There are a few types of higher end quartz movements, each with their own advantages. There are HAQ (high accuracy quartz movements) that are thermo-compensated, so they only lose about a second or so a month, instead of the normal quartz accuracy of about 15 seconds a month. This is about the same difference in degree between a chronometer mechanical and a cheap mechanical, only over a month instead of a day. There are also solar powered movements which don't require a battery change for 15-20 years, super convenient. Radio, GPS, or Bluetooth controlled movements received a wireless signal every day to keep the time exactly accurate. Bulova has a high frequency movement that is more accurate than normal quartz, and also makes the second hand smoothly sweep instead of tick.

Other than the movement, expensive quartz watches also will have much higher levels of finishing and higher qualities of materials used in the construction of the case, crystal, and strap/bracelet.

Here's an example: solar-powered, radio-controlled, with a titanium case, sapphire crystal, and a high quality bracelet with ratcheting extension clasp. Citizen Promaster PMD56-2951.

 

It's all relative. It's easy to see a +/-15 seconds per month basic quartz as being "not far behind" a HAQ, but if you are an accuracy nut, it's not even close. If I never reset my Conquest, it should still not be a full minute off 10 years from now.

 

Indeed. A significant question to ask oneself is: are you interested in intrinsic accuracy? I've spent enough time on WUS to know that the answer for most here is "no." (Indeed, there's an argument raging about this in f2 as I type this.) That's okay, of course. We're all our own people. But for some of us, to paraphrase what Townsend Whelen said of rifles, "Only accurate watches are interesting."

Now it's true I make some exceptions to that adage, especially for cheaper watches of any given technology (quartz or mechanical for now, but I hope someday to venture into hummers and other early electrics), but do I really find those cheap and cheerful watches - again, of any given technology and that technology's inherent limitations - interesting, or merely cheap and cheerful? Rather the latter, I think. I own many watches I like but don't find interesting enough to obsess about.

I had a spring drive for about a year that consistently kept plus three to four seconds a month... Pretty much beat out all quartz watches that I owned..But then again I have very cheap quartz watches

Well, a spring drive is a quartz watch, so it sounds like it was simply your best. As a near-future spring drive owner (waiting on build and delivery), I'm pleased to hear this though, because that ain't far from HAQ standards. b-)

Oh really???
The better finish is non existent unless you look through a jeweler's loupe? May I suggest a visit to an eye doctor to rule out the retinal detachment, because this is without any magnification. And the cases and dials are hand finished.
Excuse the muck on the outside of the case...

I certainly see that movement finishing on a 9F Grand Seiko far exceeds anything and is in no way comparable to an unjeweled Y121 metal/plastic movement inside a 40 euro Lorus watch.

Agree with both.

Yet when we forget about thermocompensation/HAQ-functionality for a while, would the quartz movement inside a Cartier Tank be in any way a better timekeeper than that Y121 inside a Lorus? Sure it will look nicer and sure it could be repaired (though I think Cartier would simply replace a defunct quartz movement), but will it keep better time? I highly doubt it.

This is why it's a tragedy that the post-quartz-crisis wagon circling around mechanicals has - with a few notable exceptions - deflated the desire of high-end manufacturers to produce high-accuracy quartz instead of simply high-profit-margin quartz (or a higher profit margin absence of quartz at all). The passing of the Oysterquartz was a watershed moment, and not in a good way at all.

 

I had a spring drive for about a year that consistently kept plus three to four seconds a month... Pretty much beat out all quartz watches that I owned..But then again I have very cheap quartz watches

 

I have a nothin'-fancy ETA quartz chrono that keeps within 30 seconds per year. Not thermo-compensated, not HAQ, not COSC. Luck of the draw, I guess.

 

There’s a happy medium, perhaps represented by the Tuna, between the cheap as chips quarts movements and the HAQ thermometer compensated ones.

 

I would consider a quality quartz one that is designed to be long lasting and serviceable and designed for maximum autonomous accuracy. It would have the following features:

Fully jeweled bearings on moving parts
Thermo-compensation
Capability of being adjusted/calibrated

Other features that are a step above throw-away quartz would be GPS or radio receiver modules or perpetual calendar functions.

 

Well put, accuracy over a month is not the only determining factor.

 

Look at the HAQ sub forum on this site if you want to learn more about "quality" quartz movements.

 

See post title. A reasonably cheap Japanese or Swiss quartz caliber inside a Seiko or Tissot can keep on ticking very accurately for decades without any problems. So can a 5035 inside a Rolex Oysterquartz or something like The Citizen Chronomaster.

What then makes it that one is considered to be of lesser quality than the other? In the end the degree of accuracy over a given period between a cheap mass produced quartz movement and something far more expensive, is far more even in quartz watches when compared to mechanical watches.

In other words, when worn on the wrist, a very high end quartz movement will not be capable of keeping a whole lot better time than a cheap movement inside some Casio. At least not in the degree in which a Swiss chronometer automatic movement will keep better time than for example a standard unadjusted Seiko 7S26.

So when a low end quartz is performance wise not very far behind the high-end stuff and when both keep on ticking for decades, why would anyone want to buy a very expensive quartz watch? Is just prestige?

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All in all you are paying for the Name, Finishing (Hand or machine), and Quality when you buy any watch Quartz or Mechanical. That being said:

+/-5 Seconds a year on a Citizen Chronomaster HAQ is a big jump from +/-15 Seconds a month for normal Quartz.

Then you can add complications. My Citizen HAQ also has Perpetual Calendar, and Power reserve indicator (for solar charge). They are hidden features that you activate by a small pusher and from the crown.

Also has a power saving feature where, when in the dark for an extended time, hands move to 12 and do not tick for up to 5 years. When once again exposed to the light the return to the correct time and date.

Also, expensive is a matter of reference. The Chronomasters go for under $3000. Far less than the Rolex, PP and VC alternatives.

I know the FP Journe has a expensive well finished quartz. For about $12000 you get some very unique features... but ultimately you are paying for it because its a FPJ.

 

why would anyone want to buy a very expensive quartz watch? Is just prestige?

YES!Our hobby is DOMINATED by the idea that more $ = better watch.The fact is that the so called "better finish"is non existent unless you admire the watch through a jewelers loop & unless HAQ,movements are either the same or house modified..

 

Why? Usually fit and finish, but in terms of movement, things like HAQ or GS's spring drive are good reasons.

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Oh really???
The better finish is non existent unless you look through a jeweler’s loupe? May I suggest a visit to an eye doctor to rule out the retinal detachment, because this is without any magnification. And the cases and dials are hand finished.
Excuse the muck on the outside of the case...

 

1% or better and Hi-Rel components.

 

I certainly see that movement finishing on a 9F Grand Seiko far exceeds anything and is in no way comparable to an unjeweled Y121 metal/plastic movement inside a 40 euro Lorus watch.

Yet when we forget about thermocompensation/HAQ-functionality for a while, would the quartz movement inside a Cartier Tank be in any way a better timekeeper than that Y121 inside a Lorus? Sure it will look nicer and sure it could be repaired (though I think Cartier would simply replace a defunct quartz movement), but will it keep better time? I highly doubt it.

 

Seems like it would be a function of cost, accuracy, durability. My 1997 Citizen Eco-Drive is running like a charm 22 years later, gains maybe a few seconds a month. Rough calculation is that this watch has cost me $0.03/day to own. That meets my quality standard but may not meet an accuracy 'aficionado's' standard. Like so much of this hobby, quality, value, beauty is arbitrary. Accuracy at least has some objective standard against which to compare (e.g. an atomic clock). Then again, Einstein might argue...

 

ETA has Trendline, Fashionline, and Flatline. Trendline and Fashionline are entry level.

From ETA's Trendline page:
The Trendline range contains entry-level quartz movements made of composite material (synthetic spacer, main plate and bridges in brass) at great value for money. They all include calibres with three hands, with or without date, available in five sizes ranging from 7¾''' to 13¼'''.

Note that these include all the F0x movements...which covers the PreciDrive movements for Certina and Tissot, and the movements for Rado. F06.412: PreciDrive and HeavyDrive (their new shock correction feature), 2.5 mm , 3 jewels, 5 1/2 or ~ 8 year battery life, depending on battery chemistry.

From the Flatline page:
Flatline consists of a selection of high-end brass movements. They are extremely thin and customisable, but are also removable and repairable. These movements are perfect for use in elegant watches.

These are the E6x movements. Longines uses some of them, IIRC. PreciDrive is in here too. E64.111 is the same size as the F06 (and it's in the Aqua Terra quartz). PreciDrive, 1.95 mm, 8 jewels, 41 or 57 month battery life...which may reflect that these movements are older, I believe, OR that they have a more robust motor capable of driving heavier hands. Not sure.

Fashionline description:

ETA's quartz movements in the Fashionline range are our lowest-price products. They are removable and are made with a synthetic base.

This product line includes a large selection of calibres ranging from simple models with two hands to those with multi-function chronographs such as fly-back, lap- timer, GMT and moon phase.

Although they are entry-level and affordable, the Fashionline chronographs still incorporate the exclusive ETA embedded technology: PreciDrive and/or PowerDrive.


So with ETA, you're looking at building for greater durability overall. Complexity and accuracy are not issues. I think you'll find much the same with Ronda, but haven't looked.

With Grand Seiko, the 9F movements are expected to be maintenance-free for 50 years, other than battery changes. The hands are still getting Zaratsu polishing. The Chronomasters have some beautiful dial work.

When you move up to the infrequent models from the haute horlogerie makers...the finishing is a good chunk. Presumably they're durable, too. But you're also paying for some surprises...the Journe's bridges are done in *red gold* for example. 2 separate rotors drive the hands, separate from the small seconds. Built in feature to stop the hands (but not the movement) when the watch is idle...extending an already long 10 year battery life. So there's technical tweaks in here...and they had to be developed, which ain't cheap, and they're not amortized over 100,000 copies a year. Plus, of course, you're getting cases, dials, and hands that are several cuts above.

 

Bulova Precisionist is terrific, with a lovely smooth sweep of the second hand. Handsome design, and oh yeah...$159 at Kohls.com.

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Had the black one for a while. Yes, the sweep is the smoothest I've ever seen, and it's intoxicating to watch. There are examples on YouTunes.

I do have the Lunar Pilot, but rarely wear it. Accurate AF. Only have it because I'm a space geek who can't afford a SMP.

But, like nearly all Bulovas, neither one is properly sized for my puny 6.75" wrists. I think you need to be a "thicc boy" to fully enjoy Bulova (> 7").

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Hi

Bulova's 262khz quartz movements are streets ahead of the average, and the "sweeping" secondhand is actually very nice indeed, if not quite as magical as the Seiko SD.

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My son bought me a cheap quartz watch several years ago at the mall. It was a nice looking piece but I only wore it a few times. That little thing kept near perfect time for over two years. So I don't know what a quality quartz is because that thing had remarkable accuracy for a $20 watch. I suppose my Bulova Accutron would be considered a great quartz.

 

Without having read through most of the previous responses...

Characteristics of a Quality Quartz Movement:
1. Accuracy. Like +/- 10 spy would be High Accuracy Quartz.
2. Precision. The second hand hits the markers dead-on. The hour and minute hands point to the right place at the right time. This implies alignment at the factory.
3. The second hand doesn't "bounce." This implies some sort of damping or low backlash in the motor and gears.
4. Shock resistance. While quartz is inherently more shock resistant than mechanical, the way the hands are attached and the movement mounted in the case go a long way to ensure durability. G-Shock is an extreme example.
5. Low battery level warning. A movement that simply quits leaves the user to question whether it's a problem with the movement or with the battery.
6. Long battery life or solar power. Changing batteries is a pain. Technology exists to eliminate frequent battery changes. Oh, that all moderate to higher priced quartz watches would incorporate that technology.
7. Ease of adjustment. Aside from accuracy and precision, it shouldn't require a Ph.D. to adjust the time, switch between standard and daylight savings, change the date, etc.
8. Additional features. Not necessarily a quality thing, because quality doesn't necessarily equate to additional features, but it does add to the desirability factor. World time. Chronometer. Timer. Alarms. Altitude. Barometric Pressure. Temperature.

 

Apart from different functionality (GPS, BT, thermocompensation, perpetual claendar, solar charging etc.) difference in quality comes in quality of parts.
cheap ones have some plastic gears and no jewels in case of ETA the more you climb the more expensive you acquire your jewel count rises, all metal build and longer battery life appear.
Basically as with mechanical watches your gears are made out of better material, longevity of the watch is on the rise and more hand made/ stricter QA appear.
Thermocompensation, high frequency resonator have nothing to do with quality, rather get you better watch in general.
Quartz could be very different thing. From dumb mechanical like watches to advanced multi motor self sustained auto corrected marvels which you only set once.
Outside quality lume, case material, fit and finish are same as in mechanical watch so there is nothing to discuss here.
Frankly better internals is exactly as in mechanical watches... better materials accompany higher graded models.

 

I have 7.5” wrists and that’s borderline for the Lunar Pilot. I do love that on days when I can’t make a decision or am running late, I can grab one of these and all is well!


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For me quality quartz movements were the omega marine chronometer megaquartz which achieved an accuracy of less than 12 seconds per year and the rolex oysterquartz. The Brteitling superquartz are just rebadged eta quartz calibers with no real improvements that make them as good the Omega megaquartz or the Rolex Oysterquartz. Those are the two most collectible quartz movements

 

I certainly know my Tuna is a robust quartz movement that requires virtually no service and runs like a top--

 

+/- 5 seconds per year. Definitely worth it.