Rediscovering Quartz Movements

3966 Views 67 Replies 55 Participants Last post by Vario, 4 mo ago

nachob

Discussion Starter · 4 mo ago

A few years back, I switched to Quartz movements, they were always ready to go, less maintenance and more rugged, then recently I went back to vintage watches. Winding every day, re-setting the time every other day, finding a dependable place to maintain them that I trust and does good work etc. I do like winding the watches and hearing the tik, tik sound but my last purchase was a Seiko Quartz Mechanical RAF issues watch and man, I know Quartz is looked down up by the congnoscenti, but I have renewed appreciation for them. I pick it up and it is exactly on time, every day. Just strap it on and go...there is something tool-ish and cool about it as well. I think it was nice to get away from them for a bit and now I have renewed appreciation for them. If I was going camping for example with no phone to sync with, I would take my Quartz field watch any day.

Reactions: 5

1 - 20 of 68 Posts

Pontificator

· #2 · 4 mo ago

But...but... you'll have to change the battery!

Reactions: 5

usccopeland

· #3 · 4 mo ago

It's a requirement that I have some quartz options in my collection. I don't wear them as much as my mechanicals but they are always ready and available when the time comes.

Reactions: 5

q child

· #4 · 4 mo ago

I also like quartz. I'm pretty new to watches, and I've already come full circle on quartz. Starting out thinking that quartz is great and low-maintenance and even desirable. Then transitioned into prioritizing mechanical movements as I gained understanding and fascination of the marvels of mechanical engineering that even low end mechanical watches are. Now I see the value in both and have space in my collection for these fundamentally different technologies that achieve the same end. There is beauty in quartz too - they are marvels of electrical engineering.

Reactions: 4

osamu

· #5 · 4 mo ago

After many years of being a "mechanical only" person, I definitely have switched back to a lot of quartz. I feel like I got back into watches because of the interest in the mechanisms, but started being more reliant on something that actually tells the time on my wrist. If the goal is to know the time on your wrist, quartz is probably almost in everyway better than a mechanical will be. Especially if you go solar/atomic/GPS/high accuracy. Also the thought of having to service like 15 mechanical watches (of which maybe only a handful I would actually service vs. just wait for something to go wrong), became a bit overwhelming, and the quartz watch became also more appealing to add to a bigger collection.

Now I'm probably 75% mechanical, 25% quartz, but probably the quartz segment will be the one to grow in the future.

Reactions: 4

misterbb

· #6 · 4 mo ago

My 2023 resolution is to wear quartz more. So far it's going poorly but I have a Bertucci in the mail.

I think quartz is going to make a big comeback, once all the people that got into watches between '20 and '22 start to actually use watches to tell the time, and get due for a service.

I predict Rolex will release a new quartz watch in the next 18 months, they're getting away from innovation through colorful dials and doing real caliber **** (though who cares about Rolex amirite? If you want a fancy quartz get a Citizen or GS or Longines or Bulova)

Reactions: 3

Earthjade

· #7 · 4 mo ago

I like quartz, but it has to be special in some way, not just a simple battery-driven movement three hander, unless that three hander looks amazing (like a Tissot PRX). For example:

Solar quartz
Quartz chronograph with sub-seconds dial
Hi-beat quartz movements like the Seiko VH31
Long-life lithium quartz (10 year batter life)
Fluid-filled quartz watch
Some unusual art-piece watch, like a Mr Jones Watch.

Reactions: 2

MKTime

· #8 · 4 mo ago

I'm kinda partial to Hand Wound lately. But Quartz is attracting me too - both because the price is much more attractive for a watch that looks the same, and because I don't need to worry about it but once every 3 years or so. Solar even less so.

Reactions: 1

Tom V.

· #9 · 4 mo ago

nachob said:
A few years back, I switched to Quartz movements, they were always ready to go, less maintenance and more rugged, then recently I went back to vintage watches. Winding every day, re-setting the time every other day, finding a dependable place to maintain them that I trust and does good work etc. I do like winding the watches and hearing the tik, tik sound but my last purchase was a Seiko Quartz Mechanical RAF issues watch and man, I know Quartz is looked down up by the congnoscenti, but I have renewed appreciation for them. I pick it up and it is exactly on time, every day. Just strap it on and go...there is something tool-ish and cool about it as well. I think it was nice to get away from them for a bit and now I have renewed appreciation for them. If I was going camping for example with no phone to sync with, I would take my Quartz field watch any day.

I have always appreciated quartz. at least one has been in my collection for years. Lately, I have been thinking of selling off the autos and just using quartz. So much less hassle. We'll see how it turns out

Tom V.

Reactions: 1

Seabee1

· #10 · 4 mo ago

nachob said:
A few years back, I switched to Quartz movements, they were always ready to go, less maintenance and more rugged, then recently I went back to vintage watches. Winding every day, re-setting the time every other day, finding a dependable place to maintain them that I trust and does good work etc. I do like winding the watches and hearing the tik, tik sound but my last purchase was a Seiko Quartz Mechanical RAF issues watch and man, I know Quartz is looked down up by the congnoscenti, but I have renewed appreciation for them. I pick it up and it is exactly on time, every day. Just strap it on and go...there is something tool-ish and cool about it as well. I think it was nice to get away from them for a bit and now I have renewed appreciation for them. If I was going camping for example with no phone to sync with, I would take my Quartz field watch any day.

and only the true cognoscenti know how to pronounce it
x-33

Watch Analog watch Clock Watch accessory Material property

See less See more

Reactions: 1

jcp123

· #11 · 4 mo ago

I come from a mechanical background, so when I started getting into watches…once I learned how quartz and mechanical worked, I naturally gravitated towards mechanical. Quartz sucks with battery changes…so ideally it would be solar or some kind of spring drive-ish kinetic…but I’ve grown to really appreciate quartz for allowing a quick and cheap breadth of styles and colors to cover anything I might want to wear/do, and of course for allowing either a quick reference to set mechanicals to, or just a straight grab and go. But those battery changes still suck.

Reactions: 1

Trhatf

· #12 · 4 mo ago

nachob said:
I know Quartz is looked down up by the congnoscenti

There was a time when quartz watches were considered marvels and often exceeded mechanical watches in cost. Case in point……

Watch Hand Analog watch Product Clock

See less See more

Reactions: 5

b1rdman973

· #13 · 4 mo ago

Prior to getting into this “hobby” all I knew were quartz watches and I didn’t even understand how they worked. I too of course like many of you became fascinated with mechanical/automatic watches as I dove down the rabbit hole. I now fully appreciate both and my collection is pretty evenly split, if anything I have more quartz than mechanical. And I keep thinking “mechanical/autos are great, but quartz is also great and just simpler to own/use etc.”. Having said that I think my collection will always include both. And those funky in between ones like my Timex Electric, truly an in between oddity!

Watch Brown Analog watch Clock Watch accessory

See less See more

Reactions: 2

GregJ

· #14 · 4 mo ago

I wonder if quartz watches will once again become preferred. I would actually buy more watches if they were offered in quartz just because the movement is cheaper.

I bought a Vaer Atlas automatic. The quartz version is a significantly cheaper. The same is true with my Hamilton Khaki and Viewmatic watches. I could have bought another one or two watches with the savings on the movement.

Better performance, cheaper maintenance, and cheaper cost to acquire. duh.

Reactions: 1

davinator65

· #15 · 4 mo ago

There is nothing wrong with having or liking a quartz watch. Granted my mechanical watches way out number my quartz pieces at 5 to 1, but I still have 10 of them.

b1rdman973

· #16 · 4 mo ago

@GregJ As the owner of a quartz Hamilton Khaki I completely agree. Though the autos can be had cheaply on the gray market I’m very happy with my quartz!

Watch Analog watch Clock Watch accessory Font

See less See more

Reactions: 2

spoolmakdays

· #17 · 4 mo ago

I go through phases. Right now, I'm into digital displays. I find that I can figure out the time quicker with a digital display, as opposed to a traditional dial and hands. Plus, I like the added accuracy and solar charging.

fabslife

· #18 · 4 mo ago

Love my quartz Aquaracer 300m.

Reactions: 1

jungleasiangarage

· #19 · 4 mo ago

I also find myself going through phases, depending on my mood

Nightwolf2369

· #20 · 4 mo ago

I love quartz. A lot of variety in the offerings. My whole collection was quartz until I just added my first hand-wound and first automatic. I will likely add some more autos but ill always have a large selection of quartz pieces I feel like.

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 68 Posts