Wristwatches are especially important for creating a man's image; they can tell a lot about him. A chronometer is considered the best option for a demanding and punctual man. These are prestigious models, without many windows and arrows, their main advantage is maximum accuracy.
Chronometer history
Chronometers appeared in the 18th century; against the background of cuckoo clocks, it was a real breakthrough in watchmaking. With their help, it was possible to determine longitude, which is vital for sea vessels, therefore this device quickly gained popularity among sailors.
More than 250 years have passed since then, and the design has remained virtually unchanged. Today, chronometers are made from different materials and using different technologies, but they also remain a symbol of precision and consistency.
Pledge of precision
Only a very precise watch that has passed a series of tests and received a certificate from the Swiss company COSC can be called a chronometer. Especially for them, the ISO 3159-1976 standard was created, which defines the test conditions and requirements for "applicants". All mechanisms, without exception, pass the tests, as a result 3-5% of the marriage is eliminated.
Modern technologies allow tests to be carried out practically without human intervention. In this case, not ready-made watches are tested, but only mechanisms equipped with temporary hands and a temporary motor. Up to 100 mechanisms are placed in the stand at once, then the time is recorded at different positions and temperatures. The data is read by a laser, processed by special programs - and after all, a couple of decades ago, the accuracy of clocks was controlled by operators, writing data into tables.
Chronometer or Chronograph
A chronometer should not be confused with a chronograph. Chronograph is the most popular function of many watches, which has nothing to do with increased accuracy. These are small windows on the main dial, with their own hands and independent movement. The chronograph can show, for example, the time in a different time zone, the counter of minutes and hours of the stopwatch, the minute accumulator.
How to check if your watch has a chronometer
Since the accuracy of the watch is strongly influenced by gravity and air temperature, different conditions of use will need to be created for verification. You should put the clock on the table with the dial down for a day, then with the dial up, also for a day. The stroke may differ in other positions: with the crown down or up, with the number "12" up or down. It will be interesting to check the accuracy of the watch at different temperatures, for example, at + 8 ° C and at + 25 ° C.
If you have a chronometer watch in front of you, then the accuracy will not change from the position, the permissible error is only -4 / + 6 seconds per day. To change the temperature, the boundaries are even more stringent - no more than 0.6 seconds per day.
