In deference to the calibre’s rigorous internal testing, the Seiko signature included the word "chronometer" underneath. Suwa Seikosha made it. The manual-wind calibre 3180 contained within was precise to -3/+12 seconds per day.Sinn Replica This meant that it met the Swiss Chronometric standards established by the Bureaux Officiels de Controle de la Marche des Montres. This is where things became heated.

Sans caseback, 1960 Omega Seamaster 007 Replica Watches ref. 3180 showing the movement within.

The spirit of competition: Japanese vs. Swiss Movements

After Seiko's plans to create a line opulent, elegant and sophisticated timepieces, the Swiss began to object to the Japanese company using "chronometer" to refer to the watches' exceptional accuracy. The European Chronometer Official Association sent a harsh letter to Seiko requesting that the Japanese company remove the word "chronometer" from its King Seiko watches, which were made at the Daini factory, and its Omega Seamaster 007 Replica Watches watches,Omega Seamaster 007 Replica Watches which were made in Suwa. (Eventually, the outputs of both factories would be combined under the Omega Seamaster 007 Replica Watches label in Suwa in Nagano Prefecture.

That is when "Shit got real" as they say. Seiko sent several mechanical wristwatch watches to the 1964 Neuchatel Observatory trials. This was considered the most difficult and brutal chronometric competition anywhere in the world at that time. The movement could not vary more than 0.75 seconds per day, with +/– 0.20 seconds for temperature variations.Omega Replica For 45 days, movements were subject to constant scrutiny. Let's now look at Seiko’s chronometric history during these Swiss chronometric trials.

The first competitor in these trials was the Suwa Seiko factory, where Omega Seamaster 007 Replica Watches was created. They sent an experimental quartz crystal clock that placed 10th in marine chronometer categories in 1963. However, Seiko continued to send only the most elite mechanical movements for Grand and King Seiko watches from the next year.

It may seem absurd that we would place so much importance on the accuracy of a mechanical timepiece in today's context. You should realize that mechanical timing devices have enabled huge advancements in human history. This includes John Harrison's 1761 marine timekeeper, which allowed mankind to calculate longitude at sea more accurately, giving the British Navy dominion over all oceans.

Charles Edouard Guillaume was the first to develop a thermal compensating hairspring. He won the Nobel Prize for Precision Measurement in 1920. Brands like Omega, Longines, Girard-Perregaux were the kings of Neuchatel Observatory trials. This competition produced calibres such the Peseux 260 and Longines 360,Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Replica as well as the Zenith 135 and the Zenith 135.

Initial results for Seiko 1964 were poor with their two watch movements placing 144th & 153rd respectively. This meant that they didn't qualify to be chronometers. Things improved marginally in 1965 with a ranking of 114th. This ranking did not discourage Seiko, but rather encouraged it to continue to be competitive. The brand was encouraged and pushed to explore high-frequency movements and other innovative ways to improve accuracy. The Hi-Beat and Spring Drive movements were born from this spirit of fierce competition. In 1966, the company was back and took a ninth position at the trials.