Automatic Watches and Movement
If you know anything about watches then you know an automatic watch keeps its accuracy and hand movements by an active wrist. But many people worry that self winding watches gain or lose time depending on the energy transferred by the person wearing the watch, temperature, magnetic force and gravity. Goldtime Watch Repairs has put together a short factual blog with all the facts, to put your mind at ease.
Do Automatic Watches Gain Time?
The long and short answer is simple: YES automatic watches can gain and lose time, but the amount is so unimportant that it often goes completely unnoticed. So the accuracy of a self winding watch is usually around +-25 seconds a day so over 2 whole days you should only gain or lose 25 seconds this means that automatic standard movements are a whopping 99.97% accurate.
If you’re looking for your specific watches accuracy then most timepiece companies state their watches specifications loudly and proudly mainly because they like to show their dedication and precision, if your watch wasn’t going to do its job then it wouldn’t be stated so boldly.
ETA and Sellita often use different grade specifications so it’s worth deep diving and doing some research should you want to understand their accuracy intentions. If you notice your watch is losing or gaining massive amounts of time you’re going to want to pop into your local watch specialists as soon as possible as it may need to be regulated.
If you’re a perfectionist who wants a watch with the utmost accuracy then we suggest investing in a Chronometer watch serving up -4 or +6 seconds per day.
Accuracy Tests on Automatic Watches
Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomèters also known as SOSC is a non profit organisation created to test, measure and certify the accuracy of timepieces. So if you’re looking at a watch that has been tested and certified by SOSC you can put your mind to rest knowing your timepiece is accurate. This is the highest company possible in the world of watchmaking. If your watch passes the test you're guaranteed the highest possible accuracy, many brands across the world are proud and state this on their websites. Chronometers are 100% tested and certified.
SOSC provides and engraves a unique serial number onto the watch to prove and showcase that the Chronometer has passed the 16 day test; this means surviving under a range of positions and temperatures. More expensive watch brands such as TAG Heuer and Breitling come with a manufacturer guarantee, and are often on the pricey side because it’s expensive to hand assemble the movement and they are tested by SCSO, only 3% of Swiss watches in the world are SCSO approved and certified.
What Is The Best Position For Automatic Watches At Night?
If you want to maintain and keep getting the best accuracy from your watch and specialist will tell you it’s best to keep your watch laying flat and facing upwards at night. Watchmakers adjust the rate when timepieces are flat, leaving your watch on its side exposes it to gravity often allowing it to pull the hairspring leading to your watch's accuracy being affected. It’s good to avoid strong magnetic sources such as iPads and tablets when placing your watch.
If you have a watch winder, place your watch into it because it’s a great source of power and protects from damage, if you don’t have one it might be worth investing in one.
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