It has been said many times, not least in this forum, that the appreciation of fine timepieces goes beyond its primary function of telling time. But primary function it remains and I have always been curious about how accurate is my stash of timekeepers.
So, in a week dominated by much thumb twiddling, I thought of doing exactly that and would like to share with you the outcome.
Firstly, the test perimeters were :-
1. 24 hour test period.
2. Reference time is SIRIM time
3. 10 hours or so on wrist with the remaining in a static watch winder.
4. All watches are mechanical automatics save for a hand wound.
5. The most complications in a watch is two, moon phase plus an annual calendar
6. Three of the watches are chronographs.
The results in descending order of accuracy are :-
a) Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Phase de Lune Tonneau : Minus 11 seconds
b) Omega Speedmaster Date (OMG-SPDMTR008 / 3513.30) : Minus 9 seconds
c) Schaumburg Regulatuer :Minus 6 seconds
d) Ball Conductor Transcendent Series : Minus 4 seconds
e) Tag Heur Carrera Automatic Chronograph : Minus 4 seconds
f) Rolex Datejust (178274) : Minus 2 seconds
g) Rolex Submariner Date (116613LN) : Minus 1 second *
h) Graham Chronofighter Fortress : Plus 1 second *
* equal being both one second off.
Quite difficult to find any absolute conclusion on any factor directly affecting accuracy. What I can deduce are as follows :-
1. All the pieces run slower per day (except for 1).
2. More expensive watches are more accurate (except for the ML. And the Choronofighter was equal to the higher priced ones).
3. Newer watches are more accurate (except for 2).
4. The most complicated watch was the least accurate.
5. No conclusion that Chronographs are more or less accurate that non-chronographs.
These conclusions I guess are affected somewhat by the smallish number of test subjects. It would be interesting to learn of the conclusions of other MWF members with more sizeable collection.
p.s. – not sure if this post should belong here or in the “Links and Resources” segment. Please do move the post as required.
Mucho Gracias.
