mkvc
1304
Certificate tests should not be designed to allow passage.
Feb 07, 2013,10:07 AM
As far as I can tell, all existing certification tests are designed to allow a favored group of watches to pass. When the Poincon de Geneve decided that wire springs would be prohibited, you had better believe that first they checked to be sure their clients were not using wire springs. C.O.S.C. is the closest to providing an objective test, but they still don't test in six positions, and it's MUCH easier to get a watch to keep time in five positions than in six.
It's like the car insurance crash tests: the testing agency makes clear that the test will involve a collision from a certain angle, so the car makers build cars that are strong from that angle. Good luck, however, if your car is hit from a different angle.
I would very much like to see a test that really checks out what a watch can do. Example: at time of test, watch must have been in its case and running for at least three years since last maintenance; watch is tested in 14 positions (2 flat, 4 vertical, 8 inclined) and under a few different types of motion as well as temperature. Watch is then retested having been subjected to a magnetic field of reasonable strength.
Of course, right now if a company sends in a watch for testing the watch simply is not sold (or is adjusted and retested). If we really want to make it fun, have the watch company send in watches in batches of 100 and the test result will reflect what percentage passed.
Comments:
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Independent accreditation and certification
By: AndrewD : February 7th, 2013-00:35
How important is independent certification of a Swiss watch to you, and would it address your concerns about Swiss Made and the quality (in its broadest sense) of the final timepiece? I thought about this issue when I visited the Fleurier Quality Founda...
Patek Philippe Seal vs the Independent accreditation
By: MervC : February 7th, 2013-00:45
As much as I like the claim that the 'PP Seal' is more rigorous and of a higher standard than the Geneva Seal, or the Qualite Fleurier Standard, I fell that having a independent / 3rd party test is better and most importantly fairer . However, I don't thi...
Today's certifications are usually not satisfactory (marketing purposes)
By: Mark in Paris : February 7th, 2013-01:26
Hi Andrew, First, I'd like to mention that these certifications (indpendant or not) are not a major creteria for me. I know the watch I'm looking out, I study them and I know if they are of high quality standard or not, enough to make a selection. But, I ...
Well said Mark....+1+1+1
By: moc : February 7th, 2013-03:15
Smoke in the eyes my friend...I am ,like you,my own certificate,and that suits me fine and its more than enough.... Mo
+2...
By: pplater : February 7th, 2013-03:25
There are as many 'certifications', 'seals', 'hallmarks' and 'brands' as there are lemmings. An Observatory certificate is a bit of fun; other than that, Mark and Mo are on the money. Cheers, pplater.
It is about passion...
By: dedestexhes : February 7th, 2013-04:22
I agree with your remarks. But even if there is an independent organism that would do test or judge on a specific seal...would it change my mind? We would perhaps all drive the same car if we would follow results from crash tests, breakdown figures. In re...
Once again, the Watch Snob has the answer
By: Zhege : February 7th, 2013-06:06
Here's what he had to say about it recently (edited for brevity and forum rules) I am looking at several different watches in the $8-$10K retail range. One ... model has the features that I want. Yet for virtually the same price, but with less features, t...
Certificate tests should not be designed to allow passage.
By: mkvc : February 7th, 2013-10:07
As far as I can tell, all existing certification tests are designed to allow a favored group of watches to pass. When the Poincon de Geneve decided that wire springs would be prohibited, you had better believe that first they checked to be sure their clie...
Pushing improvement
By: AndrewD : February 7th, 2013-17:56
Perhaps a good certification process might actually push improvements in the final product? What if COSC said that from 2015 they were going to decrease their tolerances to -1 to +3 seconds per day? Would that lead to a better, more robust, more accurate ...
The ISO 6425 printed on my Certina diver is a superfluous detail
By: mkt33 : February 7th, 2013-10:40
but as a "diver's watch" I'm glad that it conforms to and tested to pass an agreed upon international standard. I am sure that it is part of Certina's marketing str ategy for this wa tch and I bet there are a lot of other "diving watches" that cannot meet...
It is certainly akin to ...
By: AndrewD : February 7th, 2013-18:06
... putting the Big Bad Wolf in charge of the children's nursery and the piggery. So I see that you agree with external, independent accreditation of a facility. For this to work we have to have defined standards that the facility must be audited against....
Horo, as always...
By: elliot55 : February 10th, 2013-07:50
... you are spot effing on! - Scott
The FQF is on the right track ...
By: AndrewD : February 9th, 2013-04:11
Thanks for your comments, Mitch. I like the concept of the FQF and the fact that it covers issues like performance on the wrist (Fleuritest), robustness and build quality (Chronofiable test), parts finishing and addresses the Swiss Made fallacy. But of co...
