Time Precision

[bayhillrolex]

Not being a Rolex owner yet ... what kind of time accuracy should one expect compared to atomic kept time (i.e. loss of ? seconds per hour/day??)

Are automatic watches more or less precise than quartz?

[timebroker]

+ or - 5 seconds (day) for an automatic is reasonably normal if not adjusted and depends on the type of course.
Quartz ... Omega Marine megaquartz for example is only 1/500 of a second off per day. Dunno in what range the Rolex quartz series are.

[Tools]

bh,

You can never expect quartz accuracy from an automatic watch.

A quartz crystal oscillates at many thousands of times per second and has a steady voltage to regulate that "pulse"

An automatic watch "beats" at less than 30,000 times per hour.. and relies on a metal spring to be tightened up to produce a steady pull on the drive train..

You buy an automatic watch for the love of the time piece, the prestige in owning a marvel in mechanical engineering, status associated with knowing the best craftsmanship possible in todays busy world went into each piece, and the allure that cannot be realy described to someone else not interested in a quality, mechanical watch.

But you still can regulate a mechanical watch to be within a second per day.

[GoldenBear]

When I bought my first Rolex it was fairly inaccurate but within the given standards. The AD said "unless you were going to the moon it wouldn't matter". It was rude but true. You reset everything every month or so. So a few seconds here or there shouldn't matter.

[bayhillrolex]

Tools,

When comparing the GMT-II (ceramic), Explorer, Explorer II
should I expect all three to have the same accuracies even though they may not have the same internal movement??

[Tools]

Originally Posted by bayhillrolex

Tools,

When comparing the GMT-II (ceramic), Explorer, Explorer II
should I expect all three to have the same accuracies even though they may not have the same internal movement??

The simple answer is ...yes..

The more complex answer is the ceramic GMT has some new innards including a new hairspring that is insensitive to temperature changes, and alloy changes on components so, theoretically, it should be capable of giving more consistent time keeping over a larger environmental envelope.

The Explorer (and Air King) has a very robust, and simple movement, so fewer moving parts, time proven engineering, equals a very stable time piece.

The Explorer II is very accurate and time tested as well (it shares the movement in the early GMT II). It does have the added complication of the 24 hour hand and a date function not found in the explorer.

So if you were a betting man, and these were your horses over a very long race....it might line up the way I have laid out.

But we're just talking seconds, or fractions thereof, over a given time period.

[Letsgodiving]

I saw an advert earlier today in a magazine for a radio tuned watch that was dailed into some atomic timing device that was "guaranteed" to lose < 1 sec every 20,000 years, and they apologized for it. That's what they said!!

A mechanical movement will likey never compete with a quartz or atomic "tuned" watch, but they don't need to. Picasso vs. Kinkaid.?

[bayhillrolex]

Thanks

[mike]

I think comparing quartz to mechanical is a bit like comparing apples to oranges. Over time not to much will compete with a quartz movement.
That said I also think we sometimes confuse accuracy with consistency. My experience is that Rolex builds an amazingly consistent movement. By that, I mean, if they gain 1,2,3, or 4 seconds or what ever a day (or loses) Rolex watches seem to do that day after day with little to no variation. That is the sign of an accurate watch if not perhaps a well regulated one.
Once the rate of gain or loss is established a Rolex can be regulated to supurb accuracy.
One has to take into account wear habits, external influences, etc... on a mechanical that may not come into play with a quartz watch.

[mike]

Originally Posted by Letsgodiving

I saw an advert earlier today in a magazine for a radio tuned watch that was dailed into some atomic timing device that was "guaranteed" to lose < 1 sec every 20,000 years, and they apologized for it. That's what they said!!

A mechanical movement will likey never compete with a quartz or atomic "tuned" watch, but they don't need to. Picasso vs. Kinkaid.?

You're just not going to beat one of these for accuracy. Signal received every 24 hrs. from an Atomic clock.

[Letsgodiving]

Originally Posted by mike

You're just not going to beat one of these for accuracy. Signal received every 24 hrs. from an Atomic clock.

Granted. I found a G-Shock at the bottom of a flooded quarry once and it hadn't missed a beat (I have no idea how long it had been there but guessing not too long b/c someone woud have snagged it) but compare one of your Rolex automatic pics to this G-shock pic and enough said.

I have the ultimate respect for G-Shock, Casio, Suunto etc. as utilitarian watches that certainly have their pros but to compare them to a mechanical movement watch is not really worthwhile. They are just so different IMHO it is futile to compare them on their merits.

[gaopa]

Picasso vs. Kinkaid.? I love it!!!! Cheers, Bill P.

[mike]

Originally Posted by Letsgodiving

Granted. I found a G-Shock at the bottom of a flooded quarry once and it hadn't missed a beat (I have no idea how long it had been there but guessing not too long b/c someone woud have snagged it) but compare one of your Rolex automatic pics to this G-shock pic and enough said.

I have the ultimate respect for G-Shock, Casio, Suunto etc. as utilitarian watches that certainly have their pros but to compare them to a mechanical movement watch is not really worthwhile. They are just so different IMHO it is futile to compare them on their merits.

Amen!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

COSC norms are - 4 till 6 +

So anything within that range is (or should be) the typical Rolex time keeping.

[gaopa]

I just checked my D series Exp II and found that I gain 20 seconds in 7 days. My quartz 2000 classic Tag Heuer is spot on during the same period. While I really like my Exp II, I also like my Tag. I have just ordered a Seiko 200m divers watch with a black face and am eager to get that one. Now what were we saying about Picasso vs. Kinkaid? ;~) Cheers, Bill P.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by gaopa

Picasso vs. Kinkaid.? I love it!!!! Cheers, Bill P.

Sure....
But how do you set the time accurately on your Picasso Rolex ?

[Letsgodiving]

Originally Posted by gaopa

I just checked my D series Exp II and found that I gain 20 seconds in 7 days. My quartz 2000 classic Tag Heuer is spot on during the same period. While I really like my Exp II, I also like my Tag. I have just ordered a Seiko 200m divers watch with a black face and am eager to get that one. Now what were we saying about Picasso vs. Kinkaid? ;~) Cheers, Bill P.

I have a Seiko Sports 100 that I wore for about 10 years and I have a Tag 2000 quartz Chrono that I wore for about 10 years also, both 24/7. They are great watches. When I have had my Sea-Dweller for 10 years I'll be in a position to compare them properly.

[Letsgodiving]

Originally Posted by Tools

Sure....
But how do you set the time accurately on your Picasso Rolex ?

Not sure if that is a Picasso or a Salvador Dali. Either way it is a great pic!