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

We said that, originally, it was the brands themselves that certified their own pieces, however, this caused fraud. In 1973, the COSC was founded, by its acronym in French, Contr?le Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, that is, the official control of Swiss chronometers.

What the COSC tried from the beginning was to evaluate Swiss mechanical watches, to issue independent certificates of accuracy.

The COSC has three laboratories in Switzerland, where all the new models from the main Watches Manufacturers arrive. It is true that some brands have their own standards, usually more demanding than those of the COSC, however, all the designs of Swiss manufacturers go through the COSC laboratories to obtain their certificate.

The method consists of testing the movement for fifteen days without a box. During this period, the movement works in five different positions with various temperature changes.

The COSC takes into account the daily variation, which it establishes at 6 seconds, but also takes into account the average variation, the maximum variation, the difference between the different positions and the variation due to temperature. If the movement conforms to the standards, it is approved as a Swiss chronometer.

Time measurement clamp

There are several methods to check to what extent your mechanical watch is accurate or not. The easiest way to set your clock on time? There are web pages that give the exact time based on data from atomic clocks. If each week you compare the time on your clock with that on a website (the same weekly), you will be able to know in a very approximate way the variations of your watch.

But if you really want to know how your watch works and what its level of accuracy is, Frédérique Constant has the perfect complement for you, it is a caliper capable of measuring the oscillations of a mechanical part, and that connected to a mobile App, provides all the data about the progress of your watch in the most precise way.

The influence of wear on the movement of a watch

If you've ever wondered why high-end watches incorporate precious stones into their movement, the answer has more to do with precision than luxury.

Pieces made of traditional materials suffer, little by little, wear and tear that causes precision to decrease. Therefore, a watch considered accurate, over time may cease to be.

The jewels are hardly worn by friction for many years to pass, that is the reason why the mechanisms incorporate rubies and other precious stones that, in the long term, ensure their correct operation without losing precision.

The best watches from Luxury Watches Manufacturer

The main Swiss manufacturers have the COSC precision certification for most of their models. Some, such as Breitling or Rolex, send each of their models to precision laboratories so that all their movements are examined and certified, others only send some of the movements they produce, those that they consider to be of higher quality, suitable to pass the test of 6 seconds a day.

At Watches5 Swiss Watch Factory they have the best certified watches, precise chronographs that meet the basic premise of watchmaking, offering an extremely precise piece, capable of accurately measuring times for years.

If you are looking for a Swiss luxury watch and your main criterion is precision, come to ww.watches5.com and they will advise you to help you custom the perfect piece.