Watch knowledge at a glance: What is a chronometer?
Many people talk about it, some wear one - but only a few know exactly what the term ‘chronometer’ means. Is it just a fancy name for a watch? Or is there more to it than that? The answer: Yes, much more!
A chronometer is not just any watch, but a high-precision timekeeping instrument that has passed an official test. Only watches that successfully pass this stringent test can actually call themselves ‘chronometers’.
And who checks the whole thing? In Switzerland, for example, it is the renowned COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres). There, each watch is tested over several days in different positions and at different temperatures.
For a watch to be certified as a chronometer, it must only have very small rate deviations - usually less than -4 to +6 seconds per day. This may not sound like much, but in the world of mechanics it is a truly outstanding value.
Chronometers therefore stand for:
- Highest precision
- Quality and reliability
- The art of watchmaking at a high level
The terms are often confused - but they refer to completely different things:
- A chronograph is a watch with a stopwatch function.
- A chronometer is a watch with tested accuracy.
A watch can therefore be both a chronograph and a chronometer - but one has nothing to do with the other.
When you wear a watch with a chronometer certificate, you are not just wearing a piece of technology, but a genuine seal of quality. Chronometers show that precision and craftsmanship are no coincidence - but the result of decades of experience and attention to detail.
You can find out more about everything to do with watches in our specialised literature.
Book Gear cutting+Milling... German edition
€130.99*
Size: 205 x 270 mm. 60 pages. Several examples and illustrations.
Buch Die Technik mechanischer Uhren leicht erklärt
€19.99*
Mechanische Uhren erfreuen sich bei Fachleuten, Laien und Sammlern nicht nur einem steigenden Interesse.
Diese Wunderwerke der Technik lassen uns mit ihrem ruhigen Gang das unaufhaltsame Fortschreiten der Zeit bedächtig und eindringlich fühlen; und selbst das rascheste Schwingen einer Unruh erscheint noch als vom Menschen wahrnehmbare Größe. Um eine einwandfreie Funktion zu gewährleisten, müssen diese Zeitmesser gereinigt und reguliert werden, in einigen Fällen können auch Reparaturen erforderlich sein.
Dieser Reprint von 1968 behandelt die Grundbauelemente und -baugruppen, er vergleicht die Funktionsweisen und erklärt Besonderheiten. Detailliert erklären die Autoren Zusatzbaugruppen, wie Weck-, Schlag- und Kalenderwerk. Tafeln am Ende einiger Abschnitte nennen Fehler, deren Ursachen und Maßnahmen zur Fehlerkorrektur.
Zdenĕk Martínek und Jaroslav Řehoř: Die Technik Mechanischer Uhren - leicht erklärt. (06/2023)
112 Seiten, zahlreiche Abbildungen, 160 x 221 mm, Hardcover
Buch Standuhren reparieren (Reprint)
€44.99*
Autor: Eric und Brian Smith
In diesem Buch werden erstmals von einem Uhrmacher und einem Restaurierer (Vater und Sohn) die Reparatur von Standuhrwerken sowie die Aufbereitung von Standuhrgehäusen und -zifferblättern anschaulich beschrieben. Dieses Werk hilft, Reparaturen an diesen faszinierenden Uhren selbst in Angriff zu nehmen und auch die Zukunft der Uhr durch die richtige Pflege zu sichern.
192 Seiten mit ca. 155 Abbildungen.
Format 17 x 24 cm.
Buch Alte Uhren reparieren
€43.99*
Autor: L. Penman
Eine Fülle von Informationen zur Fehleranalyse, Reparatur und Pflege der verschiedensten Großuhren. Detaillierte Beschreibungen der Reparaturmethoden, auch für den unerfahrenen Reparateur.
Lieferumfang
192 Seiten mit mehr als 250 Detailskizzen und einer Fehlersuchtabelle. Format 17,5 x 24,5 cm.
Book Repairing Old Pocket and Wrist Watches
€28.99*
The watch book by David Bodley-Scott covers the repair of old pocket watches and the repair of old wristwatches. At the same time, Scott discusses the disassembly of a pocket watch and watch cleaning in general in order, after which he dedicates the book to the repair of English pocket watches. Next comes a chapter on plateau escapements and repair work on the same. Wristwatches, workshop tips, and a chapter on a driving spring for pocket chronometers complete this watch repair book.
Facts: Reprint Berlin 2015, 76 p., 200 ilustr., A4, softcover
Book wristwatches - technology, function and evaluation - the book for collectors and experts - German
€68.99*
A really wonderful gift for all watch lovers and watch collectors!
AVAILABLE IN GERMAN ONLY
Must not be missing on the shelf of a watch lover. Because not only the exclusive photographs will inspire collectors of valuable wristwatches.
The watch expert and mechanical engineer J. Michael Mehltretter introduces the history and technology of seven Swiss watch brands. Regardless of the manufacturers, he has gathered well-founded information:
It gives guidelines for the acquisition of fine watches, cost examples for their revision and describes the value development. At the same time, it shows the clocks in the context of a lifestyle with fast cars and gourmet restaurants. A pleasure for readers with taste.
Anyone who loves fine and Swiss watches (Audemar Piguet, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Patek Philippe, Rolex, A. Lange & Söhne, Vacheron & Constantin), who loves good watches - shouldn't miss this fantastic book.
Wristwatches - technology, function and evaluation
• Representative cross-section of the Swiss watch industry
• High quality photographs and manufacturer-independent information
• With guidelines for purchasing a valuable old wristwatch
• Volume: 448 pages, 400 illustrations
• Format: 224mm x 300mm
• Binding: bound with dust jacket