Die precision of quartz watches and mechanical watches

What level of precision can you expect from watches? An essential question for a measuring instrument like a watch is, of course, precision. What level of precision does a watch actually deliver? In that respect, people also often ask whether mechanical watches or quartz watches run more accurately. What does rate accuracy mean in a watch, and how many seconds of deviation per day can be tolerated?

First of all, it can be stated clearly that quartz watches are more precise than mechanical watches. The special secret lies in the frequency of the oscillations of the regulating organ (quartz). This is normally 32.768 Hertz and ensures a certain level of accuracy that even very well made and well adjusted mechanical watches cannot come close to achieving. For design reasons, their oscillation is max. 5 Hertz, which means 36.000 half-oscillations per hour. Mechanical movements that run at 5 Hertz are even referred to in this case as "high-frequency movements" or fast oscillators.

With quartz watches, you can expect an inaccuracy of at most 2 to 4 seconds per month. Very good mechanical watches with automatic winding or manual winding achieve the same value per day.

For test checks, even a testing facility is satisfied with an inaccuracy of under 10 seconds per day. In that respect, it can be said that a rate inaccuracy of 3 to 4 minutes per month is the sign of a very accurate mechanical watch.