How The Accuracy Of Watches Is Officially Measured - China Watch Manufacturer

Many times we talk about part characteristics that have little to do with their precision, however, when we choose a model it is necessary to know to what extent its movement is or is not exact.

Knowing how the accuracy of watches is measured and which are the organizations in charge of ensuring watchmaking precision, will allow us to know which are the most precise Swiss watches, and which brands have developed truly punctual mechanical devices.

This week we are going to review how the accuracy of watches is measured, what criteria are taken into account and which organizations are responsible for measuring the accuracy of a watch.

The origin of the measurement of precision in watches

From the beginning of Swiss watchmaking chain manufacturing it became essential to measure the precision of watchmaking machinery.

What the brands tried to do was replicate the same mechanism over and over again, so that it always had a certain precision, which was achieved over time, giving rise to the Swiss watch industry as we know it today.

However, the precision of the watches ceased to be an exclusively useful criterion for the brand, to become a criterion used by the public when purchasing a piece. Those who bought a high-end watch were looking for a punctual mechanism, without delays, therefore, it was the brands themselves who began, for the first time, to certify their most finished and precise mechanisms.

However, the certifications that the brands granted themselves began to be a fraud in some cases. Some certificates had no foundation, which is why it was necessary to create an independent body, capable of standardizing the measurement of the precision of all types of watches.

How accurate should a mechanical watch be?

This question is one of the great questions of Swiss mechanical watchmaking. How much can a mechanical watch be delayed or advanced to be considered accurate? There are all kinds of opinions.

The most demanding people hardly grant two seconds of delay per day, however, the conventional thing is to grant between 4 and 6 seconds daily.

A watch that loses 6 seconds per day, that is, one minute approximately every 10 days, is considered accurate. If it loses more than 6 seconds per day with respect to the official time, it is advisable that you take it to repair to readjust its movement.

As for the time setting, it is advisable that, at a minimum, you adjust the time of your mechanical watch at least once a week.

COSC, certificates of accuracy