Accuracy of an automatic?

[Gavstar]

I recently bought a Seiko automatic, which is not keeping very good time. It's basically running 2 mins fast after a couple of weeks or so, and is now about 4 mins fast after a couple more. I have written to Seiko, who advise that the specification of an automatic watch is +/- 25 secs per DAY, compared to a quartz which is +/- 1 sec. I find this incredible. What's the use of a watch that keeps such bad time?

They've invited me to send it back to be recalibrated, IF i think it is outside these limits. I find that unacceptable to be honest, as what they're saying is that if it's getting 25 seconds faster per day, then they'll leave it as is. Surely something that is bought to tell them time should be more accurate otherwise it's not fit for purpose? Would you guys agree with this?

[Gavstar]

It's just a cheapy, but I never dreamt it would keep such bad timing. I got it thinking that having an auto would be nice.
It's one of these - http://www.chronograph.com/store/mli_viewItem.asp?...

[Gavstar]

I think I may as well send it off to Seiko, as it's definitely gaining 25 seconds every day, rather than gaining and losing each day.

So if top end Rolexes and Omegas can also be a pain, what are u paying for, if not for an accurate movement?

Edited by Gavstar on Monday 7th January 17:21

[Gavstar]

tubbystu said:

On a similiar basis we would all have Toyota Prius' rather than the automotive (and less than reliable in some cases ) interesting cars preferred by most members on here.

And here's me, a TVR driver, complaining about the accuracy of my watch

[Gavstar]

uktrailmonster said:

For me reliability is more important than ultimate accuracy. Knowing the time of day to the nearest minute or so is good enough for me. For chronograph functions even a watch that's running 20 sec/day out will be accurate to within 0.8 sec timing over an hour.

But at the end of the day if you simply want a watch to tell the time in an everyday environment, any cheap quartz watch will do fine. Most people buy mechanical watches purely out of admiration of the quality engineering and design.

Very true. However, mine is gaining 20 seconds or more every day, to the point where it is 5 minutes fast after a month. This can't be right.