90-Day Accuracy Challenge: Final Results
Finally, this fun head-to-head 90-day Accuracy Challenge between my 5 quartz watches has come to a close. It began last October 1st, and was a fitting end to 2023. The challenge aimed to demonstrate which quartz movement is more consistently accurate.
Seconds deviation have been measured. Results are in. The rankings tallied are surprising.
6) Axis Dual Time Big Dial
From being in 3rd place with a -6 seconds / 30 days rate, it dramatically slid down the order, now measuring -40 seconds / 90 days. This deviation is a little over 2x more than expected. Battery power dwindling could be the main cause as it was installed back in November 2021.
5) Citizen 1030-R11008
Dropping from its 2nd place berth of +5 secs / 30 days, it now surprisingly increased to +34 secs / 90 days.
Similar to the Axis Dual Time Big Dial, the deviation is a little over 2x than expected. Battery power could also possibly be the main culprit, since it was installed last November 2021.
4) Timex Waterbury Traditional TW2R25400
Because of the slide of the last 2 watches, the Waterbury Traditional jumped from 6th to 4th. With an initial -10.5 seconds / 30 days, it expectedly clocked at -29.5 seconds / 90days.
3) Timex Expedition Scout 36
Similar progress was made by the Scout, moving from 5th to 3rd in the rankings. With its initial 30-day rate of -10 seconds, it then clocked at the expected rate of -29 seconds last December 31st.
2) The Axis Dual Time Small Dial is the surprise runner-up! From running at -7 seconds / 30 days, it clocked at -18 seconds / 90 days. It performed better than its big dial partner, and a little above expectation vs. the two Timex watches.
1) Columbia CL-1312. It's still the winner.
Interestingly though, from a rate of 0 seconds / 30 days, it clocked at +2.5 seconds / 90 days. Given that its battery was installed last February 2022, I think it's an acceptable and expected loss.
Nonetheless, for this 90-Day Challenge, the $19.00 VJ-32 quartz movement powered Columbia CL-1312 is still the king!
Quick Analysis & Conclusions
Obviously, battery power determines a quartz watch's consistent accuracy. Hence, best practice is to measure its deviation vs. an atomic clock every 90 days. Based on the results, get the batteries replaced in a timely fashion vs. blame our quartz watches for failing us when we needed it most.
The price of a quartz watch and its movement does not determine consistent accuracy. The Seiko-made VJ-32 movement has proven that it outperforms many, if not majority, of the higher end quartz movements and brands.
Timex quartz movements, despite the trivial complaints by a few re. its "loud ticking", "keeps on tickin'" consistently and reliably.
How about your quartz watches? If they go head-to-head, would any of them even come close to my VJ-32 powered Columbia CL-1312?
The ball is in your court, Crunchers. Are you ready to play?
#columbiacl1312 #timexexpeditionscout36 #timexwaterbury #axisdualtime #citizen1030r11008
When a glorious sunset begins to descend, Bringing warm and lovely hues, Burnt orange, gold, dusky purple, Pink, mauve, and blue, No timepiece on earth, With all its sunburst, textures, and polish, Co...
I accept the challenge. Although, I won't be able to wear them after DST until the end of the challenge, so as to not disrupt the results
I accept the challenge. Although, I won't be able to wear them after DST until the end of the challenge, so as to not disrupt the results
Let's do it, my man!
Yeah, best to start after DST comes back. No rush. It would definitely be interesting to see how your quartz watches rank among themselves.
I'm about 30 days in on a digital watch accuracy challenge with my three Casios. This is the second 30-day test, which will be used to corroborate the first run.
Thanks for posting yours, very interesting!
I'm about 30 days in on a digital watch accuracy challenge with my three Casios. This is the second 30-day test, which will be used to corroborate the first run.
Thanks for posting yours, very interesting!
Cool, my friend. 😎 Looking forward to see your results in 60 days or so.
Cool, my friend. 😎 Looking forward to see your results in 60 days or so.
Actually just started my third run and already see a pattern emerging. I'll post in a month. 👍
Actually just started my third run and already see a pattern emerging. I'll post in a month. 👍
Woot! Woot!
Fun stuff! I've got to get some more quartz watches to join in this fun.
I've only got one battery powered quartz, this Aikon Benzilla Graffiti watch:
I'm at 81 days and + 16.4 seconds on this one. Not bought for accuracy but for purely for fun.
Also, I recently bought my dad a watch, a solar Seiko VX powered Momentum (Magnum PIs watch brand!) .. I'm curious how a solar watch does here, so will start collecting data. tag me next time we are comparing quartz and I'll update you.
I'd like to buy my own super quartz someday: a GS 9F or The Citizen Chronomaster to see how it does. I've heard tale of zero seconds per year 😳.
My spring drive automatic watches are also pretty good. What's stunning to me, they stay perfectly accurate even when the mainspring driving it is almost totally unwound. My regular automatics tend to go get worse when mainspring is low.
I've tracked my Sakura 413 the longest (before accidently letting it stop) and it's was +2.2 seconds over several months. It uses the 9R65, a 'basic' spring drive movement.
Of course it's all just for fun, and a killer accurate watch is sometimes just us getting lucky with the movement 😉
Fun stuff! I've got to get some more quartz watches to join in this fun.
I've only got one battery powered quartz, this Aikon Benzilla Graffiti watch:
I'm at 81 days and + 16.4 seconds on this one. Not bought for accuracy but for purely for fun.
Also, I recently bought my dad a watch, a solar Seiko VX powered Momentum (Magnum PIs watch brand!) .. I'm curious how a solar watch does here, so will start collecting data. tag me next time we are comparing quartz and I'll update you.
I'd like to buy my own super quartz someday: a GS 9F or The Citizen Chronomaster to see how it does. I've heard tale of zero seconds per year 😳.
My spring drive automatic watches are also pretty good. What's stunning to me, they stay perfectly accurate even when the mainspring driving it is almost totally unwound. My regular automatics tend to go get worse when mainspring is low.
I've tracked my Sakura 413 the longest (before accidently letting it stop) and it's was +2.2 seconds over several months. It uses the 9R65, a 'basic' spring drive movement.
Of course it's all just for fun, and a killer accurate watch is sometimes just us getting lucky with the movement 😉
Fun stuff, right? Hehehe... But yeah like you, I'm really not into accuracy. Just wanted to have some fun with my quartz watches.
Your Aikon Benzilla Graffiti performing at + 16.4 seconds over 81 days is good. That betters the small dial of my Axis Dual Time by just 1.6 seconds.
Yeah, your GS Sakura 413 with its spring drive is in another league, as it combines automatics and quartz. But, running at +2.2 seconds over several months is a good track record. Seems just slightly better than the $19.00 VJ-32 quartz movement powering my Columbia field watch. ;)
Try officially testing your GS 9R65 and the Seiko VX powered Momentum over a 90-day period. Set them both by an atomic clock on the same day, then just tally their performance every 30 days, until you reach 90 days. Don't use any mobile apps that show averages. Consistent accuracy over time is the challenge. Looking forward to see your results, my friend!
Fun stuff, right? Hehehe... But yeah like you, I'm really not into accuracy. Just wanted to have some fun with my quartz watches.
Your Aikon Benzilla Graffiti performing at + 16.4 seconds over 81 days is good. That betters the small dial of my Axis Dual Time by just 1.6 seconds.
Yeah, your GS Sakura 413 with its spring drive is in another league, as it combines automatics and quartz. But, running at +2.2 seconds over several months is a good track record. Seems just slightly better than the $19.00 VJ-32 quartz movement powering my Columbia field watch. ;)
Try officially testing your GS 9R65 and the Seiko VX powered Momentum over a 90-day period. Set them both by an atomic clock on the same day, then just tally their performance every 30 days, until you reach 90 days. Don't use any mobile apps that show averages. Consistent accuracy over time is the challenge. Looking forward to see your results, my friend!
What method do you use to measure the accuracy? Do you have a special device? I synchronized my quartz watches a couple months ago and the Bertuccis and Militado are keeping time perfectly with each other, while my Timex loses about 10 seconds a month compared with the Bertucci. However, I am only comparing them with each other.
No special devices, bud. Your method is the same I used, except that I synced my watches to an atomic clock. There are many atomic clock apps available, on mobile and desktop.
Your Timex is performing the same as mine. Using the atomic clock, it'll be interesting to see how your Bertucci and Militado watches perform.
I'll take the challenge. I am going to sync mine to my phone. Here's why:
Atomic Clock (The source of all time, LOL 🤣)
Apple Servers set by Atomic Clock >> Server checks Atomic Clock periodically, and adjusts the server time to stay with the Atomic Clock
iPhone clock set by Apple Server >> iPhone checks Apple Server periodically, and adjusts the phone time to stay with the Apple Server
So setting your watch by your iPhone is essentially the same thing. 😀
I'll take the challenge. I am going to sync mine to my phone. Here's why:
Atomic Clock (The source of all time, LOL 🤣)
Apple Servers set by Atomic Clock >> Server checks Atomic Clock periodically, and adjusts the server time to stay with the Atomic Clock
iPhone clock set by Apple Server >> iPhone checks Apple Server periodically, and adjusts the phone time to stay with the Apple Server
So setting your watch by your iPhone is essentially the same thing. 😀
Yup, get with it then, my friend! Take the 90-day Challenge! 😜
I accept the challenge. Although, I won't be able to wear them after DST until the end of the challenge, so as to not disrupt the results
I figured I track it until the District Show. That's just over 30 days and see who holds up.
Okay let's see who's the most accurate over the next 45 days. All of them have been synced to the my phone, to the second as fast as my feeble reflexes would allow.
Here are the challengers
On the left is a US Polo from a cheap father's day gift. The other is a $4 thing from AliE that I got just to see how bad it would look. It's worse🤣
Next row:
Invicta Reserve Bolt Zeus Magnum
Casio G-Shock DW 5600e
A late model Bulova Marine Star 100m
Last row
Citizen Two Tone Quartz
Fossil Blue Dive (I know it's a green dial, that the name)
Citizen Garrison EcoDrive
Setting my calendar alert and will show results in 45 days. Why 45, because daylight savings is March 10th and this will bring me to the 5th.
Ok @hakki501 the automatic, despite being on a watch winder the whole time, made it about a week, before losing 2.5 minutes. (I reset it today before church.) Ironically, my daughter's watch (same exact model) which was also on the winder, still has perfect time. I wonder if my watch needs servicing? 🤪🤣
Okay let's see who's the most accurate over the next 45 days. All of them have been synced to the my phone, to the second as fast as my feeble reflexes would allow.
Here are the challengers
On the left is a US Polo from a cheap father's day gift. The other is a $4 thing from AliE that I got just to see how bad it would look. It's worse🤣
Next row:
Invicta Reserve Bolt Zeus Magnum
Casio G-Shock DW 5600e
A late model Bulova Marine Star 100m
Last row
Citizen Two Tone Quartz
Fossil Blue Dive (I know it's a green dial, that the name)
Citizen Garrison EcoDrive
Setting my calendar alert and will show results in 45 days. Why 45, because daylight savings is March 10th and this will bring me to the 5th.
Ok @hakki501 the automatic, despite being on a watch winder the whole time, made it about a week, before losing 2.5 minutes. (I reset it today before church.) Ironically, my daughter's watch (same exact model) which was also on the winder, still has perfect time. I wonder if my watch needs servicing? 🤪🤣
I think the loss of 2.5 mins in a week is within the standard deviation of your watch. Check the manual. Usually, a standard workhorse auto movement like a Seiko 7S26 or 4R35 has an acceptable deviation of +/- 25 to 30 secs per day. A simple regulation by a watchmaker will make it run better with a lower deviation range.