Introducing The Super COSC: Uplifting Wristwatch Precision in the 21st Century

The Super COSC, slated to debut in 2026, presents a new proposition for Swiss wristwatch certification. Building upon the respected foundations of the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) chronometer standard of 1973, this evolution aims to improve its scope and relevance to meet the modern demands and use cases of a watch.

The existing COSC standard predominately places focus on a watch’s movement alone, requiring it to be adjusted to a precision of -4/+6 seconds per day before being sealed. Super COSC, however, aims to certify the entire assembled timepiece, with an ambitious focus towards the real-life usage of a wristwatch. Interestingly, the Super COSC will exclude water resistance testing - a departure from similar watch standards set by Rolex’s Superlative Chronometer and METAS’ Master Chronometer.

These standards, followed by Rolex’s Superlative Chronometer and METAS’ Master Chronometer, have sparked an uprising in wristwatch certification methods, combining precision with utility. While the aforementioned chronometers are brand-specific, the introduction of Super COSC looks to provide an accessible and mainstream option for all players in the market, aiming to improve the overall quality of Swiss watches.

To this end, Super COSC has made its testing process flexible, allowing testing to be performed at COSC laboratories or optionally at the watchmaker’s own facilities. The exact impact of these enhanced evaluations on the price of watches remains uncertain, but the guarantee of superior timekeeping and precision is something patrons of Swiss watches have come to expect and value.