There are, as you probably know, conventional mechanical movements in the Grand Seiko line and Seiko claims accuracy well over the Swiss chronometer standards. They make some interesting movements in that line - the high beat (more oscillations per minute) movements in particular. And their Spring Drive movements, which are an electro-mechanical hybrid regulated by a quartz crystal, are cool.

The conventional quartz watches in the line are less expensive and, of course, don't have to be wound or worn, which is nice if you don't wear the same watch every day. The movements are almost totally sealed and the claim they will not need any maintenance, even lubrication, for 50 years. (Except for a battery.)

All the Grand Seikos are beautifully finished and constructed; much more nicely than any competitive Swiss watches. The styling is very conventional, but if you like those styles, they can't be beat in quality without spending a lot more money.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888: ...Normal quartz movements are accurate to about 20 to 30 seconds a month.

Are you sure you don't mean 20 to 30 seconds per YEAR? Any quartz watch that was of by 30 seconds per month would be going back to the store if I had bought it.

The MINIMUM standard for a Swiss quartz chronometer is .07 seconds per day, which is 2.13 seconds per month or 25 seconds per year, and that's just the minimum.

(There are also many non-certified watches that can match that standard, such as a Timex Indiglo that I measured back in watchmaking school in 2001.)

No, average accuracy for mass-market quartz watches is maybe a little better than around a second a day, give or take. Some individual watches will be better, some will be worse, but 10 to 30 seconds a month shouldn't surprise anyone with an ordinary quartz watch.

The COSC standard for quartz watches is much tighter but meeting that requires a very good watch. That will require some kind of thermocompensation - temperature fluctuations being the main source of errors in quartz watches. Almost no companies get quartz watches certified, because only a few high accuracy loonies want a quartz watch more accurate than the average quartz watch.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888: ...only a few high accuracy loonies want a quartz watch more accurate than the average quartz watch.

Yeah, that's me; just a loonie. A WOSTEP certified, precision-timing expert, loonie.

Me too. Which is why I have a watch good to 10 seconds a year.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jhe888,

My most accurate watch. Accurate to whatever the GPS satellites tell it. Basically, about as good as you could get I'd think. Some cesium clocks on the sat overhead.



My most accurate mechanical is rates -1 / +4. The Geophysic is a throwback piece to the 1950s scientist explorer watches of the day.

quote:

Originally posted by VANQUISH:
Sinn U1 swimming with the fishes.

I've been a fan of those for a few years now.

I may pick one up one day.

quote:

Originally posted by r0gue: ...The Geophysic is a throwback piece to the 1950s scientist explorer watches of the day.

Beautiful. Elegant in its simplicity.

Just though I would post this here, Jaeger found at Goodwill

Goodwill find

Yes, that was quite a story. Even had me stop in to my local goodwill. It smelled like bleach. No good watches. So I left.

That guy is about to learn all about taxes. A subject I suspect is normally rather distant to him. Probably shoulda took the cash sale and shut up.

quote:

Originally posted by fischtown7:
Just though I would post this here, Jaeger found at Goodwill

Goodwill find

I certainly appreciate that they can be had in variety under 40mm. Not everyone is 6' 4" 270 pounds. I just can't pull off modern huge watches. And now even classic dress watches regularly release at 42mm. 2mm bigger than what would have been consider large a decade ago (say... a Rolex Submariner or Sea Dweller).

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
All the Grand Seikos are beautifully finished and constructed; much more nicely than any competitive Swiss watches. The styling is very conventional, but if you like those styles, they can't be beat in quality without spending a lot more money.

Can't remember if I posted this one:

O&W Mirage III-T3:



RMD

Clean looking Flieger rduckwor. Reminds me of a SINN or IWC.

I wouldn't put it past old man Wajs to have had a couple of classic watches in mind when they cranked his one out. The official story was they built it for the Israeli A.F. when they acquired the Mirage A/C.

RMD

Very nice watches. Here's my contribution

If you love watches, you have to love an Omega chrono! Very nice. That Suunto has some honest wear. Bet it can tell some tales.

RMD

Bought the Zodiac Chrono at the PX in 1970. It took quite a beating while I was on active duty. Watch survived, but the band did not. It sat in a drawer for 30+ years, and then I found a link to a man that restores them. He did a complete rebuild and I found a "factory new" band on eBay. It is back in service now.



What it looked like when I sent it to him

^^^^ nice restoration!

Damn this thread!! Now I am back in the game! Inbound (seller's picture):



RMD