IS ACCURACY EVERYTHING?
I feel I have a decent collection. Some beater watches, like my #casio , as well as some nice #seiko and of course my two favorites, #omega #speedy and #seamaster . Now some of you may mock me for saying “decent collection” while having Omega’s. I know not everyone can even have an Omega and for that I am appreciative. But I say “decent collection” because although I have a couple Omegas I don’t have higher priced brands like #patekphilippe or #ap just to name a couple.
Within the past couple days I’ve put two watches to the test on accuracy in time. I decided to test my OMEGA SPEEDMASTER PROFFESIONAL and my new SEIKO #SNJ301 #arnie watch. The SPEEDY has the amazing 3861 movement and the SEIKO with the H851 which has a 6 month power reserve.
I picked the Omega as I was wearing it the day this came to mind and I just picked the Seiko cause it was the next watch I wore.
I wound the Omega 30 times and set the time using the HODINKEE APP. Initially the minute and seconds were SPOT ON. The 3861 movement is accurate from 0 to plus 5 seconds a day. Every day for a few days I’d wind the Omega up about 10 times to recharge. After a few days I checked to see accuracy. The Omega was plus 2 seconds ahead after three days! I was surprised to see so much accuracy in a watch.
I had set the time on the SEIKO a couple weeks prior to setting the Omega. Today I checked the Seiko and found it to be running about 8 seconds fast. Not too bad for a few weeks but thought it would have been a little more accurate being digital.
All that to say, I try to buy watches that mainly stand out to me but also that are as accurate as possible. So I’m pretty happy with these watches and many others that I have in the fact that I love their look, feel and material and even more, they’re ACCURATE. Some of my other watches are great, but on the cheaper quality and can run a lot slower or faster but you get what you pay for.
Whats your most accurate piece and do you buy for accuracy?
I have absolutely no need for a super accurate watch, however it is a primary concern for me when selecting a watch. Even though watches are no longer the primary method we use to tell the time, I still view that as their main function. As such, the better they are at performing that function, the more impressed I am with them.
My most accurate watch is my GMT Master II, which typically runs within a couple of seconds per week.
The Seiko H851 solar/quartz movement hasan accuracy spec of +/- 15 seconds per month (as do most non HAQ or thermo-compensated quartz) so it's certainly running within spec.
For spot on accuracy get a radio controlled Citizen or Casio.
My G-shock GST-B400 connects to my phone once a day just for this purpos, which is cool but that level of accuracy isn’t essential for me.
I have absolutely no need for a super accurate watch, however it is a primary concern for me when selecting a watch. Even though watches are no longer the primary method we use to tell the time, I still view that as their main function. As such, the better they are at performing that function, the more impressed I am with them.
My most accurate watch is my GMT Master II, which typically runs within a couple of seconds per week.
I’ve found I use my watch a lot more often for telling time than my phone now… took a little while.
I have a vintage speedy that runs between 10 and 15 seconds fast a day, and it's fine by me. I don't mind a watch that is not accurate, as long as it is running fast. You don't need to worry about being late. And to adjust the time just pull, the crown out for a few seconds each day and you're good.
I hate when you have a slow watch and you constantly need to move it forwards to keep it in time. My favourite watch is running 2-3 seconds per day slow, which is a minor yet persistent annoyance that the AD will not touch because it's within COSC.
For me accuracy is very important, but consistency is even more. An automatic that I would wear 40% of the time during a week can have an accuracy of +_15s/d as long as it is consistent and it looses or gains the same amount +_2s every time. With my quartz pieces I tend to be more strict and expect less than 3-5s per month.
Keep in mind that all these apply for watches I wear regularly. For one-offs even 1min per day would be ok.
The Seiko H851 solar/quartz movement hasan accuracy spec of +/- 15 seconds per month (as do most non HAQ or thermo-compensated quartz) so it's certainly running within spec.
For spot on accuracy get a radio controlled Citizen or Casio.
Yeah, I know it’s within spec. not mad about it. Was more so just out of curiosity. And I do have a G-Shock but sometimes I want that look that the Arnie provides.
My G-shock GST-B400 connects to my phone once a day just for this purpos, which is cool but that level of accuracy isn’t essential for me.
That’s cool! I’ll have to check that out!
I have a vintage speedy that runs between 10 and 15 seconds fast a day, and it's fine by me. I don't mind a watch that is not accurate, as long as it is running fast. You don't need to worry about being late. And to adjust the time just pull, the crown out for a few seconds each day and you're good.
I hate when you have a slow watch and you constantly need to move it forwards to keep it in time. My favourite watch is running 2-3 seconds per day slow, which is a minor yet persistent annoyance that the AD will not touch because it's within COSC.
Yeah. I hear ya’!
what watch is running slow even though it’s within specs?
For me accuracy is very important, but consistency is even more. An automatic that I would wear 40% of the time during a week can have an accuracy of +_15s/d as long as it is consistent and it looses or gains the same amount +_2s every time. With my quartz pieces I tend to be more strict and expect less than 3-5s per month.
Keep in mind that all these apply for watches I wear regularly. For one-offs even 1min per day would be ok.
I get that.
Yeah, the time isn’t TOO big a deal within specs for me. Even my Orients that have a bigger slow/fast buffer don't bother me really.
Yeah. I hear ya’!
what watch is running slow even though it’s within specs?
Tudor BB58.
No watch is 100 percent accurate manuals,autos or quartz. You can buy very accurate cosc rated autos but they tend to need servicing more regularly than say a cheap seiko. You can also buy high accuracy quartz like the longines vhp which I've owned and its a lovely watch. The most accurate though are radio controlled quartz which will always be spot on 👍 my most accurate auto is my fortis marinemaster which I've managed to get an average of around +1.5 seconds a day. My most accurate quartz is my 1978 king seiko twin quartz which is +- 20 seconds a year but you have to wear it to get that accuracy.
Accuracy is definitely not everything. The modern Omega and Rolex movements and of course the Seiko spring Drive movements are super accurate but I never had a problem with my other watches being less accurate. I don't wear a single watch long enough for accuracy to be a problem and if I have to adjust a watch every couple of weeks it does not bother me either. In a typical OCD fashion I do like to know what is the accuracy of the watches I own but not to the degree that I loose sleep over it 😉
Tudor BB58.
Gotcha! nice piece!
No watch is 100 percent accurate manuals,autos or quartz. You can buy very accurate cosc rated autos but they tend to need servicing more regularly than say a cheap seiko. You can also buy high accuracy quartz like the longines vhp which I've owned and its a lovely watch. The most accurate though are radio controlled quartz which will always be spot on 👍 my most accurate auto is my fortis marinemaster which I've managed to get an average of around +1.5 seconds a day. My most accurate quartz is my 1978 king seiko twin quartz which is +- 20 seconds a year but you have to wear it to get that accuracy.
Yeah, I never expect any watch to be super accurate.
That’s cool about the old Seiko!!
Accuracy is definitely not everything. The modern Omega and Rolex movements and of course the Seiko spring Drive movements are super accurate but I never had a problem with my other watches being less accurate. I don't wear a single watch long enough for accuracy to be a problem and if I have to adjust a watch every couple of weeks it does not bother me either. In a typical OCD fashion I do like to know what is the accuracy of the watches I own but not to the degree that I loose sleep over it 😉
I’m in the same boat! 😊
Accuracy is definitely not everything. The modern Omega and Rolex movements and of course the Seiko spring Drive movements are super accurate but I never had a problem with my other watches being less accurate. I don't wear a single watch long enough for accuracy to be a problem and if I have to adjust a watch every couple of weeks it does not bother me either. In a typical OCD fashion I do like to know what is the accuracy of the watches I own but not to the degree that I loose sleep over it 😉
Accuracy don't normally bother me unless its way out like my 055 padi which was -43 seconds a day and was a real pain to get it somewhere acceptable.
Yeah, I never expect any watch to be super accurate.
That’s cool about the old Seiko!!
Yeh my old king seiko twin quartz is very accurate,it has 2 quartz in it and 1 is thermo compensated so if you wear it all the time its very accurate 👍
YES YES YES said the guy with serious OCD issues 🙃😜
Accuracy don't normally bother me unless its way out like my 055 padi which was -43 seconds a day and was a real pain to get it somewhere acceptable.
Dang! That’s a big gap!!
Yeh my old king seiko twin quartz is very accurate,it has 2 quartz in it and 1 is thermo compensated so if you wear it all the time its very accurate 👍
Will check that out!
YES YES YES said the guy with serious OCD issues 🙃😜
Haha!! can relate…