Is accuracy that important? No, only if it runs a bit fast....sort of...

[Josunese1975]

When i first bought my mechanical watches, accuracy was very important. Full OCD would be the right term here... but after owning several Rolex watches I've come to the peaceful conclusion that accuracy is not that important...sort of. At first i was obsessed. Couldn't stand being few seconds fast or slow. But with age and time, maturity settled in. I don't care anymore if it runs a bit fast.... well, still bothers me a little bit if it runs a little slow but not as much as it used to. Semi-OCD i guess... I figured there's much much more important things in life to worry about and COSC is not one of them. What about you?

[East of Eden]

Agreed, we aren't James Bond where we need to the second accuracy.

[HotAirKing]

It doesn't bug me because of inaccurate time-keeping per se. It triggers my OCD about something in the watch being broken or on its way to being broken, though. My therapist and I are working on it!

[KatGirl]

I definitely want mine to run within spec. Other than that, I’m good.
My Seikos don’t have tight specs, but they all run better than the stated tolerances. Also, I never wear any watch long enough, to notice whether they are running fast, or slow. As most of us, I prefer they run a little fast, rather than a little slow. It’s easier to correct than.

Kat


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[slide13]

Yeah, I prefer within spec...or at least within COSC, but beyond that it's good enough.

To be into mechanical watches is to embrace some degree of inaccuracy. They'll just never be as perfect over the long term as a quartz watch so we all have to accept that to some degree.

I used to strongly prefer a fast watch and didn't like it if they ran slow but I've gotten over that. I don't know why but lately it seems I find many more watches running a touch slow than fast. Don't know why that is but the last 3 Rolex and 2 Tudor and at least 1 Omega have all run on the slow side, just by 1-2 seconds. So I've gotten used to that.

My 126610 is running about -1 per day and my BB58 is -.5 or so. I tend to just set them about 30s or so fast and rest when they get 30-60s slow.

[brandrea]

I’m ok within COSC spec or “close to” for most watches, if that’s what they’re advertised at.

[996marty]

It doesn’t bother me that much if I’ve got to alter the time every now and then

[Rolex2008]

It's funny how OCD affects roughly 1 in 100 people, but here at TRF we seem to have many more sufferers of this mental health problem than you’d expect. We all (well, some of us anyway) like things to be just right. But that doesn't mean you have OCD.

Sorry if you actually do and have been diagnosed, but it always amazes me how people who spend many thousands on luxury watches, actually want them to perform within specs and claim it’s their 'OCD' that can't handle it if they don't. That’s not OCD, that's just being not happy that your watch doesn't perform the way you want it to.

[Brian Page]

Would rather it run a fe seconds fast than slow. Otherwise I'm good if it's running close to spec, especially if it's one of my closer to vintage pieces. Running a little fast - no big deal just pull the crown for a few seconds. Slow running gets a little more annoying.

[worldofoyster]

as long as it's not too far off

[Krash]

I expect it to work as advertised.


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[DJ2020]

I think accuracy is relative. It depends on the movement as to what I expect out of it. Sometimes I'm disappointed, sometimes I'm exceedingly pleased.

If I'm wearing a watch with a run of the mill stellita and I get within 10 seconds a day on average, Then that's what I would expect- therefore pleased. My nephew just had a Hamilton H10 serviced in his Hamilton scuba. It runs almost a perfect 0 seconds per day - therefore very pleased. My grand Seiko 9RA5 5 day in my SLGA015 is advertised at .5 spd, for the last 2 months it's dead on - therefore- exceedingly pleased. I had a old Longines HC with the standard 2824 ETA it ran +2 for years. The last 7 Rolex's I owned, 5 would run barley within COSC spec even after regulation- Very disappointed.

So for me it's all relative. If it's " supposed " to be a accurate movement and advertised as such and it under achieves the manufacturer specs it's a let down. If it exceeds said advertised accuracy then I'm very pleased.

I like brands that under advertises and over achieves on a regular basis. Obviously that company cares. Ironically some of the least expensive brands consistently over achieves to the point they out perform much more expensive brands even at their own accuracy standards.

[Easy Rhino]

COSC is adequate. Anybody that timing satellites, military circuits, etc., does not need a mechanical watch. I only have to reset mine between flights and that's close enough. In absolute accuracy a second is not close enough.

[joli160]

It doesn’t bother me at all up to about 5 minutes per week

[WatchSmith]

Expecting a watch to run with perfect accuracy as it ages is like expecting your years-old car to deliver the same fuel economy as when it was new. Parts wear and oils degrade and typically a watch will eventually show some slowdown as it ages. As is often stated, activity and the position of the watch on the wrist will affect its accuracy. Being obsessed over a few seconds can suck the enjoyment out of ownership.

If it's any consolation, if you and a quartz watch wearer were both stranded on a desert isle, your Rolex will still be ticking years after his super accurate battery powered watch has died.

[NachoNeal]

I don't expect accuracy perfection, but I'd prefer it.
I attend two to three meetings per day, and I like to log into the meeting at the exact start time, not one minute prior and certainly not one minute late.

[JMGoodnight369]

I’ll be the first one to say it……I didn’t have the accuracy OCD until I got a 32xx watch

[Mystro]

+or- 3 seconds a day is my personal standard. Either I can set my watch slightly fast or slightly slow and the entire month’s accuracy is taken care of to compensate.

[Easy E]

It kinda depends on what level of watch. I am a bit more picky about some of mine more than others. Generally speaking I am a COSC type of guy. My PMs i prefer closer to the stated specs.

[Old Expat Beast]

I don't care too much about it, but I've definitely been spoiled by my GS 9F, which gains less than two seconds per year. I live somewhere with buses and ferries that run very promptly, so if I'm heading out to do stuff, I always grab this one. Plus it's comfortable and dresses up/down well, which helps.

Rolexes and Tudors I tend to wear more around the house, or walking the dogs (for the record my ETA Tudors are running almost perfect after 9 and 10 years without a service. The Rolexes, not so much.)

[DJ2020]

Originally Posted by Triplock

Expecting a watch to run with perfect accuracy as it ages is like expecting your years-old car to deliver the same fuel economy as when it was new. Parts wear and oils degrade and typically a watch will eventually show some slowdown as it ages. As is often stated, activity and the position of the watch on the wrist will affect its accuracy. Being obsessed over a few seconds can suck the enjoyment out of ownership.

If it's any consolation, if you and a quartz watch wearer were both stranded on a desert isle, your Rolex will still be ticking years after his super accurate battery powered watch has died.

That is unless your talking spring drive from GS. But that's okay, I will be happy to tell you the accurate time so you can reset yours

[twinfo]

Originally Posted by East of Eden

Agreed, we aren't James Bond where we need to the second accuracy.

Agreed

[DJ2020]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I don't care too much about it, but I've definitely been spoiled by my GS 9F, which gains less than two seconds per year. I live somewhere with buses and ferries that run very promptly, so if I'm heading out to do stuff, I always grab this one. Plus it's comfortable and dresses up/down well, which helps.

Rolexes and Tudors I tend to wear more around the house, or walking the dogs (for the record my ETA Tudors are running almost perfect after 9 and 10 years without a service. The Rolexes, not so much.)

Love the 9F's. I miss my SBGN021 a lot. May have to re- aquire!

[Old Geezer]

I've tamed my OCD considerably. Now, if my watches are in the neighborhood of COSC, I'm fine with them. Not that I would likely notice if they were off unless they were really off because I generally rotate after a few days anyways.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Triplock

Expecting a watch to run with perfect accuracy as it ages is like expecting your years-old car to deliver the same fuel economy as when it was new. Parts wear and oils degrade and typically a watch will eventually show some slowdown as it ages. As is often stated, activity and the position of the watch on the wrist will affect its accuracy. Being obsessed over a few seconds can suck the enjoyment out of ownership.

If it's any consolation, if you and a quartz watch wearer were both stranded on a desert isle, your Rolex will still be ticking years after his super accurate battery powered watch has died.

My Seiko Astron has been running 24/7 since 2012 and your Rolex would have required a service by now?

[alphadweller]

I track the accuracy of all my watches. For me to take them for a service, they'd need to be far out of spec. I tolerate +10/-10 s/d in a modern Rolex. I just want to know what's going on so that I can reset the time if needed.

Right now, I'm wearing a microbrand with an ETA 2824-2 Top running at -2 s/d on average.



CREPAS Cayman 3000 on a custom Jacob strap (based on the OEM Black Lagoon).

On a Seiko NH35, +30/-30 is good enough for me.

I took a modern VC three times to Richmont due to poor time keeping in less than 2 years. Now it's finally running great (+5), in accordance with the Geneva seal.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by Rolex2008

It's funny how OCD affects roughly 1 in 100 people, but here at TRF we seem to have many more sufferers of this mental health problem than you’d expect. We all (well, some of us anyway) like things to be just right. But that doesn't mean you have OCD.

Sorry if you actually do and have been diagnosed, but it always amazes me how people who spend many thousands on luxury watches, actually want them to perform within specs and claim it’s their 'OCD' that can't handle it if they don't. That’s not OCD, that's just being not happy that your watch doesn't perform the way you want it to.

This. Thank you.

Many seem to adopt OCD as a fashion accessory or claim it in an attempt to validate their WIS credentials. The most curious are the ones who claim “a little OCD” or “semi-OCD.” When an obsession turns into a compulsion that disorders your life then you have OCD. Up until that point you’re just a little irritated.

[Chester01]

IDK, but my wife bought me a seiko turtle (padi version w/black dial) and I set it like 2 weeks ago and its like less than -1 second a day. My 16610 is +3/4 a day. I dont worry about it in general but set them to the atomic clock when they need a setting after they stopped.

[Rolexatlast]

Expecting a very expensive watch to meet its design specifications is not OCD, but perfectly reasonable. And this is not some obscure specification, but is proudly written on the dial.

Originally Posted by Triplock

Expecting a watch to run with perfect accuracy as it ages is like expecting your years-old car to deliver the same fuel economy as when it was new. Parts wear and oils degrade and typically a watch will eventually show some slowdown as it ages. As is often stated, activity and the position of the watch on the wrist will affect its accuracy. Being obsessed over a few seconds can suck the enjoyment out of ownership.

If it's any consolation, if you and a quartz watch wearer were both stranded on a desert isle, your Rolex will still be ticking years after his super accurate battery powered watch has died.

I own a Grandfather clock, which despite being over 200 years old, is accurate to within a minute a week. So, age is not necessarily an excuse.

[Driver8]

Like anything I buy in life, I expect it to perform to the spec that it's advertised as.

If I buy a car with a published 0-60 time of 4 secs, I won't be happy if its 0-60 is actually 10 secs. If I buy a waterproof coat, I don't expect to get wet when I'm wearing it. If I buy boat, I don't expect it to sink.

Likewise if I buy a COSC watch, I expect it to be within COSC specs because that's how it was sold to me. Not remotely unreasonable IMO.