Chronometer Watch

May 21, 2019
Chronometer Watch

The only benefit I see to a watch being made of wood is that it can be burned. to Patek Philippe, that don’t submit their timepieces for chronometer certification (and just find other reasons to charge more) but still keep time as well or better than those brands lined up at the church door.

Modern engineering and manufacturing means that it isn’t as hard as it used to be for a watch to keep time to within minus-four to plus-six seconds per day. Even a well-adjusted low-end ETA movement can achieve this, and, frankly, I think you should expect this sort of performance out of any watch you buy these days, especially one in the price range you’re looking in, whether certified or not.

The Slimmest Watch In The Universe?

Dear Snob,

I was recently browsing the internet and came across an article showing me a watch from an Indian company called Titan, which makes a watch it claims to be the slimmest watch in the universe called Titan Edge. Apparently the watch uses quartz movement designed in-house, is only about 3.5 millimeters in thickness and the movement is only about 1.5 millimeters in thickness. What is your take on this watch? Does it mean that the rest of the world is catching up with Japanese quartz movements?

Quite a claim — “slimmest watch in the universe.” Has India done some pioneering space travel while I wasn’t paying attention? Frankly, I also don’t pay attention to quartz watches, and 3.5 millimeter is just barely more svelte than some Piagets, Vacherons and Jaegers, which measure somewhere between four and five millimeters. These are truly remarkable, since they make use of beautifully decorated mechanical movements. But if that is considered “catching up” with Japanese quartz movements, it is a dubious achievement at best.

Question from a Watch Knob

I am a graduating high school student with (sadly) no steady source of income. I recently developed an interest in watches after receiving a Seiko Solar for an early Christmas present. I wanted to know of your opinion on wooden watches, such as the ones made by Tense and WeWOOD, which seem to be the leading brands. I don't have the money to afford a real timepiece, but I would still like to have some originality in my future watch. Please advise.