Most reliable automatic watch
Discussion
Wouldn't trust that European rubbish with their siestas, schmokes, soft cheeses, cappuccinos, strikes and temperamental attitudes. Seiko is Japanese build quality. If you even think of having a smoke break you get executed by the Shogun. 
Seriously, though, I have a Seiko 5 from 1980 and it's never been serviced (service? first time I heard about servicing is when I browsed the watch section and discovered those quality Swiss watches that need fixing every 5 years
), taken a really good beating from my youth and is still accurate to within 25 seconds a day. Won't turn heads at a black tie event or a rap concert, mind.
Seriously, though, I have a Seiko 5 from 1980 and it's never been serviced (service? first time I heard about servicing is when I browsed the watch section and discovered those quality Swiss watches that need fixing every 5 years
), taken a really good beating from my youth and is still accurate to within 25 seconds a day. Won't turn heads at a black tie event or a rap concert, mind.Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 16th April 12:46
I think that there may be a second part to your question about reliability.
Cost.
Along with that, your definition of reliability. Are you talking about not stopping or needing to be repaired? or being able to stay +/- 1 second of actual time?
Bang for the buck? I'd probably say Seiko.
Cost no object? That's a different story altogether and you'll probably get some out there answers based on the definition of reliability and personal experience.
I've got a 100 year old Glashutte movement that keeps to within +/- 5 secs per day and a 60 year old Longines that keeps to within 3 seconds per day. Reliable? I'd consider both of those to be pretty damn strong!
I've had my Seiko Monster for a few years now and truly treat it rough - Diving, multiple outdoor sports, do anything and never think twice - never had any problems or need to have it serviced.
Cost.
Along with that, your definition of reliability. Are you talking about not stopping or needing to be repaired? or being able to stay +/- 1 second of actual time?
Bang for the buck? I'd probably say Seiko.
Cost no object? That's a different story altogether and you'll probably get some out there answers based on the definition of reliability and personal experience.
I've got a 100 year old Glashutte movement that keeps to within +/- 5 secs per day and a 60 year old Longines that keeps to within 3 seconds per day. Reliable? I'd consider both of those to be pretty damn strong!
I've had my Seiko Monster for a few years now and truly treat it rough - Diving, multiple outdoor sports, do anything and never think twice - never had any problems or need to have it serviced.
PaulHogan said:
I inherited my fathers Longines Flagship and whilst I don't use it everyday it still works perfectly after 49 years.
I have a 56 year old Longines still going strong. No idea if/when it has been serviced, but judging by the case and dial it's had a hard life.As for most reliable, perhaps some of the military stuff? Hamiltons for example?
FWIW the movement that has gone kaput in Remal's Sinn is quartz.
I've had my Fortis Cosmonaut day/date for 4 years and it hasn't missed a beat. It tends to sit at +8s/day, which has been consistent since a couple of months after purchase. I haven't bothered to have it regulated, and I wasn't after COSC-levels of accuracy anyway. After all, it's just an off-the-shelf ETA inside the case. Build-quality-wise, the bezel on the Fortis is now about as smooth as the gearchange on a 200000 mile 1979 FIAT Strada. Occasionally it just jams, although I use the bezel a lot at work, so I suppose it has seen a lot of use.
I've had my Fortis Cosmonaut day/date for 4 years and it hasn't missed a beat. It tends to sit at +8s/day, which has been consistent since a couple of months after purchase. I haven't bothered to have it regulated, and I wasn't after COSC-levels of accuracy anyway. After all, it's just an off-the-shelf ETA inside the case. Build-quality-wise, the bezel on the Fortis is now about as smooth as the gearchange on a 200000 mile 1979 FIAT Strada. Occasionally it just jams, although I use the bezel a lot at work, so I suppose it has seen a lot of use.
don't discount sinn.
Never heard of another sinn failing and we don;t know how deep or what the guy was doing.
My oldest watch is from teh late sixites its a seiko never been serviced and still works and keeps good time.
the sinn with the diapal movement is probably up there for reliability as teh lubricant will not get sticky or run off.
"The Sinn 756 UTC DIAPAL is the world's first chronograph with a completely lubricant free escapement mechanism. Watches require service every few years because traditional escapement wheels and pallets need oil lubrication to avoid friction. Sinn used the technological innovations of the space program to develop a lubrication-free escapement and named it DIAPAL, in reference to the initial friction-reducing technique of replacing the ruby pallet stones by diamonds (DIAmond PALlets). The Sinn 756 UTC DIAPAL chronograph is the first watch in their product line to be fitted with this new DIAPAL escapement."
"
Never heard of another sinn failing and we don;t know how deep or what the guy was doing.
My oldest watch is from teh late sixites its a seiko never been serviced and still works and keeps good time.
the sinn with the diapal movement is probably up there for reliability as teh lubricant will not get sticky or run off.
"The Sinn 756 UTC DIAPAL is the world's first chronograph with a completely lubricant free escapement mechanism. Watches require service every few years because traditional escapement wheels and pallets need oil lubrication to avoid friction. Sinn used the technological innovations of the space program to develop a lubrication-free escapement and named it DIAPAL, in reference to the initial friction-reducing technique of replacing the ruby pallet stones by diamonds (DIAmond PALlets). The Sinn 756 UTC DIAPAL chronograph is the first watch in their product line to be fitted with this new DIAPAL escapement."
"
Define reliable. If you mean just the movement, I think most makes whatever the price seem to be pretty reliable these days with the odd rogue creeping in.
If you factor in the rest of the package, well there was quite a spate on here last year of people complaining about their Omega bracelets letting go....
If you factor in the rest of the package, well there was quite a spate on here last year of people complaining about their Omega bracelets letting go....
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