Watch Terminology Dictionary

This refers to time loss or gain. The less this loss or gain, the better the accuracy, or high precision. Accuracy varies greatly depending on the temperature, how well the mainspring is unwound, and the watch's position. Generally, the more expensive the watch, the better the accuracy, and the lower the price, the lower the accuracy. However, quartz watches are hardly affected by temperature or position, and can achieve a minimum of 15 seconds per month. The most well-known accuracy standard for mechanical watches is the Swiss COSC chronometer standard.