How Accurate Is FindWatch? Our Watch Identification Test Results
We test FindWatch on a fixed set of watch photos whose exact reference we know, run through the same identification visitors use, and count how often it names that exact reference. Here are the latest results, and what the test does not cover.
Latest results
71%
Exact reference number (41 of 58 photos)
97%
Right brand and model family (56 of 58)
35 s
Average time to an answer
Test run of November 13, 2026.
By brand
| Brand | Photos | Exact reference | Model family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heuer (vintage, before TAG Heuer) | 25 | 19 of 25 | 25 of 25 |
| TAG Heuer | 17 | 9 of 17 | 15 of 17 |
| Omega | 12 | 11 of 12 | 12 of 12 |
| Rolex | 2 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
| Breitling | 1 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Porsche Design | 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Many misses are close relatives: the right model with a neighbouring reference, such as a vintage Carrera named with the wrong dial letters, or a TAG Heuer sibling that differs only in its dial or bezel. TAG Heuer is the weakest brand in this test.
How we score it
- Exact reference: the answer's reference number matches the watch's, ignoring spaces, dots and dashes. An answer that adds a strap or bracelet code to the right reference counts.
- Model family: the right brand, and either the right model name or a reference that starts like the right one.
- Saved results are switched off for the test, so every photo is identified fresh.
- Every photo with an answer counts, including answers given with low confidence. Two of the 60 are left out and named in the run's record: one whose file is missing, and a web-page screenshot whose text gives the answer away.
- A photo that shows its own reference number (on a card or a caption) is cropped to the watch, so the identifier can't simply read the answer.
What the test does not cover
The photo set leans heavily on Heuer, TAG Heuer and Omega (54 of the 58 photos scored), the brands FindWatch has catalogued most deeply. It says little about brands it barely includes, and nothing yet about brands such as Seiko or Citizen. We are adding photos of more brands, and will publish those results here.
When the evidence in a photo is not enough, FindWatch says so: the result is marked Likely or Reference uncertain rather than presented as certain. A clear, straight-on photo of the dial, and one of the caseback, give the best results; see how to photograph a watch.
Results over time
| Test run | Photos scored | Exact reference | Model family |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 3, 2026 | 59 | 71% | 97% |
| November 7, 2026 | 57 | 74% | 93% |
| November 13, 2026 | 58 | 71% | 97% |
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