Identify the movement and find the specified accuracy from the manufacturer or a site like Caliber Corner.

 

I would be grateful if members could answer questions I have relating to the accuracy of quartz watches.

Many old-design quartz watches just divided a 32Khz 'tuning-fork' xtal by 32768 (2^15) to generate 1 second ticks.
With a manufacturing tolerance of 10 parts per million the watch would be within 315 spy ( 26 seconds per month ).
Expensive watches could use finer tolerance xtals, and even 26 seconds per month is excellent for a mechanical watch.

Later designs used a simple computer to divide down the xtal output.
A 'calibration robot' could measure the xtal frequency and work out a calibration-factor.
The 1 second ticks were generated by dividing the xtal output by the calibration factor.
All of the watches leaving the production-line could be within a few seconds per year !

But the 32Khz 'tuning-fork' xtal output varies with temperature !
The frequency is maximum at about 26 degree C, then reduces according to the square of the deviation from 26C (parabolic curve).
If our ' later design' quartz watch has been calibrated to 0spy at 26 degree C :-

• at 14C it will be about 144 spy slow
• at 20C it will be about 36 spy slow
• at 26C it will be spot on
• at 32C it will be about 36 spy slow
• at 38C it will be about 144 spy slow

When worn our body-temperature maintains the watch-temperature between about 26 and 30 degree C -- the rate should be within about 2 seconds per month !
But in a 'cold cupboard' it could be 12 seconds per month.
The manufacturer does not want arguments about accuracy, 15 seconds per month should be a nice safe figure.

HAQ watches include temperature compensation.
The rate should within 10spy from about 14 to 38C
Reducing the 'raw' 14C rate of 144spy to less than 10spy is not easy !

The other 'snake in the grass' is ageing,
When the watch leaves the 26C calibration-oven at the end of the production-line it may be spot-on.
But when it is sold, perhaps 4 years later, its 26C rate will have changed.
HAQ watches may use xtals which have been pre-aged or specially selected for their stabilty !

 

^^^^^

Great information.

Most "standard" quartz watches quote a range of 10-15 seconds per month.

 

Most watches have an "in range tolerance", which is likely what you are being quoted. They often perform better, but AD'S cannot commit documented tolerance.

If you want better, look into High Accuracy Quartz watches. Your current watch is already performing very well. Only HAQ will perform better

 

It sounds like you have worn your old watch as "the only watch"?. If you plan on wearing your next the same way, I would say you could expect better than +-15spm even if that´s what the manufacturer states. A wearing pattern that will stabilize temperature changes are something we like in this forum
If you find +-15spm disappointing just when finding out that this is normal, well, with knowledge sometimes disappointment comes, but more often appreciation

 

General quartz question.

 

What do you mean by General quartz question
I cannot find a 'General Quartz' forum
This thread is now marked 'NA' but still seems to work !

 

A better question: say your watch is 15 seconds a month off. How do you notice this?

 

When you've radio syncing watches next to them, it's very easy to see it drift one way or another.

 

I think the short answer is look for a watch being advertised as having a temperature compensated movement, or actually claiming accuracy in seconds per YEAR. Those will have the most accurate movements. Otherwise, its just a statistical chance of where your particular watch will fall in that +/-15 seconds/month range that is typical for generic quartz movements.

 

15 seconds per month is a typical accuracy number quoted by many watch companies. In reality, even more affordable models perform better than 15 seconds per months, my mid-range ($300-$500) solar powered watches by Seiko and Citizen are within 2-5 seconds per month. More premium brands/models utilize high grade/high accuracy quartz movements, with 15 seconds or better per year! Citizen premium Chronomaster lineup is equipped with a high accuracy version of light-powered Eco-Drive, capable of +/- 5 seconds per year, and another version is +/- 1 second per year.

 

Q. What accuracy can I expect from a new quartz watch?
A. Since this is a general quartz question, the accuracy you can expect from a NEW quartz is what is stated by the manufacturer — nothing more, nothing less.

 

Look for a watch with HAQ movement (usually done by some form of thermo compensation), then it will be accurate to 5-20 sec/year. There are some HAQ movements on the market, e.g. (Grand) Seiko 9F, Longines VHP, Citizen Chronomaster series, watches with ETA Thermoline/Precidrive movements etc. (Citizen has the 0100 movement, specified for 1 sec/year accuracy.)

Other alternative is to get a GPS/Radio/BT controlled watch.

 

My quartz watches:

1. Casio Duro: +15 seconds per month. My least accurate quartz watch.
2. Pagani Design Moonwatch: +0.5 second per month. Feel like I won the quartz accuracy lottery with this watch.
3. Pagani Design Daytona: +5 seconds per month.

 

1. Casio Duro: +15 seconds per month. My least accurate quartz watch.

That sucks, I feel for you. Maybe just replace movement, it's a $15-20 Miyota inside and well worth it if you like watch. I've 3 Duros and worst is +5 spm.

 

I know most quartz watches claim 10-15 seconds per month but I've had many current quartz watches and most of them haven't deviated more than 2-5 seconds per month. I think they play it safe when estimating accuracy.

 

10-15 seconds per month is pretty standard for a regular quartz movement. that said, you don't need to spend a lot to get a watch that's accurate to within 10 or so seconds per year.

I wear the Certina watch shown below. it cost around $400. It's a high-accuracy quartz movement, the specification is +/- 10 seconds per year. if you feel like climbing the ladder a little, price-wise, you could look at the Longines Conquest VHP, a quartz movement that claims accuracy within +/- 5 seconds per year. Generally available meaningfully under $1,000. I looked at both and preferred the better water resistance and dial contrast of the Certina watch, as well as the lower price. I thought the Longines watch has a somewhat nicer/more substantial bracelet.

In the category of over $1000, there are other options:
-Wempe Iron Walker's quartz watches have an ETA high accuracy quartz movement that's of slightly better quality than the movement in the Certina. (by better quality, I mean that a replacement movement for the Certina costs about $30, and a replacement for the higher-grade ETA high accuracy quartz movement costs about $75. accuracy is about the same, as far as I understand).
-Seiko Astron has radio-controlled quartz, very accurate
-Citizen Chronomaster watches with high accuracy quartz movements are specified within +/- 5 seconds per year.

 

I wear the Certina watch shown below. it cost around $400. It's a high-accuracy quartz movement, the specification is +/- 10 seconds per year. if you feel like climbing the ladder a little, price-wise, you could look at the Longines Conquest VHP, a quartz movement that claims accuracy within +/- 5 seconds per year. Generally available meaningfully under $1,000. I looked at both and preferred the better water resistance and dial contrast of the Certina watch, as well as the lower price. I thought the Longines watch has a somewhat nicer/more substantial bracelet.

Do you have a model name or # for the Certina handy?

 

I know people want really accurate watches, even i've heard that "quartz watches are NOT that accurate" from some people not sure what they are referring it against? any one can correct me but i thought most quartz watches are much accurate compared to similarly categorized automatic mechanical watch. Is that assumption not true ?. Also @toolsaplenty you can buy a radio controlled quartz watches in both digital or analog displays they are really accurate to what i have checked against my Casio G-shock to about +/- 1 Sec a day as the watch synchs time every night. Also these are really inexpensive compared to similarly accurate automatic mechanical watches. Looks like you are from UK i think there are two radio signals that your watch can synch against just get a 6 band one which can connect to others if you travel. Also if you dont want depend on the radio signal you could buy GPS synch watches from Citizen more expensive but they can synch much easier during the day as most radio watches usually synch up during the night the as the signal strength is much stronger.

Satellite Wave GPS Black Dial Super Titanium Bracelet CC4004-58E | CITIZEN

This Satellite Wave GPS watch from Citizen is a luxury men’s watch that doesn’t just look great — it works hard, too. The sophisticated timepiece has advanced features such as the world's fastest timekeeping signal reception speed from GPS navigation satellites, world time in 27 cities (40 time...

www.citizenwatch.com

 

My 2 Rados D-Star are +2secs/month (Cal. ETA 251.262, 27 jewels) and +1secs/month (Cal. ETA 955.112, 7 jewels). Both Rados hit the markers.

A Raymond Weil is a wee bit more random +5secs/month (but often out of the blue it falls behind 5 seconds per month) thanks to the rubbish low cost Cal. ETA F06.161, 3 jewels. The seconds hand only hits the marker from 30 to 60 seconds. The cheap ETA has a lot of slack.

You need to check what quartz caliber the watch you are eyeing comes with (I wouldn't be surprised the Tag uses the cheap F06.161).

Apropos accuracy: can only be a joke if someone told you quartz is not accurate. Show that person a rubbish unreliable automatics for a good laugh.

If you want certainty: high accuracy quartz is your friend.

 

If you want more information about High Accuracy Quartz watches, visit the dedicated HAQ forum here on WUS.

Most generic quartz watches are +/- 15-30 seconds per month. What you end up with can be anywhere in that range. I have a "generic" quartz (Citizen) that is accurate to about 1 second/month, and I have others that are +30 spm. I have high accuracy quartz (HAQ) watches that are anywhere from +6 spy to dead on accurate.

If you want to spend a bit extra for high accuracy quartz, here are some models that are HAQ:

Certina Precidrive
Bulova Accutron
Citizen Chronomaster
Longines Conquest VHP
Grand Seiko 9F quartz movements (all GS quartz models are HAQ)
Breitling Super Quartz (all Breitling quartz models are HAQ)
Omega X-33

Certina and Bulova are bargains for HAQ.

Grand Seiko Spring Drive is accurate to 1 spd, but it's a hybrid mechanical movement regulated by quartz technology. And somewhat pricey compared to HAQ watches.

Personally, if accuracy is your biggest concern, I'd opt for a radio sync or satellite (GPS) sync watch. They update daily and on demand. Citizen and Casio are the best options there.

 

Personally, if accuracy is your biggest concern, I'd opt for a radio sync or satellite (GPS) sync watch. They update daily and on demand. Citizen and Casio are the best options there.

I have a feeling that these would have the downsides of not working in other countries, not being future proof and possibly less battery life.

I did notice the HAQ forum and in fact posted this query there although i only read some of the posts before doing that. I wanted to phrase my question from the perspective of a non-expert just wanting the fastest way to find out what accuracy any given watch might have on average and what to look for to get to particular achievable accuracy levels.

 

Thanks everyone for your posts, It seems that it is a lottery what accuracy you get unless you carefully read specifications (and I found often there are none) or take careful note of and/or research the movements used.
I'll have a look at the various models suggested.
I got used to having an accurate watch and like knowing that nearly all the time it is within 2 seconds of the time. For many other purchases I make I'm basing decisions on specifications and am used to these being quite detailed.

 

Welcome to the forum! My 17 year old Tag Professional 200m is still spot on every time I adjust time for Daylight Saving Time. The Swiss quartz movement is amazing. Ok, spot on means I might have to adjust second hand by a few seconds twice a year. Worst quartz movements were probably in my Casio watches, but one was the WaveCeptor, which would sync with atomic clock each night, so no problem. But without that sync, things would drift considerably.

 

My basic Citizen Eco-Drive (E168 movement in a ~$200 diver) gives me a pretty consistent +5 seconds/month. I generally don't touch it unless I'm tweaking the date after a short month.

 

This watch is literally within one second of atomic clock time every six months. Something about the Certina Precidrive quartz watch line that make them highly accurate. I don’t understand it. I even fear it a little. But I accept it.





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