Published Specifications Regarding Accuracy

Hello All,

I'm recently the owner of a Big Ingenieur (IW500501) and, whilst I love the look of the watch and the obvious quality of craftsmanship that has gone into making it, I can't find anywhere any documented specifications (online nor printed in the box) regarding the guaranteed accuracy of the watch. That is, at what level of error in accuracy does IWC consider the movement to be "defective", or that the watch is not "fit for purpose".

I don't wish to start a fresh debate around accuracy versus function vs craftsmanship. Suffice to say that I'm of the camp that believes when I lay down $10k+ on a watch I expect it to perform to at least COSC specifications, if not substantially better. It is a watch afterall!

My reason for asking now is pure curiosity. I haven't measured the accuracy in any scientific way as yet, but it seems to keep good time, albeit a little fast (typical of my other two mechanical watches also, one of which needed a warranty service for being way too fast). I'm just a detail freak.

I guess I'm preempting any problems that may arise with accuracy, and would like to know what IWC's official stance or specifications are on this matter.

Thanks for any help.

I am not aware of any "guarantee of accuracy" statements with IWC watches.

Dear LeighB:

Rest assured: IWC guarantees that its watches will not lose time and will not gain any more than 7 seconds per day. That means a -0 to +7 second variation daily from a perfect rate. Thus IWC sets a stricter standard for accuracy than does COSC, which sets a -4 to +6 second tolarance daily.

Somewhere in the IWC literature I recall the following: "IWC will not allow a watch to run slow." I like that.

Cheers! and enjoy your IWC.

Donald

On COSC specifications, Donald is right. However, on the issue of "published" specrficiations, please note that the two big users of COSC are Rolex and Breitling. Brands that don't do that (with a few exceptions) are Patek, Vacheron, Audemars, Breguet, JLC, and virtually all high-end brands. Also all of the high-end artisan watch companies --Journe, Parmigiani, and even Gruebel Forsey (which starts at over $250,000) don't publish specifications or claim COSC standards.

I know a lot of consumers think that Rolex and Breitling are expensive watches, and it absolute dollars a watch that costs $5000 or $7000 is a lot of money, But in relative terms these are at the low-end of the fine watch market --the other brands have a pricepoint thaty on average is probably 3 to 10 times higher.

The question, then, is why do the more expensive Swiss watches uniformly not publish specifications but the lower priced ones do? I submit it's a marketing thing --Rolex is more of an "entry level" fine watch for many consumers, and they need some assurance that it's a quality product. A buyer of Patek or Breguet, to pick two examples, is looking for something different, even though he expects his watch to keep good time.

I've written on this before, and there's more in archived posts.

I don't recall reading that IWC "guarantees" watches to run between -0 to +7 seconds per day.
Would someone enlighten me please?

Linn

It's not a "guarantee" --just their internal standard. So much for legalese ;)

Does anyone know if this applies to all watches sold by IWC or only those with in-house movements? The reason that I ask is that both of my watches with in-house movements (Mark XI, 5001) run to this benchmark, but my 3799 runs at -4 (well it did, not sure where it is at now since I got it back from a quick service).

I like most people purchasing their first fine time piece placed the same emphasis on accuracy and had an issue with my 5001 running "sooo" fast when I first purchased it but this lasted about a week when the realisation that you have a fine mechanical implement on your wrist finally settles in and you start to really appreciate it. The only reason I know my watches are fast / slow is because I was at a local collectors evening a while back and the watchmaker hosting the event had his measuring device out with a prize for most "accurate" for which my 3799 at -4 won the night (although the 5001 had the healthiest amplitude).

LEIGHB - you are now the owner of a sensational watch that has a 7 day power reserve - with such a large power reserve you are going to get variations in the beat of the watch which will result in some fluctuations in accuracy - put the watch on your wrist, build a bridge and start enjoying it :)

Cheers,

Ben

Another brand, which often uses COSC is omega. And you are right, Michael. As I bought my Omega Seamaster Prof., it was important for me to buy a watch with COSC certificate as a kind of insurance for high quality.
Buying my first IWC, that was not longer important for me, but my Portuguese Automatic (+3 s/d) and my Aquatimer Chrono Cousteau (-0,5 s/d) keep the time just better than my omega.
Regards,
Stefan

Michael--

You are right--I should not have used the word "guarantee." Would you stipulate, however, that IWC's clarion statement about not allowing its watches to run slow carries with it the FORCE of a guarantee? If, after a reasonable break-in period, or while still under warranty, an IWC regularly lost, say, 12 seconds per day, surely the company would, at no charge, bring it in line with its "internal standard"?

Cheers!

Donald

I have the similar experience too. My 5001 runs +6 sec /day while my Inge Mission Earth 3236 runs +4 sec /day. They are both using in-house movements. They are within the IWC spec.

On the other hand, My AT 2000, ref: 3568 which is not using in-house movement is running -4 sec /day. It doesn't bother me but it makes me think the IWC spec is more to the in-house movement....

The IWC specifications are intended to apply to all movements, in-house or outsourced.

Actually, accuracy aside, my second hand appears to be moving at an inconsistent tick rate. Quite often (maybe 10-15 times a minute), it appears to either skip or pause. Is this normal for a new watch? Is it possible there are a few "sticky" bits until the lubrication settles in?

Re Inconsistent tick rate,
That does not sound normal, either the second hand is not set as it should be, quite simple to resolve or else it's not good news at all. Take it back to your dealer to show the problem and politely request that it goes to the nearest service centre is my advice, others may have another explanation. I would do it ASAP though.

Re the tick rate, although the freqency of inconsistency around the dial has become less, I've confirmed the problem by making a video of a full minute and viewing it in slow motion. A couple of times it does 5 or 7 ticks per second, compared to a very consistent 6 ticks/sec elsewhere around the dial. I've emailed the AD to see what they think.

Be sure to let us know what the AD says in response.

Cheers!

Donald

Long time since my last post but my AD sent it in for a warranty service, and it's come back good as new.

All problems I had are gone. The tick-rate is now spot on, and the accuracy has gone from 9 secs/day to less than 4 secs/day. Very happy.

They even gave me a little IWC monogrammed leather travel case - lovely!