Watches

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!)

You didn't account for the price difference between the watches you mentioned and the Seiko

The Seikos with the -10/+15 spec have the L movements and are generally over $3000

• That is 4 times the price of a PRX
• That's more than 4 times the price of a Hamilton Kahki
• Almost 3 times the cost of a CW12
• 1.5 times as much as a Longines Conquest

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)

You're cherry picking examples. So let me also cherry pick some:

• CW C65 Sandhurst, $1095 on NATO, Chronometer
• Tissot Le Locle COSC, $360
• Certina DS Action, Chronometer, $635

There are dozens of Swiss Chronometers under $1000, it's not hard to find them. Tons of Certina and Tissot.

On the other hand:

• New Seiko Marinemaster, $3400, +15/-10 spd
• SJE093 62MAS Re-issue, $3700, +15/-10 spd
• Very Popular Seiko SPB series, >$1000, +25/-15 spd
• New Seiko Prospex Diver GMT and Alpinist GMT w/ 6R34, >$1500, +25/-15 spd

I love Seiko, but I do personally feel like Seiko's offerings above $1000 lack the accuracy spec, and it's kept me from buying them before. $1500 for +25/-15 spd on the Diver GMT? That's pretty bad, especially for a brand with a more value-oriented reputation.

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 need accuracy there is no point in buying an expensive mechanical watch. A $5 digital quartz is going to be more accurate

If you care about accuracy get a Citizen.

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.

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.

Luck of the draw. I just buy a casio analog digital for my work where i need accurate time keeping.

Yes.

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I have a Mido Seastar that cost the same as my Seiko SPB 143.

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The Mido uses a powermatic that is within cosc.

The Seiko SPB loses 25 seconds per day.

It's awfull

do ppl even care about accuracy? i kind of hate wearing my mechanical watches because if i dont wear them for 1 1/2 day, theyll stop ticking anywyas.

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.

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.

I found every watch that I own very accurate in comparison with my Vostok. It is just next level.

My SKX runs +/-3 seconds while my 2 seiko divers are all over the place, Kinda stopped caring since I don't wear them every day.

My only manual at the moment is my Orient Kamasu. Runs about 4 seconds slow per day. Cost me $180

My experience with Seikos are they just are not accurate unless you get lucky or you get it regulated. For actually using the watch as a time telling device they are not ideal. My regulated seiko is reasonable but my cheap Swiss powematic 80s have been astoundingly accurate and more affordable per spec compared to seiko. Honestly seiko is a fun but not serious brand for me because I prioritize time telling in an auto. I wear Seikos on vacation etc but wouldn’t use it as a primary watch as going several weeks will require occasional adjustment which none of my Swiss watches require over that period of time

VERY bad. You’ll usually get stuff like +12 and -9, with a delta of 50s in most cases. They pretty much never regulate their movements unless they’re 6R or better, and even then you’re getting worse accuracy than most cheap replica watches.

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.

You're simply not looking hard enough.

Watches with chronometer grade accuracy below 1k:

https://www.serica-watches.com/en/product/6190-commando/

https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-us/men/selections/cosc.html

Watches with chronometer grade accuracy between 1k and 2k:

https://www.midowatches.com/us/watches/selections/cosc.html

https://formexwatch.com/watches/essence-thirtynine-automatic-chronometer-blue/

https://montawatch.com/blogs/news/monta-movement

https://www.serica-watches.com/en/collection-5303-cosc/

https://www.christopherward.com/int/the-twelve-watches/The-Twelve-%28Ti%29/C12-40ADC1-T00P0-B0.html (OP must really have been blind to miss this one)

Watches with similar accuracy to Seiko but below 1k:

https://astorandbanks.com/products/fortitude-lite-sand-pre-order?_pos=1&_psq=Fortitude&_ss=e&_v=1.0

https://www.noduswatches.com/sector-sport/p/sector-sport-glacial

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.

Yeah, this opinion is as "personal" as a Rolex production line. So many people will spout this nonsense, while claiming that they like mechanical watches for the "romantic soul" and the "beating heart of the movement". If you care so much about the movement to justify paying 5x the price of a quartz model, why do you not care if it functions well or not?

Saying you're into mechanical watches because you care about the movement, then saying accuracy doesn't matter is like saying you love Italian food and then only eating at the Olive Garden.

If you worry about accuracy get quartz man, every automatic watch will lose/gain seconds, even a 5k vintage Rolex.

Most luxury watches lose days or even weeks per month because they're not worn every single day.

If you really care about accuracy then get something COSC, a Spring Drive, or better yet, not mechanical.

In the real world accuracy means literally nothing other than the fact that you can go to time.com, sync your watch up, and say "neat" in 24 hours when it 'only' loses 5 seconds compared to a Japanese quartz that will lose 5 seconds per year

I have a Seiko 1970s Reinterpretation Diver that consistently runs about 1 second slow per day. I have a Phoibos Apollo with a garden variety Seiko NH35A movement that consistently runs 2 seconds fast per day. So much for Rolex "Superlative Chronometers".

My 1965 Seiko Sportsmatic runs about 9 secs fast per day, currently. That's a 58-year-old watch.

My other best runners are a Sinn and a Helson, both around 2-3 seconds fast per day. I have another Phoibos (Wave Master) that runs similar to my Squale, Oris, Laco, and Glycine: all about 10-18 seconds per day fast.

Two points: your mileage may vary, and those saying that Seikos are inaccurate are full of it. Stated accuracy ranges aren't necessarily what you will experience.

Mechanical watch accuracy doesn't matter as much as warch dorks make it out to be. Half the time I don't even bother setting a watch before I leave the house. I have the time already on my phone, in my car, on the wall at work, on my desk computer...

86,400 seconds in a day

most Seikos are going to be 5 - 15 seconds off during an average day

imo that doesn't bother me, I just make sure I set it a bit fast.

Setting the time in my mechanical watch is actually a very gratifying part of its ownership. It forces me to have interactions with device on my wrist that is not connected to anything else (electricity, internet). So accuracy is not the most important for me.

Cheaper movements need to be tuned carefully. Seiko can and does make one of the most accurate mechanical movements in the world, the Grand Seiko.

https://www.grand-seiko.com/us-en/collections

It is 100% mechanical watch driven by a flywheel whose accuracy is regulated by an electromagnet connected to a crystal. Accuracy is typically +/-1 sec per day.

The Quartz Tuna is +/- 0.5 sec per day.

The cheap movements like the NHxxx https://calibercorner.com/seiko-caliber-nh34/

Are in I can't even estimate how many watches. A great many. It's accuracy from the factory as you can see is +40/-20 sec per day. The movement however CAN be tuned to +/- 10 sec per day but it is a mass produced watch and time is money. The other thing is that this watch has a general lifetime of around 10-15 years. It's cheaper to just replace the movement than to have it serviced. Movement is around $40-$60

There are 26 calibers of Seiko watches. The upper range would be Presage and then Prospex and the top being Grand Seiko. So it really depends on the particular watch and the particular movement.

You can get chronometer certified watches from the Swatch group brands for around the $1K price, and in order to get a Seiko with a +15/-10 spd accuracy specification, you need to get one with a 6L or 8L calibre, which runs in the $3K+ price range.