The Pursuit of Precision

Mechanical accuracy is one of the hardest and most misunderstood achievements in watchmaking. Every second your watch keeps is the result of balance, friction, temperature, and gravity all working, or fighting, together. The Vanitas houses a Sellita SW300-1 Top Grade movement, an evolution of the classic Swiss automatic design. It’s built for consistency, not gimmicks: adjusted in multiple positions, finely regulated by hand, and tested for precision before it ever leaves the workshop. While no mechanical watch can be perfect, the Vanitas was designed to operate within professional tolerances proof that reliability comes from regulation, not from certificates.

Top Grade Regulation

Sellita produces the SW300-1 in a few quality levels: Standard, Special and Top (premium). The Vanitas uses the Top Grade version, featuring enhanced regulation, tighter tolerances, and a balance spring and wheel assembly capable of chronometer performance. Each movement is adjusted in five positions and fine-tuned by hand to ensure steady accuracy in a range of wearing conditions. The difference between “Top” and “Chronometer” is paperwork, money, testing and legal loopholes. Arena’s philosophy is simple: deliver chronometer level reliability without turning it into a marketing claim.

What Affects Accuracy

Even the best-regulated movement is influenced by its environment. Temperature, magnetism, shock, and position all change how the hairspring and balance interact. A few seconds gained or lost each day isn’t failure, it’s physics. Watches aren’t meant to be flawless; they’re meant to be consistent. If your Vanitas stays within a few seconds per day over long periods, it’s performing exactly as intended. Over time, a skilled watchmaker can re-regulate the movement during service, keeping it precise for decades.

The Arena Perspective

We don’t chase certification labels or inflate performance claims. Arena’s standard for accuracy is earned, not printed, achieved through regulation, testing, and field validation. The Vanitas was built to be reliable when it matters, not just in a laboratory. Its strength lies in balance, a harmony between mechanical precision and human intention. True accuracy isn’t guaranteed by paperwork; it’s proven through use, through time, and through the discipline of the wearer who keeps it moving.