January 2001 Timepieces/Data & Statistics Chronometer Tests Record number of watches are tested for precision certification The Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Agency (COSC) reports record increases in the number of timepieces submitted for testing certification in 1999. Watch companies often include the results and COSC certificates to validate claims of the strict precision required before a watch can be called a chronometer. Of the record 905,499 mechanical movements and 76,442 quartz movements tested in 1999, 35,405 failed. Here are the companies with the highest number of watches tested. Brand # of COSC Certificates Rolex 584,607 Omega 137,750 Breitling 127,659 Bulgari 22,601 TAG Heuer 13,342 Panerai 12,826 Vacheron Constantin 5,152 Tissot 4,838 Montega 4,186 Concord 3,319 Ikepod 3,287 Zenith 2,481 Ebel 2,456 Swatch 1,957 Mühle Glashütte 1,468 Ventura 1,384 Ulysse Nardin 1,280 Other 51,348