Patrick_y introduces the ONEOF accuracy testers, a new line of consumer-targeted devices designed to help watch collectors monitor the performance of their timepieces. His post highlights the frustration many collectors face with limited diagnostic tools and the often lengthy, expensive process of sending watches for service. Patrick_y explores how ONEOF aims to bridge this gap, offering solutions from basic accuracy checks to professional-grade diagnostics that were previously inaccessible to the average enthusiast.
Do you have multiple watches?
"Yes, I do!"
Are all of them running perfectly?
"I
have a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin that runs fast and a Patek
Philippe that seems to run fast. I wished that I had some kind of a
tool to measure the accuracy of my watches and a diagnostic tool to
identify potential problems! The dealer has been NO HELP AT ALL! They
just want me to send the watch back to service which takes months and
costs hundreds to thousands of dollars. I've tried the compass test to
see if the watch is magnetized, but the test was inconclusive."
We
finally have a watch tester targeted at consumers. ONEOF is a new tool
that comes in three different levels targeted at watchmakers,
boutiques, and collectors.
I haven't
tried this new tool yet, but I'm excited about it! Apparently you
connect it to your Android or Apple iOS device, it connects to an app,
and you can monitor accuracy of the watch in various positions.
Accuracy
^2 is the Collector's version. Starting at a price of $320 USD (before
taxes), it's a small pocket-sized sensor that you rest the watch on and
it transmits data to your phone or tablet. You can then see the
accuracy of your watch!
Accuracy
Boutique Edition is intended for boutiques and collectors. Starting at
a much higher price of $1270 USD (before taxes) it provides more
information and a Demagnetizer feature. The sensor on this version is
also sensitive as it uses a special microphone for exceptional accuracy,
especially on thicker and denser watch cases that may inhibit the
sound. I'm surprised that even large watch dealers don't have such
basic equipment. The largest Authorized Dealer of high end timepieces
in my city doesn't even have any sort of accuracy equipment or even a
demagnetizer! Boutiques ought to be better equipped!
Accuracy
Professional Edition is $3330 USD (before taxes) and it's for
watchmakers and the seriously afflicted collector. This is a
professional level machine that can measure the accuracy of the watch in
all the positions. It will provided much greater detail of the
operations inside the timepiece including oscillation inconsistencies
(you see them as spikes or dip in the chart), amplitude, and more than
what I can fully understand. Large stores and watchmakers should have
this tool! And the serious collector would benefit from this tool.
It's
great to see these machines come down in price over the years. Even
today, the Witschi machines cost thousands of dollars (and require some
maintenance to keep the calibration perfect) and it's just not feasible
for the average collector to get a Witschi machine. There are
inexpensive demagnetizers on the internet that aren't specifically
intended for watches and sometime do more harm than good! I'm glad to
see we have an easy to use solution with a promising User Interface now
available for collectors!
I also expect retailers to
have these kinds of tools at their stores in the future! These kinds
of tools are very beneficial for clients and retailers should make this
small investment to add value to the client experience! I've met many
young individuals who've decided to give up on mechanical watches and go
towards smart watches because the retailer experience was very
transactional and not satisfying. I'm going to mention this to my
retailers the next time I see them!
Thank
you for reading my post! I always like to know how healthy my watches
are, so this was something that caught my eye! As always, I read all of
your comments, let me know if you have any thoughts. If any
WatchProSite member already has been using one for a while, please share
with the group!
The
picture above shows the Accuracy ^2, the collector's version at $330.
It's quite comprehensive, it charts the amplitude and tells you quite a
bit about the operation of the watch!
This is the $3330 USD professional version. This has got a lot of detail!
