The Great Watch Debate: Mechanical or Quartz?

The wristwatch has been around for the better part of a century, offering a convenient, stylish way to tell the time, wherever you happen to be. With the advent of the modern smartphone, many predicted that this particular piece of technology might be consigned to the dustbin – but, instead, the humble watch has gone from strength to strength.

If you’re an enthusiast in the market for a watch, then you might find yourself choosing between two competing options: the mechanical watch, and its quartz equivalent. Let’s take a look at both, and assess their relative strengths and weaknesses.

Understanding the Movements: Mechanical vs. Quartz

Mechanical watches work in a completely different way from quartz ones. This is often evident in the way that the hands move. While the hands of a mechanical watch might move in a semi-continuous sweep, those of a quartz one will tend to tick up, second by second. This is most evident in the second hand.

In fact, this difference can often help you to tell a fake mechanical watch from a genuine one. If the hands move like those of a quartz watch, then the chances are good that it actually is a quartz watch, underneath it all.

Accuracy and Reliability: Which Keeps Better Time?

Quartz watches work via an oscillating crystal, which receives electrical current from a battery. By monitoring the movements of the crystal, the watch can determine how long a second is, what a minute is, and what an hour is. Consequently, you’ll tend to find peerless accuracy on a quartz watch. The timekeeping power of a mechanical watch, meanwhile, will tend to depend on the quality of the actual mechanism. If you’re investing in a hand-wound watch, of course, you’ll need to regularly wind it if you want to be able to tell the time accurately.

Maintenance and Longevity: What to Expect

For mechanical watches to thrive, they will need to be serviced every so often. This will help to reduce friction, and, by extension, wear and tear. Quartz watches have far fewer moving parts, but they will need to have their batteries replaced. If you’re buying pre-owned watches, whether they’re mechanical or not, you can put some of your savings toward preventative maintenance. In many cases, doing so might afford you access to watches that will actually hold their value better in the long term.

Cultural and Aesthetic Appeal: More Than Just Timekeeping

In many cases, the appeal of a quality watch will stem not just from its ability to accurately report the time. When you buy an Omega, a Rolex, or a Patek Phillippe, you’re buying a prestigious piece of engineering that expresses a rich heritage. These are assets that hold their value magnificently – and that might be passed on to children and grandchildren.

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