all the appointments . That's means you don't need to wear an accurate Rolex or quartz watch to makes you became a punctual person if you are care for the time, all you need is a watch can shows the estimate time and that will do.

So for me, it does depend on the watch, My Seiko 5... I couldn't care less as long as it not too excessive i.e. less than 30 seconds per day. However I have a Rolex COSC Deep Sea Seadweller that was losing 5 second per day under warranty. Rolex Service Center regulated the watch and now after 29 days, timed with web site Time.is now has lost less than one second over the entire 29 days. This is unbelievable, but if a Rolex can regulate this well, then why wouldn't you want it to perform just to their COSC spec? The COSC Rolex spec of +/- 2 seconds a day or a bit worse would be fine, but I cannot believe how much better they were able to regulate my watch.

In my opinion, for any urban living person, commuting by a public transportation or by a car, who's job also involves at least couple of meetings or conference calls per week, a high watch accuracy is extremely important. As first, the watch should never cumulatively run late per day in order to reliably not miss a specific scheduled train, tram, or a bus, which extends also not to be late at meeting. Now, the question remains in which rate cumulatively should the watch be allowed to run fast per day (note that the watch may run slow sometimes during the day, but it should never accumulate net loss during the whole day)? Here the problem would be how often the watch should be set again backwards to the correct time, which is annoying, and doing that each single day would for most of people not be acceptable. The poll from this video says that being fast 60 seconds a day is not acceptable by 60% of people. If you have your watch set couple of minutes forward, it may also cause scheduling problems and daily routine inefficiencies. I believe majority of working people would not like to set their watch back to correct time during working days because of tight daily schedules, but the weekend is a good oportunity to set the watch to the correct time. Therefore, as a minimum of time keeping accuracy, I would say that we can define it as up to +8.57 seconds per day, which makes the watch run a minute fast every 7 days. Nevertheless, I believe significant percentage of people may forget to set their watches to correct time during the weekend, and for sure even better accuracy is required than +8.57 seconds per day. But, we are aware that for commercially available mechanical watches it is not possible to be accurate e.g. as only a second per month as seen with good quartz watches, thus we need to set some reasonable accuracy limit. Since most of the watches have an additional simple date function, which needs to checked once per month if maybe we were in the 30 day long month, we need to check if we need to manually set it to the 1st day which would also be a good opportunity to set the watch to the correct time. Therefore, we could define that sufficient timekeeping accuracy for a wrist watch would be in average of up to +2 seconds per day, making a watch run fast one minute every 30 days. In practical terms, this accuracy could only be conditionally offered by a Rolex brand in case buyer is lucky that his watch sample can run in resting position forward up to +2 seconds per day on average, and not to lose time on average when worn. As a second example, Omega Master Chronometer watch models are regulated never to run cumulatively late, but average rates can practically be up to +5 seconds per day, which could maybe be addressed by finding a "slow" resting position of the watch to leave running during the night which runs at up to +2 seconds per day.

My automatics I'm ok with + or - 30 sec a day for micro brands little stricter on my seikos + or - 15 although my new seiko 5s are running at +4 and +2 my old skx only does +15. And patina is just a polite way to say beat to crap LOL Good video

Hi Guy, I recently picked up a pre-owned Rolex Two tone Datejust 38mm which is running consistently 7 seconds fast a day. Now I know that Rolex guarantees it's new watches which are rated as a "Superlative Chronometer" to run no more than +/- 2 seconds a day. This particular watch is an excellent condition 2004 model, which the dealer who sold me the watch assured me was recently adjusted. Now for most watches, running 7 seconds fast a day is pretty good, but this IS a Rolex. Subsequently, should I be concerned that this watch is running out of spec for a Rolex, and would I be justified to return it to the dealer for adjustment?

A mechanical watch being able to accurately keep time is what actually drew me to watches in the first place because It’s just so impressive. I know these standards are quite high but if I were to buy a watch and it gained it lost more than 7 or 8 seconds per day, I’m going to be a little bit disappointed. However if it’s 20, 30, 40 seconds per day, I’m just not going to get nearly as much enjoyment out of it as I get from my other watches. Right now I have three watches in my collection and they are -3, -2 and +2. Accuracy is definitely something that matters to me.

I know some professional watchmakers. What I’ve been told is that certifications like COSC or even water resistance only means that the watch met the standard AT THE TIME OF TESTING. It’s not a guarantee that the watch will perform that way over the course of its life and in fact it’s impossible as parts and lubricants wear out. So it’s a bit of a marketing ploy. Rolex will try to readjust the watch but if they can’t then they arent too stressed. I think a greater concern would be more about their reputation than the performance of the watch. Hence the experience of another commenter and his letter from Rolex essentially saying; get over it. So if you have two identical watches, one expensive COSC and the other not but cheaper, choose the latter and then ask for them to regulate it to COSC standards during a service. Same thing, don’t pay the premium of COSC. That being said companies like Rolex do try to create movements that minimize deviation so it happens less often and to a lesser degree.

Never a truer word said as we say in Dublin. Thanks Guy!

I change watch weekly once or sometimes upto 2 weeks and that's when the accuracy really counts... So if +20secs/day then for 2 weeks it's almost 5 minutes or to be precise 280 secs and it's not acceptable. No wonder grand seiko is gaining that momentum in the market not only for its quality but mainly for its accuracy.... We can wear GS daily for months & months without bothering to correct again

The correct time is the truth. Frequency is what is, is. 6 band-solar quartz is better and automatic watches are jewelry hammered out by Blacksmiths. But they are purdy and mechanical marvels to behold. just not good enough for keeping time with any certainty. imho

Collectors IMO are correct because they go thru numerous time pieces, being within COS is good enough for a relatively recent Rolex or like watch. The time graph and its average has always been an approximation of actual wear accuracy when worn. The spec of +2 -2 SPD is adverting hype and can't be relied upon as gospel. Mechanical watches have always been affected by physical position and acceleration/deceleration. Advertised spec of +2 -2 SPD is a business decision. They weighed the cost of complaints and decided regulating a watch specific to the individual once in a while is a worthwhile expense. IMO having the watch regulated has its risks. First the watch was not properly sealed, moisture/water damage. Second the watch goes missing, MIA.

for me i agree with both.. because most of the time i care abt. accuracy & sometime i don't.. buy +/- 60 sec/day is totally not acceptable.. maybe maximum of +/- 15 sec/day is sometime okfor me... but it all depends on the person.. that is why we have a watch because we care abt. time..

I have a newbie question. My watch is losing around 3 sec per day. Is a cosc certified -4/+6. The thing is just losing time. It is normal not to gain at all? I mean I should expect suddenly to start gaining too? I am asking because hearing all this stuff with +-, in my mind its translates like today loses tomorrow gaining. Or I am wrong?

Watching this video I feel very lucky. I have a Parnis Naut that is losing 5 sec a day. It has a Miyota 851A. Anyone knows if Parnis regulates the watches they sell?

Please make a video with a list of what is reasonable accuracy within a price range. For example in a price range 0-100$ acurracy of X seconds in ok, and here are some examples - A,B,C in a price range 100-300$ accuracy of Y seconds is expected, and here are some examples - DEF Up to 500 $ ? Up to 1000$ ? Can't seem to find any clear information. Most forums/blogs argue with one another. And with wide margins. Of course with some watches you're paying for water resistance or the case material instead of accuracy, but what are the average numbers we can set as a start point when looking for a watch.

I agree I don't like patina either but I want my watch to be accurate no matter what it is because there are so many accurate water resistant quartz watches out there for under 50 bucks.

Yes it does. My dads wind omega from the 60s. Is within 2 minutes a month. Gets a wind every morning.

I don't like 15 seconds a day, but I try to get my watches 3 seconds a day. That makes me happy. So far I have got my Seiko 5 sport set to 3 seconds a day. I love accuracy,

I don't care about my vintage obviously, My Seiko 009 isn't terribly accurate, the 775 and my glycine airmen are very accurate, so I tend to wear them more. My Datejust just came back from service, and it's very accurate, that watch is now 33 years old , My RGM isn't accurate and it's on it's way to service. I guess for me, it's about the price I paid for the piece.

My Seiko quartz from 1978 gains a few seconds a month. I wonder if I could stand a mechanical movement. I guess I won't know unless I get one. Rolex on the wrist in a 24 hour period? Does that mean you sleep with it on the wrist? Is the watch regulated to six positions or does that not apply here?

of cource accuracy mathers. is this not the whole intention of watchmaking? to make the most accurate time-telling device in with the respective movement? isnt it the beauty of a mechanical watch, that it is possible to make a so small device, witch is threated with different temperatures, differend conditions and still be accuarte (maybee +/- 2 seconds if it is a premium watch, maybee +/- 20 seconds if it is a entry level watch). and yes.. i like quartz watches to because of their accuracy of +/- 5 seconds a month.. this is great stuff, great technology, regardless of mechanical or quartz.. heck, i would even buy an cesium 133 watch if it will be possible to shrink down the technology to wristwatch size

We'll said guy. I've made comments in posts that if I'm going to spend $10k - 15k on a watch, I should get $10k - $15k worth of accuracy. I get bashed every time. I respect your opinion. And I'm glad to know that I/we are in the majority. I have three Rolexs from vintage to brand new. The vintage keeps perfect time. The other two are +/- 1.5. I want to get into "higher end" watches but I don't want to spend more to get less accuracy. At least with Rolex I know what I'm getting.

That's exactly the rude criticism and sardonic answers I received upon "watch u seek " forum from asking to have explained to me about whether gain of seconds upon my damasko Dsub2 eg 5 secs per day was to be expected consecutively or should it only remain about 5 secs within accuracy each day... I just got people that wasn't answering the question they were stating nonsense to me also that they enjoy adjusting their watch every week and for me to get a quartz

Had no idea people could attack other for wanting their 8000 watch to be accurate xD

Dang, that vocal minority are just a bunch of bullies. If someone complains that their watch isn't giving them the accuracy that they believed they were getting (based on price, movement, newness, etc) then they have every right to complain. Even if they were making ridiculous complaints (ie. expecting incredible accuracy on a vintage seiko 5 or something), there are nicer ways to explain to them that they are being unreasonable. :/

Accuracy matters to me, so I bought casio quartz. A blue duro as a nice everyday diver and f105 digital for everything else. Accuracy to within 5 seconds a month from my testing