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Luxury watches have standards such as "chronometer" and "Geneva Seal" to guarantee the precision and quality of the watch. In recent years, an increasing number of manufacturers are applying high-level standards, and it is no exaggeration to say that almost all watches on the market are of high quality.
Among them, this time I would like to focus on three companies that have particularly strict in-house standards: Grand Seiko, Rolex, and Patek Philippe. If you are a fan of each brand, or if you want to know more about luxury watches, please read this article!
Grand Seiko's in-house standard "GS standard"
Reference: Grand Seiko official website
One of the most well-known standards, the "chronometer" standard, is regulated to apply only to movements manufactured in Switzerland. Grand Seiko initially called itself a chronometer, but was criticized by the Swiss for not undergoing Swiss-certified testing. As a result, the company established its own strict inspection standards, called the "Grand Seiko Standard (GS Standard)."
Features
Reference: Grand Seiko official website
Grand Seiko inspections are carried out in a dust-free clean room workshop , where approximately 20 watchmakers, including craftsmen who have received the Yellow Ribbon Medal and the Exceptional Skills Award , carry out their work.
Reference: Grand Seiko official website
Chronometers are inspected for "15 days with five position differences," while GS standards are inspected for " 17 days with six position differences ." In terms of accuracy, while the passing standard for chronometers is within "-4 to +6 seconds per day," the GS standard has a stricter standard of "-3 to +5 seconds per day." Only watches that pass this strict management and conditions are allowed to be sold.
Reference: Grand Seiko official website
Even stricter "GSS standard"
Reference: Grand Seiko official website
Grand Seiko also has the Grand Seiko Special (GSS) standard , which is even stricter than the GS standard. Experienced watchmakers spend several times longer than usual to bring the watch to a precision standard of -2 to +4 seconds per day. Because of the considerable effort required, only a very small number of GSS-standard watches can be produced per year. Models that pass this rigorous inspection are marked with "SPECIAL" at the 6 o'clock position on the dial.
Rolex 's in-house standards
"Rolex High Precision Chronometer"
Reference: Rolex official website
Rolex launched its own standard, the "Rolex High Precision Chronometer," in 2015. The movement must be certified by a chronometer, and then undergoes even stricter inspections.
Features
Reference: Rolex official website
While chronometers only test the movement, Rolex tests the watch after casing it , taking into account the actual conditions of use. The tests include precision, duration, and waterproofing, and are carried out in seven static positions and a rotating device to prove that the watch performs at its best when worn.
Reference: Rolex official website
While a chronometer has a daily rate of -4 to +6 seconds before casing, a Rolex High Precision Chronometer has an average daily rate of -2 to +2 seconds after casing . The chronometer tag that comes with the watch was previously red, but now, models that meet the new standard have a green tag. You can see that the reason why Rolex is loved by people all over the world and has been used for a long time is because of this thorough quality.
Patek Philippe's in-house standard "Patek Philippe Seal"
Reference: Patek Philippe official website
Another famous standard, along with the chronometer standard, is the "Geneva Seal". This is said to be proof that the watch is the finest Swiss watch, having passed 600 hours of testing and 12 conditions. In 2009, Patek Philippe announced its own quality standard, the "Patek Philippe Seal", which goes even further than this certification standard.
Features
Reference: Patek Philippe official website
In addition to precision and inspection standards, the Geneva Seal stipulates regulations for each component, such as the use of ruby stones for gear and escapement supports, and the chamfering of mainsprings and springs must also be done on surrounding parts to prevent wear on the functional parts.
On the other hand, the Patek Philippe Seal is said to have inspection standards that go even further than this, with stricter regulations covering not only the precision, movement, and exterior quality, but also finishing methods, inspection methods, and even after-sales service .
Reference: Patek Philippe official website
The standards are so strict that it is said that a Patek Philippe watch must pass hundreds of inspections before it is shipped. No matter how complicated the mechanism, it boasts an extremely high level of precision of "-3 to +2 seconds per day." Patek Philippe, which reigns at the top of the luxury watch world, proves that its standards are the highest in the world, with attention paid to every single part.
summary
What did you think.
I think you can see that very strict standards are set, and you can feel the commitment of each brand. In short, the luxury watches on the market are truly "elite" watches that have cleared difficult standards. It goes without saying that such "elite" watches with excellent precision and quality will undoubtedly make you feel even more attached to them. Please keep the word "elite" in the back of your mind and enjoy choosing your next watch.
Finally, I hope that by reading this column, even one more person will become interested in luxury watches!
see you!