Chronometers
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Chronomètres
High quality watches
What exactly is a chronometer ?
According to the COSC - Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres
(The official regulating body of Swiss Chronometers):
The term chronometer is often wrongly applied to timekeeping
instruments fitted with an additional mechanism that may be set in
motion by pushbuttons to enable measurement of the duration of an event.
Such an instrument is in fact a chronograph or chronoscope. It may, of
course, be chronometer-certified, provided it meets the criteria set for
the standard.
A chronometer may thus be defined as follows:
A chronometer is a high-precision watch capable of displaying the seconds and
housing a movement that has been tested over several days, in different
positions and at different temperatures, by an official neutral body (COSC).
Each chronometer is unique, identified by a number engraved on its movement
and a certification number given by the COSC.
Each movement is individually tested for several consecutive days, in 5
positions and at 3 temperatures.
Each movement is individually measured. Any watch with the denomination
"chronometer" is provided with a certified movement.
How many chronometers are certified each year?
Chronometers SOSC 1999
Chronometers SOSC 2000
Chronometers SOSC 2001
Chronometers SOSC 2002
Chronometers SOSC 2004
Chronometers SOSC 2005
Full details at: www.cosc.ch | 
