Introduction
If you’re just getting into watches, you’ll likely come across a common debate: quartz vs automatic watches.
At a glance, they both tell time. But under the surface, they’re powered by two totally different types of watch movements.
This quick guide will help you understand what sets them apart, how they work, and which one might be right for you.
What Is a Quartz Watch?
A quartz watch runs on a battery that sends an electric current through a tiny quartz crystal. This causes the crystal to vibrate at a precise frequency, which keeps the time accurate.
Pros of Quartz Watches:
- Highly accurate
- Low maintenance
- Usually more affordable
- Great for daily wear
Quartz is considered one of the best watch movement types if you want something reliable without the need for winding or wearing it daily.
What Is an Automatic Watch?
An automatic watch (also called a self-winding watch) is a type of mechanical watch movement. It uses a spring-driven mechanism that winds itself through the motion of your wrist.
Pros of Automatic Watches:
- No battery required
- Traditional craftsmanship
- Smooth sweeping second hand
- Often considered more collectible
Automatic watches tend to cost more, and they need regular wear or winding to keep running. But many enthusiasts love the artistry involved.
So, Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose quartz if you want convenience, affordability, and accuracy.
- Choose automatic if you appreciate traditional mechanics and plan to wear the watch often.
- Into vintage or craftsmanship? Try a manual mechanical watch for the purest artistry.
For first-time buyers, quartz is a great place to start - a majority of our curated watches have quartz mechanisms. But once you get deeper into watches, you might find yourself drawn to the intricate engineering of an automatic or pure mechanical.
Want to explore top picks by movement type?
Check out our Blackout or Chronograph collections for quartz watches (all feature quartz movements), or browse our Affordable Automatics.
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