Omega’s Bold Challenge to the COSC Certification
Omega has been lighting up the proverbial group chat recently with some fantastic watches and now, with its confidence at a decades long high, the company has announced the launch of Laboratoire de Précision, an officially-authorized testing lab for accuracy in watches and the soon-to-be arch nemesis of everyone at the world-renowned Contrôle Officiel Suisse Des Chronomètres (COSC) laboratories.
Although Omega doesn’t expect to be the only watch company to use this new testing facility, there’s no doubt that this move bolsters the firm’s stake in the global watch market and furthermore, that it will increase not only their output but the quality of their watches too. With standards of measurement supposedly 10 times higher than current practices, Omega’s new lab should bring the masses closer to true chronological excellence (whatever that means in practice) and enable competing watch makers to analyze the performance of their tickers like never before.
It may seem geeky now but this is about to change the watch world as we know it.
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I wonder if they'll test my Seiko SNKL41? It's running +1 seconds a day from the factory.
Officially authorized by whom?
Eh, inhouse certification is a cool angle in theory, but seems less prestigious than obtaining the objective third-party COSC or METAS certification.
IMO it's awesome! Omega & Grand Seiko are making the best mass production mechanical movements in the industry. The two companies are pushing other manufacturers to build better product. Look at Tudor stepping up with METAS certification Tudor brought METAS inhouse to cut costs and build a competitive edge. Non watch nerds buy a luxury watch ... or two. Nerds collect. Both markets do need to justify why buying a mechanical movement product is worthwhile compared to highly accurate quartz movements.