Automatic Watches
Understanding Accuracy & Deviations in Watches
By Argos Watches
Watches are more than just time-telling tools; they are intricate machines that rely on precision engineering. Whether you own a mechanical wristwatch or a modern quartz timepiece, understanding accuracy and deviations can help you appreciate the craftsmanship behind them and ensure their longevity. Every watch is affected by various factors that influence its accuracy, from its internal mechanics to the environment it operates in.
Mechanical Watches: Engineering and Precision
Mechanical watches, whether automatic or manually wound, are marvels of engineering. They consist of tiny gears, screws, and springs working together in harmony. However, due to their complexity, achieving perfect accuracy is nearly impossible. A well-regulated mechanical watch can typically deviate by just a few seconds per day, but several factors can influence this precision.
How Position Affects Accuracy
The position of your watch can significantly impact its accuracy. When a watch is placed in different orientations—like dial up, crown down, or crown left—gravity affects the balance wheel, causing minor deviations. High-end watches are often adjusted in multiple positions to ensure consistent performance, no matter how they’re worn or stored.
Temperature and Its Impact
Temperature changes can also affect a watch’s accuracy. Heat causes the metals in the movement, like the hairspring and balance wheel, to expand, while cold makes them contract. Modern materials help mitigate these effects, but extreme temperatures can still cause deviations.
Break-in Period and Regulation
New mechanical watches often require a break-in period of a month or two. During this time, the movement settles, and the lubrication spreads evenly, improving performance. If your watch remains consistently fast or slow after this period, it may need regulation. A skilled watchmaker can fine-tune the balance wheel to improve accuracy.
The Importance of Regular Maintenance
Like any machine, mechanical watches need regular servicing. Over time, lubricants degrade, and gears can shift, leading to decreased accuracy. While some recommend servicing every 2-3 years, a balanced approach suggests every 5 years to prevent excessive wear. A full overhaul involves disassembling, cleaning, lubricating, and reassembling the movement, ensuring it runs smoothly for years to come.
Common Issues Affecting Accuracy
Magnetism and Its Effects
Magnetism is a common culprit behind sudden deviations in accuracy. Everyday items like smartphones, speakers, and airport security scanners can magnetize a watch’s hairspring, causing it to run fast. Fortunately, demagnetizing is a quick and easy fix that restores accuracy instantly.
Shock and Twisted Springs
A sudden shock or jolt can tangle the hairspring, leading to significant deviations. While less common than magnetism, this issue requires a skilled watchmaker to untangle the springs and restore proper function.
General Wear and Aging
In older watches, general wear and aging lubricants can cause sluggish performance. If minor adjustments no longer help, a complete servicing is necessary to bring the watch back to life.
Quartz Watches: Precision and Stability
While mechanical watches are celebrated for their craftsmanship, quartz watches revolutionized timekeeping with their unmatched precision. Quartz movements use the steady oscillation of a quartz crystal to regulate time, often deviating by mere seconds per month.
Why Quartz Watches Are More Accurate
Quartz watches are less affected by environmental factors like gravity and temperature, making them highly accurate under normal conditions. However, strong magnetic fields from MRI machines or X-ray equipment can still interfere with their function.
Maintenance and Longevity
Quartz watches require less maintenance than mechanical ones, but they’re not maintenance-free. Over time, dust and moisture can accumulate, and gaskets may need replacement to maintain water resistance. Servicing every few battery changes is recommended to keep your quartz watch in top condition.
COSC Certification and Extreme Accuracy
Some quartz watches meet the rigorous standards of COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres), the same organization that certifies high-accuracy mechanical watches. COSC-certified quartz watches are incredibly precise, deviating by only a fraction of a second per day. However, due to the high cost of certification, most manufacturers focus on in-house quality control instead.
Choosing Between Mechanical and Quartz
The choice between mechanical and quartz often comes down to personal preference. Mechanical watches offer a sense of tradition and artistry, while quartz watches provide unmatched precision and reliability. Whether you value the craftsmanship of a mechanical movement or the accuracy of a quartz timepiece, understanding their differences helps you make an informed decision.
Final Thoughts
Understanding accuracy and deviations in watches allows you to appreciate the technology and craftsmanship behind your timepiece. Whether you own a mechanical or quartz watch, regular maintenance and care ensure it remains a reliable companion for years to come. So, the next time you glance at your wrist, take a moment to admire the precision and engineering that keep your watch ticking.
Experience Precision with Argos Watches
Admire the craftsmanship of a mechanical automatic timepiece, Argos Watches offers reliability, style, and superior engineering. Powered by the caliber 2706, an automatic movement, our watches are built for accuracy and longevity.
Discover timekeeping excellence—explore our collection today at Argos Watches!
Discover timekeeping excellence—explore our collection today at Argos Watches!
