Case 41 — QC checklist: prioritise observable faults over pixel hunting · source wording exercise
A large crop makes tiny differences look dramatic. How can a checklist remain proportionate?
Review focus: source wording. Retain the source wording beside any paraphrase. Use the original answer fragment “Explain what the full-size image shows, what the crop adds and…” as the discussion anchor; no new event or result is supplied.
Exercise RWF-29941/41: address this question within its stated limits.
Case 7 — Crystal reflections: why a dark patch is not a coating test
A dark area appears at an oblique angle in a single photograph. Does that establish a coating difference?
Exercise RWF-29224/7: address this question within its stated limits.
Case 36 — Date window centring: compare the same date at the same angle
Method note for “Date window centring: compare the same date at the same angle”: use “Use the same numeral, camera axis…” as a row heading in a proposed working record. Put the statement, its supporting source or measurement, and any unresolved detail in separate fields. This proposes a format; it supplies no additional evidence. Keep the stated question separate from any broader claim.
Add a dated correction near the original conclusion and link the new evidence. Preserve the reasoning trail instead of silently replacing an uncertain claim with a confident one.
Something to keep apart: sunburst and gradient dials can look like different colours depending on viewing angle, even on the same piece. A shift that appears only at certain angles is a finish effect, not a batch difference. Include a straight-on shot and one tilted shot so readers can tell the two apart.
State whether thickness includes the highest point of a domed crystal. Different measurement methods can produce different figures, so keep both the source and method beside each dimension.
Case 10 — Magnetism and rate: record evidence before naming a cause
Record the change and the circumstances without treating the suspected cause as established. A competent watchmaker can test and diagnose it; random adjustment is not a substitute for assessment.
Record the change and the circumstances without treating the suspected cause as established. A competent watchmaker can test and diagnose it; random adjustment is not a substitute for assessment.
Case 30 — Lume comparison: keep exposure and charging conditions consistent
Treat the comparison as inconclusive. Repeat with equal light source, charging duration, elapsed time and camera settings; disclose conditions rather than assigning an unsupported quality score.
Case 17 — Service enquiry: information a watchmaker can use
Limit of the answer in “Service enquiry: information a watchmaker can use”: “Document when it stops, winding behaviour, recent impacts and…” is an excerpt from the discussion, not an independent verification. A reader needs the relevant original material before treating an interpretation as established. Review focus: scope. Keep the stated question separate from any broader claim.
Record wrist circumference, removable links and the clasp adjustment range in millimetres. Request the closed bracelet circumference rather than inferring it from marketing dimensions.
Case 55 — Comparing versions without mixing case sizes · source wording exercise
Summary draft for “Comparing versions without mixing case sizes”: the answer addresses “List confirmed differences separately from seller descriptions and date the comparison…”; the related point is “Match reference, dimensions and…”. Keep both connected to the opening question, and mark any conclusion needing further records as unresolved. Review focus: source wording. Retain the source wording beside any paraphrase.
Case 2 — Strap dimensions: lug width, taper, thickness and spring bar diameter explained
Thickness matters more than people expect. Straps around 4 to 5mm at the lugs can hit the case or stop the strap folding down on watches with short lugs or tight lug-to-case clearance. Do you know whether your watch has drilled lugs or a tight gap between strap and case? That tells you how much thickness is safe.
Case 26 — Accuracy expectations: is -8 s/d acceptable on an entry-level automatic?
Compare the observed rate with the exact caliber and cased-watch specification, if available. An example such as -8 seconds per day cannot be declared acceptable solely from its price category.
Case 17 — Maintenance question: how do I tell if an automatic actually needs service?
Sealing and movement performance are separate questions. Ask a qualified watchmaker about inspection and testing appropriate to the particular watch and its intended use; a healthy rate does not establish water resistance.