Observatory and COSC Testing.

[padi56]

Very interesting article

Observatory testing and competitions

During the entire 23 years of testing, 5093 wristwatches were submitted for certification, and only 3253 were passed, about 64%. Just a few manufacturers participated, and only Omega and Patek did so every year. The others were: Rolex, Zenith, Longines, Movado, Vacheron & Constantin, Ulysse Nardin, Cyma and Favre-Leuba, along with numerous independent professional watchmakers.That was until Seiko come on the scene and started to wipe the floor with the Swiss watch industry.Only 2 brand in the + 23 years of the competitions submitted movements of serial production (Seiko and GP).All others were specially made movements just for the competition.and it was ended by the swiss in the 1970s after two straight wins by the Japanese straight of production line Seiko Grand.


http://ninanet.net/watches/others04/Mediums/mbeba.html

[dman]

LOL! If you can't beat them, just call the competition off eh?

[mamas]

i also think that omega submitted movements of serial produvction.. omega where the only manufacturer to win 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in these observatory competitions in the same year.. 1952.. they released the geneve line which at that stage was considered the top of line omega as a celebration of this amazing feat. it is only later that they re released the geneve line as an entry line. Agin the constellation line has the observatory medalluion on the caseback in honour for the various records that omega had in the various obdservatory competitions.. I think that part of the reason that these competitions were disbanded was the financial turmioil that a lot of these swiss houses were in during this timeperiod.. many were on the brink of bankrupcy..including omega

[JJ Irani]

Very interesting, Padi...thanks. I'm a bit surprised that Breitling is not in that list!!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by mamas

i also think that omega submitted movements of serial produvction.. omega where the only manufacturer to win 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in these observatory competitions in the same year.. 1952.. they released the geneve line which at that stage was considered the top of line omega as a celebration of this amazing feat. it is only later that they re released the geneve line as an entry line. Agin the constellation line has the observatory medalluion on the caseback in honour for the various records that omega had in the various obdservatory competitions.. I think that part of the reason that these competitions were disbanded was the financial turmioil that a lot of these swiss houses were in during this timeperiod.. many were on the brink of bankrupcy..including omega

Seiko first entered the competition,with watches from all over the world.Including most of the Swiss high end brands.For a much higher standard than the COSC,the Astronomical Observatory Authorisation Chronometer Standard.Out of many watches summited only two passed this test Seiko Grand just a production model, and Giraud Peregaux a specially build for the test model.And in the late 60s there were
only two companies, who could sell watches, passed astronomical observatory authorisation Chronometer in those days. ---Seiko and Giraud Peregaux.As the Japanese had dominated in the late 60s and the two preceding events, in 1972 some Swiss watch manufacturers demanded the end of the observatory competitions,and it was ended in 1973,thats when COSC was founded.