QUARTZ VS. AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT: What’s the best?

Many people still view quartz movements as inferior to mechanical ones. In this blog we will examine what a quartz movement is and how it compares to a traditional automatic movement.

QUARTZ MOVEMENT

A quartz movement is  a timepiece battery-powered where a quartz caliber operates via an electrical current from a battery that gives power to the quartz crystal within the movement. This causes it to vibrate, and these vibrations cause the movement to oscillate, which drives the motor.

Advantages of a Quartz watch

• Accuracy
  One main advantage of a quartz caliber is accuracy. Quartz movements are more accurate than mechanical movements.

• Convenience
  Another benefit is convenience. Aside from a battery change every couple of years, a quartz watch will continue to run without the need to wear it or wind it.

• Price tag
  Watches with quartz movements are less expensive than mechanical watches, especially when you’re considering luxury watches.

Today you can find some of the best quartz movements in luxury watches created by Omega, Breitling, TAG Heuer, and Cartier. They boast more accuracy than a standard quartz movement and some are COSC-certified.

QUARTZ MOVEMENTS VS. AUTOMATIC MOVEMENTS

A quartz movement gets its power from a battery, instead an automatic mechanical movement uses energy from the motion of a wearer’s wrist.

Every time the watch moves, a rotor within the caliber spins and automatically winds the mainspring. This is why you may hear someone refer to an automatic movement as a self-winding movement. Next, the gathered energy releases from the mainspring through a barrel to the gear trains, powering the timepiece. 

Watch enthusiast can be passionate about this topic and each individual can have strong points for or against quartz movements. However is important to mention that  the innovation of watch movements has been undeniable.

Rather than comparing quartz movements to automatic ones, it’s more sensible to examine and appreciate each as individuals.

Both types of movements have brought breakthroughs, discoveries, and advances to the field of watchmaking.

Good reasons for choosing Quartz

• Quartz watches are cheaper than automatic watches. It’s because the movements are less labour-intensive to make
• Quartz watches are extremely reliable and accurate when it comes to keeping time; while a good quartz watch may run 20 seconds off per month, a good automatic watch may be off by several minutes in a month
• Quartz watches require very little maintenance; you just need to change the battery every few years. Automatic watches, while they don’t have a battery, need servicing every 3-5 years

Good reasons for choosing Automatic

If automatic watches are more expensive, less reliable and accurate, and require more maintenance, why are watch aficionados and collectors so drawn to automatic watches?

Well, there’s a lot of emotion and subjectivity behind this preference. Here are some reasons:

• Automatic movements have a lot of craftsmanship and artistry behind them that has been developed over centuries
• Many mechanical movement makers have deep history and heritage
• Automatic watches are an impressive feat of engineering and there’s an allure to their mechanical character. Think about car enthusiasts’ preference for cars with manual transmissions over those with automatic transmissions, or think about how some people are super passionate about motorcycles but you won’t find the same passion for scooters
• Many automatic watches have a clear sapphire case back that lets you see the automatic movement gently oscillating while it’s at work, which is really cool
• Many people are captivated by the sweeping second hand on automatic watches. While a second hand on a quartz watch moves once per second, a second hand on a mechanical watch moves multiple times a second, giving the illusion of a sweeping motion. This is a sign that the watch is powered by a mechanical movement, and is something that is deeply appreciated by lovers of mechanical watches

Conclusion

Since quartz watches and automatic watches suit different needs and wants, the choice comes down to what you’re looking for.

Here at NP Fine Watches we offer a wide range of both Automatic and Quartz watches. We are sure you can find the perfect one for you!