Okay, so i was reading a thread that has seiko new release. Then i got into a comment that says
“Anywhere from -10s to +15s a day. … I was ok with that accuracy when their divers were $400, not $1k+.”
So i really wonder if this statement is actually true, that 1k watches have better accuracy than +15/-10 Sec. Does watches in this price range really state their accuracy and have good accuracy that makes Seiko watches look over priced.
This Thread doesn’t care about YOUR certain model current accuracy, im taking what the manufacturer said (or if they don’t say anything) it has. Because same thing can be said with Seiko’s product, seen some of their Low end budget movement have really good accuracy. So your Watch accuracy is irrelevant here.
So Lets go!
Let’s start with this sub favorite Tissot PRX doesn’t even state the expected accuracy of the watch. Since its not chronometer certified according to the User Manual:
“Most watches which are not certified chronometers have an average accuracy tolerance of around -10/+30 seconds per day”
this thing cost around 500-700 bucks. Tissot doesn’t state the accuracy of the watch but they do imply on their manual that its -10/+30 sec per day because it doesn’t have any chronometer certification.
Another favorite watch around here, Hamilton Khaki. Hamilton also didn’t make any claim for the watch. That watch cost u 1k usd. According to their FAQ page: “Most watches that do not have a chronometer certificate have an average course deviation of -10/+15 seconds per day.”
Now lets go to Christopher Ward The Twelve. Another 1K+ watch, using a selita movement. Accuracy Stated in the Website Page +/- 20 Seconds.
Then we go to Doxa, another favorite brand in here. the Sub 200 professional. Another almost 1k watch. No stated accuracy.
Lets go a bit Highend the Longines Conquest. Almost 2K watch, using L888 Movement (this is not COSC). No actual stated Accuracy too.
So I guess the Seiko stated accuracy is about par for the course for most major brand. Its not really worse than other brand that sells their watch at higher point and didn’t disclose their accuracy number (which IMO is worse).
So my question would be, why does it always comes up on seiko products the criticism on their movement accuracy but never on other brands?
Maybe seiko should stop posting their accuracy number all together, so they would have a better brand perception, since lots of other brands did that and escape criticism.
Or is it because of the Swiss bias? Since the movement is Swiss there for its fine because surely swiss movement is higher in quality.
Either way this is what I find, feel free to correct and add to the discussion.
Personal Rant: if accuracy is so important why don’t u just buy a 50 bucks quartz and be done with it instead of going into mechanical watch.
If you need accuracy there is no point in buying an expensive mechanical watch. A $5 digital quartz is going to be more accurate
Im okay with a deviation of ± 12 sec/day, beyond that i tru to get the regulated
if accuracy is so important why don’t u just buy a 50 bucks quartz and be done with it instead of going into mechanical watch.
Exactly what I’ve done, very early, after I started having an interest in watches. My most expensive quartz is a The Citizen (fka as Chronomaster) HAQ: accuracy -/+ 5 SPY (Eco Drive). And yes, that ‘Y’ means year.
Most others feature ‘assisted accuracy’ (GPS or atomic clock radio signal time sync). I’ve found my niche, and there’s much to enjoy.
I crave accuracy, my brain is wired that way. I’ve said it elsewhere: my heroes are Japanese station masters who apologise publicly and profusely when the Shinkansen is 10 seconds late.
I don’t care about second hands not ‘sweeping’, or not ‘hitting the markers’. Please note, that I greatly respect the craft that goes into mechanical watches. But their lack of accuracy (compared to quartz) would drive me mad.
Yeah, my Seiko (cocktail time) has garbage accuracy, Running on average -13spd.
My Longines Master with the L888 (moonphase) is actually very good, about -1spd
My Tudors are a mixed bag, the ETA movement in my BB36 runs -3.6spd, but the own movement in the Pelagos 39 is running an average of ±0.0spd over the last six months, but that is a COSC certified movement.
Does it matter? Actually as I’ve got more watches I care less, as even though many of them are on winders, I’m more than happy to reset them when I get them out.
If I need accuracy, my GShock with radio control, or hell, my AppleWatch go on the wrist (shock, I never need that accuracy!)
First off, Seiko’s stated accuracy for their 6R is actually worse than what you’ve listed.
Source: Seiko’s own technical specs say +25 - 15 seconds per day
Your post is interesting but I think it is fundamentally flawed. The “stated” accuracy of these movements straight from the factory isn’t the only factor to consider. Many of the brands that use ETA, Sellita, STP, etc will perform modifications, service, and add custom parts to these movements to improve the accuracy and durability of the movement out of the factory. Brands like Sinn and Hamilton do this to varying degrees. It also serves as a second level of QC that doesn’t happen with Seiko.
It’s like comparing a stock engine straight from the factory to one that’s been tuned and slightly modified by a mechanic. They might have the same listed horsepower and be the same engine, but one will outperform the other. Grades are also a thing to consider ex: https://calibercorner.com/sellita-caliber-sw220-1/ Sinn for example uses the SSW-220-1. You might google that and say the accuracy is up to +/- 30 s/d. However that movement has 4 grades, and Sinn uses the “top” grade of movement with a stated accuracy of +/- 4 s/d.
Seiko doesn’t live up to their reputation. My pressage has terrible accuracy and terrible QC. In contrast, my Citizen is dead nuts accurate with great build quality. Seiko is massively overrated imo
If you care about accuracy get a Citizen.
Two big factors: First, that people have it ingrained in them that Swiss watches = superior, even if they know how much of that perception is just marketing. Second, Seiko (and GS) has a tendency (speaking from personal experience as well as broad anecdotes in watch fandom) to understate the accuracy of movements, rather than overstate it.
(Seiko also doesn’t regulate movements particularly well in lower end watches, and likely doesn’t care to, as supreme accuracy is why you buy a spring drive or a 9F movement GS, and you buy a Turtle or a Marinemaster for affordable-ish hardiness and reliability)
I switch out the watches I wear so often, they wind down and all have to be set again. I don’t wear any one watch long enough for accuracy flaws to matter.
Yes.
I have a Mido Seastar that cost the same as my Seiko SPB 143.
The Mido uses a powermatic that is within cosc.
The Seiko SPB loses 25 seconds per day.
It’s awfull
My unregulated, luck-of-the-draw, Seiko 6R35 runs around +1.2 s/day. It’s not even off a full minute after a month of wear.
My, regulated to 3 positions, Selitta SW200 Elabore grade watch runs around +5 s/day.
Go figure.
Unless you buy a watch that has been certified for accuracy, it’s just dumb luck and possibly your wearing habits. For me, as long as my watches are running within +/- 15 s/day, I’m pretty happy. Beyond that, I might do something about it.
Who actually cares about accuracy? Especially in a sub-$2000 mechanical movement? Seiko movements are durable, can last a long time without servicing, and are fully in house.
Accuracy and movement decoration is where they take a backseat to the Swiss at entry level luxury and below. Two things I really don’t care about.
They’ve got as much history as anyone and their dials and designs are where they shine. Two things I actually really care about.
When I first started collecting ‘higher end’ watches twenty years ago and bought my first Rolex, I was obsessed with the accuracy of it, checking it against time.gov every day, checking my watches against each other, ect.
I’m now at the point that those little details of something is +2 seconds, +12 seconds, it -25 seconds a day do not bother me a bit. If someone is really that concerned, just purchase a HEQ Grand Seiko, beautiful watch, string movement, and it’s like +/- 5 seconds per year. I picked one up this year and I literally only have to adjust it twice per year with the time change.
Seiko understate both the actual accuracy of their watches, and their water resistance.
I get the impression that Seiko would rather underestimate the specifications of their watches, than to be appear to be untruthful. I also think that the Swatch group take the opposite point of view.
What I have learnt is that when you are wearing the same watch all the time, or the same watch every day, accuracy means very little unless it’s way out. My watches frequently run out of juice due to rotations or not wearing it over the weekend so I am always setting them anyway.