richard@gryphon.COM (Richard Sexton) (01/19/90)
In article <12559198238007@osu-20.ircc.ohio-state.edu> ARNIE@osu-20.ircc.ohio-state.edu (ARNIE SKUROW) writes: >"Biff" writes that he has always wanted a Rolex watch. They are real neat >and he hears they are real accurate." > >I'll dispute that. I have a Rolex GMT Master that I purchased as a graduation >present to myself in 1965. From the day I took it out of the jewelry shop it >gained 1 to 2 minutes per day, even though it had a fancy chronometer >certification certificate. [rest of story concerning a hopelessly inaccurate Rolex watch deleted] You had a bad one and should perhaps have told Rolex to either keep trying or get a new watch from them to replace it. The difference between a chronometer and a watch, for those who don't know, is that the former must pass tests for accuracy in 5 different positions (upside down, 45 degrees tilter, etc.) to a certain level of accuracy. If it passes, you can legally call it a chronometer. Rolex gets 95% of the chronometer certificates, Omega and Huer get most of the rest, respectivly. The Omega Constellation is acually a more accurate watch than a Rolex, but the Rolex is much more indestructible. I had a stainless steel datejust from 76 to 80. It was never off more than 3 seconds a day, indeed at one point I took it to the lavish Rolex office in Toronto and told them this. A nice man in a white lab coat said ``ZEES is not acceptible!'', took my watch away, and came back 5 minutes later and said ``now it is PERFECT''. It was. Even though I committed the cardinal sin of taking it off at night, it was still more accurate than quartz LCD watches of the day. I lost it in the ocean in 1980. I wouls point out however that the Timex Titanium is now just as accurate, just as indestructible and even looks a hell of a lot like a Rolex... for $50. Is Rolex the best watch in the world ? Probably. It is a very good comprimise between craftmanship and durability. In an absolute sense, it's the third best watch, coming behind Vacheron et Constantine, and the #1: Patek Philippe.