[metapete]

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on my dilemma.

I recently purchased a Citizen Eco-Drive AT2410-52L from Argos (a well known UK retailer). As with any new watch I checked the accuracy and was disappointed that it running fast by about 11 seconds a month. The specification is +/- 15 seconds a month. Although within spec it was quite a bit worse than other Citizens I own. Being a self confessed obsessive on these things, I purchased another one with a view of getting a refund on the least accurate watch.
However, to my surprise, the accuracy of the second one was similarly 11 to 12 seconds a month fast.

This particular model was heavily discounted by Argos. So I'm just wondering if manufacturers (in this case Citizen) offload their borderline specification watches at a reduced price, or am I being over suspicious?

Thanks for any comments on this.

 

[Leopardfan]

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on my dilemma.

I recently purchased a Citizen Eco-Drive AT2410-52L from Argos (a well known UK retailer). As with any new watch I checked the accuracy and was disappointed that it running fast by about 11 seconds a month. The specification is +/- 15 seconds a month. Although within spec it was quite a bit worse than other Citizens I own. Being a self confessed obsessive on these things, I purchased another one with a view of getting a refund on the least accurate watch.
However, to my surprise, the accuracy of the second one was similarly 11 to 12 seconds a month fast.

This particular model was heavily discounted by Argos. So I'm just wondering if manufacturers (in this case Citizen) offload their borderline specification watches at a reduced price, or am I being over suspicious?

Thanks for any comments on this.

@ metapete. I doubt that Citizen reduces the MSRP on their Eco-Drive watches that run close to the upper limit of the +/-15 seconds per month timekeeping accuracy specification. The fact that your Citizen Eco-Drive watch runs about 11 seconds fast per month is no big deal. I own a Citizen ATO815-51E Chronograph watch that runs about 9.5 seconds fast per month, whereas, by contrast, my Citizen Nighthawk BJ7019-62E watch runs about 3-4 seconds fast per month and my Citizen Atessa ATP53-2703 watch runs about 3.5-4 seconds slow per month. Sure I would prefer that my ATO815-51E watch ran more accurately than 9.5 seconds fast per month, but since it falls within the specifications range of +/-15 seconds per month, I don't worry about it. Bottom line is, don't sweat the fact that your Eco-Drive watch runs near the upper timekeeping accuracy specifications limit. It should not be a major concern. You might consider purchasing a radio-control watch ( assuming, of course, that the Citizen AT2410-52L watch is not a radio-control or GPS watch) so that you can syncronize your AT2410-52L watch once-a-week or once-a-month with a radio-control watch. Best Regards! 😀

 

[Nokie]

Agree. If you want spot on accuracy, a radio/satellite watch is the way to go. Citizen makes some of the best of these out there. Or spend some bigger bucks and get the Chronomaster.

Good luck.

 

[Leopardfan]

@metapete. Another option is to simply download the free atomic timekeeping app onto your cellphone and then simply sync your Citizen AT2410-52L watch with the time shown on the app........Best Regards.😀

 

[aafanatic]

@metapete Don't worry, Citizen does not have a sub standard batch selling for less. It's a great watch with a sapphire crystal at a great price. There are a lot of ways to get more accuracy, but if you are anything like me, you will always be watching even if it's only 1 second a month

 

[metapete]

Thanks for the inputs. I have a number of Casio's with atomic time keeping so I understand what you mean.
However it seems that Citizen atomics are out of my price bracket, at least at the moment.
I guess that +11 secs/m isn't bad, it's just that with an analogue display it's a bit more of a pain to adjust compared with resetting the seconds to zero on a digital.

 

[GaryK30]

Thanks for the inputs. I have a number of Casio's with atomic time keeping so I understand what you mean.
However it seems that Citizen atomics are out of my price bracket, at least at the moment.
I guess that +11 secs/m isn't bad, it's just that with an analogue display it's a bit more of a pain to adjust compared with resetting the seconds to zero on a digital.

It's not too hard to adjust a standard analog quartz watch, especially if it runs fast. Just pull the crown out all the way when the seconds on the watch hit the top of the minute (12 o'clock), then push the crown back in when the actual time hits the top of the minute.

 

[Leopardfan]

@ metapete. Occasionally on eBay a seller will sell a Citizen radio-control watch for about $200 or slightly more than that amount (not including shipping charge - unless, of course, the seller offers free shipping). So if that approximate price is within the price range you can afford, then if you keep looking on eBay, eventually a radio-control Citizen watch will become available for purchase on the that website. When I purchased my Citizen Promaster AT4117-56H radio-control watch, the seller on eBay charged about $200 for the watch and the watch was in new condition. I can't recall if the seller charged a shipping charge for that watch.

 

[journeyforce]

Your watch is in spec. If this spec is not good enough for you then perhaps you might consider a radio controlled Citizen as it will compensate for the small drift each day.

 

[metapete]

I appreciate that my watch is within spec. I suppose my gripe is that many of my cheaper watches (mostly Casio's) have much better accuracy. Although my two other cheaper Citizen's are also well within the 15s quoted spec (5s and 7s).
So yes, I'm a bit disappointed that this new discounted Citizen runs 11 seconds a month fast.

 

[GaryK30]

I appreciate that my watch is within spec. I suppose my gripe is that many of my cheaper watches (mostly Casio's) have much better accuracy. Although my two other cheaper Citizen's are also well within the 15s quoted spec (5s and 7s).
So yes, I'm a bit disappointed that this new discounted Citizen runs 11 seconds a month fast.

It's just the luck of the draw. I have quite a few G-Shocks, and they have a monthly error of between +1 and +15 seconds, with an average around +8. My non-radio-controlled Eco-Drives run about +4, +6 and +13 seconds per month.

 

[Newnice]

This does sound, as you confess, a bit obsessive. You're free to enjoy your hobby however you want, but you may end up frustrating yourself hunting for Citizen Eco-Drive watches that perform significantly better than their stated specs.

You might want to take the average time deviation over a larger sample size than a single month. Those movements will drift a bit up and down, and you may find the monthly deviation over a six month average is better than the one month average.