The watchmaking industry is never short of prestigious titles. Especially those it can bestow upon itself. Fortunately, there are some safeguards in place to prevent any excess. These are standards, hallmarks, such as those that allow a watch to be classified as a genuine diver’s watch, an authentic chronometer, or carry the Poinçon de Genève or Fleurier Quality mark.
Thomas Baillod, however, has chosen a different path: the best quality at the best price. The man aims to reconcile the irreconcilable. The best in watchmaking is often also the most expensive. But that doesn’t matter; BA111OD has decided to fight on the grounds of precision.
From Neuchâtel to Geneva
In this field, the ISO 3159 standard is the reference. It is most often applied by the COSC, the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing, but not exclusively: any certified ISO organization can issue the coveted certification. Thomas Baillod, however, chose the Chronometric Observatory of Geneva.
This choice may seem surprising: BA111OD is based in Neuchâtel, where the COSC also has laboratories. But the COSC is automated (and therefore the most affordable) for 3 o'clock crowns. The chronometer crown of the BA111OD is at 4 o'clock. The Chronometric Observatory of Geneva (TIMELAB Foundation) managed this uniqueness at the best price, which is why Thomas Baillod selected it, as the price was a key factor for him.
The delivered piece was brand new. It had not undergone any specific treatment or adjustment. BA111OD relies on Soprod bases prepared for Chronometer certification. Each watch is then delivered to the final customer, who receives a personalized chronometry certificate.
Appearance and Finish
The packaging is understated, minimalistic. The steel bracelet is appreciated: it only takes a screwdriver to add or remove links and adjust the size. It also features three notches to be adjusted based on temperature variations and wrist diameter. At this price, it’s rare enough to be noted.
The same applies to its finish, which is satin-brushed but with polished edges, as is the bezel. Finally, we note the choice of an automatic movement: during a race for the lowest price, one could have opted to omit the oscillating weight and prefer a manual movement, but BA111OD chose not to skimp on the comfort of an automatic movement, ultimately benefiting the user.
Test Conditions
WorldTempus received the piece in mid-March. Only chronometry was tested, using a reference website. The “Chapitre 7” was set to a fixed time (15:00, in this case) and then regularly checked over the course of a week, approximately every 6 hours. The “real-world” conditions were standard: the watch was worn all day, resting at night, on both weekdays and weekends. Since the Chapitre 7 is not specifically intended for sports, let alone diving, it was not subjected to those conditions.
Break-In Time
During the first cycle of its power reserve (38 hours), the Chapitre 7 took time to settle in. The time discrepancy increased not in seconds, but in minutes (2 to 3 minutes). This is not something to worry about. Such behavior sometimes occurs when the watch has not run for some time before being restarted. Its first cycle allows the mechanism to settle in. We’ve observed this behavior in watches priced much higher than this one. From the second cycle onwards, the watch displayed its true chronometric performance.
Surprising Performance
The performance of the Chapitre 7 far exceeds the standard. Recall that ISO 3159 requires a variation between -4 and +6 seconds per day. During the test, the Chapitre 7 displayed a deviation of +1 second on the first day, then +1.5 on the second day, before stabilizing at +2 seconds per day. It never showed a negative variation, nor a positive variation beyond this threshold. This is exactly three times better than the ISO requirements for certified chronometry. These results apply only to the tested piece (watch #1008), but they demonstrate the quality of the collaboration between BA111OD and the movement manufacturer, Soprod.
The conclusion is clear: this Chapitre 7 chronometer from BA111OD is not only the least expensive on the market, but it also outperforms, in pure chronometric performance, the vast majority of other chronometers available today.
