Who Tested Your Watch? A Guide to the Watch Industry’s Quality Marks
People often wonder just how good their watches are. A quality seal can help provide an answer: it shows that the watch has passed a test for its timekeeping ability and, in some instances, the quality of its finishing. COSC and the Geneva Seal are by far the best-known issuers of quality certificates, but there are many others. Some, like these two, test watches from multiple brands; others, such as the Patek Philippe Seal. Here's a look at 11 quality-testing systems.COSC Certificate:Switzerland's Contr?le Officiel Suisse des Chronom��tres, or COSC, is the best-known watch-certifying organization. The COSC procedure lasts 15 days. Watch companies send their movements to COSC uncased. COSC then assigns each an identification number and its employees apply a generic dial with reference points that help an optical sensor track the watch's seconds hand. Each movement is wound mechanically (automatic movements must remain rotor-less), then given a rest period of 24 hours before testing. The

Longines GrandeVitesse Chronograph 24h
The Chronograph 24h is the newest addition to Longines’ GrandeVitesse line. The 44mm case is fitted with the a modified version of the automatic ETA Valjoux 7754 movement made exclusively for Longines, dubbed caliber L686. As you might guess from its name, this new watch incorporates chronograph and second time zone. The movement, visible through a sapphire display back, runs in 25 jewels at at 28,800 vph with a power reserve of 46 hours. The chronograph features center seconds, a 30 minute counter at 12 o’clock and a 12 hour counter at 6 o’clock. Continuous small seconds are located at 9 o’clock. The second time zone is indicated via a black 24 hour hand with a red triangular tip. The case features a double tachymeter on the bezel, graduated in kph and MPH, that can be used for measuring ground-speeds up to Mach 2. The crown and push-pieces have a non-slip texture. The crystal is sapphire with an anti-reflective coating, and the case is water resistant to 50 me

Introducing: The New Glash��tte Original Senator Chronometer, With A Dark Blue Dial
Directly inspired by the marine chronometers made in Glashütte during the mid-20th century, the Senator Chronometer was introduced in 2009 with a perfectly archetypal dial layout for the genre.It featured a large white face, dominated by oversized Roman numerals, black rail tracks, pear-shaped blued hands, and most of all, a power reserve and running seconds facing each other at at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock.The only details betraying its modern origins, besides it being a 42 mm wristwatch, was the signature panorama date window at 3 o’clock. Still, it was ultimately a classic watch. 1 OF 2 Six years later, Glashütte Original presents a much more contemporary design, with a slimmer version of the Senator case made from white gold, and a dark blue face that highlights the finely grained dial more clearly.Once again, it is powered by Calibre 58-01, a distinctly German movement with striped three-quarter plate. A manually wound movement, it features

Tour of AP
I am going to be in Switzerland the week after next and might have a day sometime in the week near Le Brassus. Does AP offer any type of tour, has anyone taken it and is it worth doing? Is it necessary to get arranged for you by your AD?I am toying with the idea of trying to visit AP, Patek, and VC if they have some kind of tours available and if I can squeeze them in. Any insights will be much appreciated.

omega x33 prob's help
Ok guys my x33 is going crazy,done the battery change with 3 new good quality batteries and still no go.who do we trust on these or is it omega only??