What should I expect in terms of my automatic watch accuracy? (2024)

FAQs

What should I expect in terms of my automatic watch accuracy? ›

Generally, the accuracy of a standard self-winding movement is +-25 seconds per day, so should only gain or lose 25 seconds over two days. Therefore, standard automatic movements are 99.97% accurate.

In a standard mechanical automatic watch, timekeeping can deviate by as much as plus or minus (+/-) 10 seconds a day. Typically, mechanical watches can accurate to within +/- 5 seconds a day While the accuracy of mechanical watches can be as high as +/- 3 seconds a day.

To improve the accuracy of a mechanical watch, it is recommended that you wind up the mainspring every day, at a fixed time, even if the watch is a self-winding type.

Unlike a quartz watch, which will maintain the same accuracy, as long as it is running, an automatic watch will tend to lose accuracy over time as the fine watchmaking oil used to lubricate it dries out and thickens. Both quartz and automatic watches are widely considered to be accurate for most practical purposes.

Accuracy of a Master Chronometer is independently certified at between 0 and +5 seconds per day variance, which ensures the watch will never lose time and the certified accuracy is superior to that of the general COSC certified chronometers which are between -4 and +6 seconds per day.

Generally, the accuracy of a standard self-winding movement is +-25 seconds per day, so should only gain or lose 25 seconds over two days. Therefore, standard automatic movements are 99.97% accurate. To find out the exact accuracy, brands usually state the figure proudly in their watch specifications.

Automatic watches can be left unwound for short periods of time without causing any major issues. Automatic watches are powered by the movement of your wrist, but they also have a small reserve of power that can be replenished by manually winding the watch.

It is likely because you're not wearing or winding the watch enough. Automatic watches gain power from manually winding it, or from the automatic winding that occurs from your motion while you are active while wearing it. So simply put, if you're not wearing it, your power reserve will run out.

Maintenance: Automatic watches require more maintenance than quartz watches, as they need to be serviced periodically to keep them running smoothly. Power reserve: Automatic watches have a limited power reserve, and will stop running if not worn for an extended period of time.

How many years can an automatic watch last? ›

A good quality, automatic movement will last a lifetime and beyond if serviced every five years or so; a few now have ten year service intervals. They are a joy to own and wear; their longevity and accuracy is improving constantly so even the cheaper automatic movements offer year and years of reliable service.

There are certain settings on a mechanical watch that should not be changed during the critical time when the watch is making its own mechanical calculations. For instance, you should not set the date on a calendar watch between the hours of 9 pm and 2 am on the watch.

If you're simply looking for something affordable, accurate, and low maintenance then a quartz movement watch is the one for you. If, however, you're seeking a watch that has more of a design and collector's value then you should look for high-quality automatic watches.

As the mainspring unwinds, the force weakens. Relatively steady accuracy can be obtained by wearing the watch on the wrist frequently for the self-winding type and winding up the mainspring fully everyday at a fixed time to move it regularly for the wind-up mechanical type.

A watch movement is tested in five positions and at three different temperatures (8°C, 23°C, and 38°C). The movement must meet strict criteria concerning its daily rate of accuracy, ranging from -4 to +6 seconds per day for mechanical watches.

We recommend you to do this only when your watch time is somewhere between 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock, where the date change can occur smoothly and without damaging the mechanism.

Automatic watches are designed to be worn daily and only taken off when the wearer wishes to sleep. If the wearer is particularly active, the watch can be worn for a minimum of 8 hours without having to manually wind it. Lower activity wearers may need to wind the watch regardless of how much daily use the watch gets.

As a general guideline, it's recommended to have your watch serviced every 3-5 years if you wear it regularly, and every 5-7 years if you wear it occasionally. Regular servicing can ensure that your watch remains accurate and can extend its lifespan, allowing you to enjoy its functionality and style for years to come.

Like most mechanical devices, a new automatic watch (or a watch that has not been used for some time) has a break-in period that lasts for about a month or so. During this time, your watch is distributing the oil around, and is breaking in its gears.