Is "accuracy" a criteria for choosing your expensive pieces?

[GMTmaster]

Hi, I always wonder, when you are about to pay a lot of money to acquire a luxury piece, will you look at its accuracy. Will that be an important criteria?

For me, I will. I always feel that buying watches is mostly about the quality of its movement, than aesthetic. How about you? 

Is COSC standard good enough for most of you?

Regards.

[G.MAC]

I personally am not going to panic nor fret too much if my watch is not very accurate. So long as it tells the general time well enough, it is fine with me. Case on point, my IWC Big Pilot  has a habit of running fast and is a highly inaccurate piece eventhough I have sent it in for regularising.

[fireken]

Not all luxury watch offer COSC.. just like IWC.. they don't register for COSC and yet the accuracy based on feedback is quite good...

Even with COSC, when u send for servicing... if they shop is not COSC standard.. the COSC will be voided...

At the end day, just buy what you like...

[chrisyen]

Accuracy is not my priority when comes to mechanical watches
However it must not be too far out say more than a min fast or slow a day...

First criteria is always the look...
Level of finishing depends on how much I pay for it

[bezelnut]

I think I want finishing more than anything. I will look at quartz of accuracy. For paying high price, details is what I will look for 1st of all, and also movement decoration. Then, the watch must also show brilliance, innovation, something that make it special, such as using alternative material or pushing limit to make thin movement.

[Everdying]

accuracy is not the only criteria, but it should be one of the criteria...shouldnt it?
else any china factory can slap together some fancy movement with no regards to the essence of time-keeping.

does not have to be COSC, as long as its not running extremely fast or slow like a min+ / day.

[tancho]

To me personally, accuracy is a factor.  That is one of the reason (for me anyway) to spend so much more on a "luxury" or branded watch that is supposed to carry a superior mechanical movement.

[davidtth]

i believe yes, thats reason why most company are trying to make best accuracy movement beside reliable and some even pay sky high for tourbillion movement

[hugo]

I don't mind with the accuracy since I rotated my watches every 5 days. Within that time you won't notice any different if your watch has small inaccuracy.

[Yoda]

Accuracy is one criteria but priority is still the brand for me as I wear different watch everyday, no chance to check the watch accuracy.

 

[JOS2012]

Everyone has a different take on watches..
some treat it as a fashion accessory as they argue that you can check for accurate time from your hp, hence they like watches like Grisogono, van Cleef & Arpels, Jacob & Co, etc,
some for its technical wizardry e.g. double tourbillon, fusee and chain, remontoir, sidereal of time, etc even though the watches may not be as super accurate as a pure chronometer like Richard Lange...
some for social status to mix with the right crowd....so the latest in thing brand will have to do...

Although I love aesthetically beautiful watches from simple 2 handed to complex perpetual calendars as well as the watch having strong design basics (Bauhaus/Zen, golden ratio, fiobacci, etc), I would junk any watch that cannot be regulated to better than + 6 or -3 per day. In my case, form must follow function and not for fashion's sake alone. Form over substance has no place for me. Why pay 5 figures for a branded watch that can't keep good time. May as well buy one of those fashionista brands that actually look trendy and fashionable but fitted with unregulated Miyotas, ETAs at a base 3 to 4 figures. Otherwise wear a Cartier bracelet that looks even more beautiful and elegant..

[dpkong]

Ah.. I see one of the topics of our conversation has come up.

I must admit I used to be obsessed with accuracy for a mechanical watch but with a recent acquisition, I've come to terms with the fact that even supposedly high-end brands can have movements running fast or slow. Now, I just have to adjust the time every few days just like when I have to flip the date over every 2 months or so. I do expect that it can be regulated when I have the chance to send it in to the service center.

Now to answer your question,  accuracy is not as much a criteria for me as precision. My ROO is rather precise as it gains nearly the same amount of time (within COSC specs) everyday. Because of this consistent daily gain, it is not very accurate.

[GMTmaster]

Ah.. I see one of the topics of our conversation has come up.

I must admit I used to be obsessed with accuracy for a mechanical watch but with a recent acquisition, I've come to terms with the fact that even supposedly high-end brands can have movements running fast or slow. Now, I just have to adjust the time every few days just like when I have to flip the date over every 2 months or so. I do expect that it can be regulated when I have the chance to send it includes to the service center.

Now to answer your question,  accuracy is not as much a criteria for me as precision. My ROO is rather precise as it gains nearly the same amount of time (within COSC specs) everyday. Because of this consistent daily gain, it is not very accurate.

Hi. Yes. One of the topics in our conversation now came up. Hehehe...

Okay. I do agree that accuracy is not in the same terms of PRECISION. If the piece gain or lose the same amount of time everyday. ( Instead of gaining or losing time unsteadily. ) Yes it should be able to get regulated and the movement is trustworthy.  Haha...

I like the way you think. After all. A wrist watch should be a PRECISION machine. Accuracy comes later. For me... I will get it regulated as soon as possible. Cause the inaccuracies will bug me everyday. Am I OCD.. 

[sshark]

The watch's accuracy is important to me. When a watch is not precise, it does not make a difference between a watch and a bracelet. I don't fancy bracelet. But then, accuracy is not the only criterion I am looking at when considering a watch.

[IWCking]

I am paying the premium for the exquisite brands because I see them more as arts rather than time keeper. if accuracy is crucial no mechanical watch beats quartz. If you discounted "artistic" value, then I doubt you can find any justification to say paying 100k for a pp etc.