Quartz watches can be found everywhere these days. When looking at the specs of a new watch, whether it’s quartz or not is usually one of the first details shared by the designer. But what exactly does that mean?
Well, that’s what we’re here to discuss.
Not only will this guide walk you through all the need-to-know’s of what quartz watches are and how they work, but we’ll also discuss what stuff you should look for when deciding on a new quartz timepiece.
After reading this article, you’ll know everything you need to in order to find the right quartz watch for your wrist (and you might even discover that this type of watch isn’t for you).
Alrighty, on to the good stuff.
What Is A Quartz Watch?
The term “quartz watch” sounds pretty fancy, but in reality it just means a watch that uses a battery. I take that back- when you think about it, when battery operated watches first came out, they really were fancy (and costed as much as a small car).
We take these watches for granted these days, but when Seiko introduced the first battery operated watch on Christmas day back in 1969, it was a very big deal.
Before this innovation, all watches had to be wound.
These mechanical watches still exist today, but to a much smaller degree, thanks to the brilliant minds at Seiko. Even the first battery operated watches where quartz and a similar technology is still used today.
I’m not an engineer, but basically how it works is that a small battery sends an electrical current through a tiny quartz crystal- when this happens, the crystal vibrates.
The quartz crystal vibrates at a very dependable frequency, which can be transformed through the use of circuits to move the second hand once every second.
And this consistent movement is used to run the watch and keep accurate time.
It actually sounds pretty sophisticated when you say it out loud.
These watches can be analog, digital, or anything in between. They can have calendars, stopwatches (chronographs), and other more advanced features. But remember:
If the watch is powered by a battery, it’s a quartz watch.
If it doesn’t use a battery, then it’s a mechanical watch. Mechanical watches can be manual or automatic, meaning you either have to wind them or the movement of your wrist automatically winds them.
By the way, you can tell a quartz watch by looking at the second hand: if the second pulses with each second (stops after each tick), then it’s a quartz watch. If the second hand moves continuously, then it’s a mechanical watch.
Benefits Of Quartz
Ok, so we know what quartz watches are, but are they worth buying? Many collectors and jewelers might have you think that you shouldn’t waste your money on a quartz watch. But these watches come with plenty of advantages:
Accuracy
Battery operated watches are usually very accurate. Even the most affordable quartz models are usually accurate to +/- 1 second per day (PS- there are 86,400 seconds in a day).
These levels of accuracy are pretty amazing and even the most advanced mechanical watches can’t match this (you’re average mechanical watch will be accurate to +/- 5 second per day).
But if you’re looking for even more time keeping precision, you can find high end quartz watches, like the Grand Seiko F series, that are accurate to +/- 10 seconds a year.
And then there are GPS watches, that use GPS signals to automatically set your watch depending on what time zone you’re in. Cool feature for the avid travelers and adventurers.
Low Maintenance
Mechanical watches have a lot more moving parts, so there’s a lot more that can go wrong. When things do go wrong, you’ll have to take your watch to a jeweler or watch repair shop.
Since quartz watches use batteries (and not springs) there are fewer gears and moving parts that can disrupted.
This makes these watches more durable and less likely to need repairs. The only real maintenance quartz watches need are changing the battery regularly.
Depending on the quality of the watch though, some collectors prefer to take their quartz watches in annually to be checked for function and accuracy (but that’s not necessary for casual use).
Less Expensive
One of the biggest and most obvious benefits to going with quartz is price- on average, quartz watches are significantly more affordable than their mechanical counterparts.
And this is because there are fewer moving parts in these watches. Fewer parts means it takes less money and man hours to create these watches.
You can find cheap battery operated watches for a few bucks. The Timex I’ve been wearing for work the last 5 years only costed about $30 and works great.
There are also plenty of classic looking, leather banded quartz options in the $100 – $200 range.
Don’t be fooled though- quartz watches can cost a pretty penny too.
For example, the Breitling Emergency Black Titanium watch, with dual frequency distress beacons, will cost ya roughly $18,000.
Digital
Another benefit of quartz watches is that they can be digital, something mechanical watches just can’t accomplish. Digital watches come in handy because it makes keeping time very simple.
They also work great for people who need timers and stopwatch functions or for kids watches.
Finding The Right Quartz Watch
If you’re looking for a quality quartz watch, there are a few characteristics or features you should consider when comparing different options:
Size
Watches come in all shapes and sizes. It’s a good idea to consider the case size (diameter of the watch face) before purchasing. Most men’s watches have case sizes in the 36-40mm range, but there are larger and smaller options available.
If you don’t have a watch to compare to, it might be a good idea to try a few on and see what you like.
There aren’t any right or wrong answers when it comes to size, just personal preference. Some folks like the feel of a large, heavy watch on their wrist. Others don’t.
The thickness of the case should also be considered. For example, if you’re looking for a dress watch, you might want a thinner watch that would be less likely to catch on shirt or suit sleeves.
Face Color
The face is the surface of the watch you see when you look through the crystal. The hour and second hands are on top of the face. Watch faces come in a wide variety of colors and they can really affect the overall style of the watch.
Common colors include white, beige, black, and blue (I want my next watch to have a blue face).
Crystal Material
Considering the crystal material is more of an issue when looking at higher-end quartz watches. But depending on what you’re looking at, you may have some options when it comes to the crystal.
The crystal is the window to the watch and it’s the part that’s most susceptible to wear and tear. There are 3 basic types of crystals used in watches: plastic (acrylic glass), mineral glass, and sapphire glass.
The plastic windows are the most affordable, but they scratch easily. Most watches use mineral glass because it’s more durable and higher end than plastic.
Sapphire glass is the nicest option, because it’s significantly more durable and scratch resistant, but it’s more expensive too.
Band
This is something you have to consider regardless of what type of watch you’re getting, but knowing whether you’d like a metal, cloth, leather, or sporty band can help you narrow your search.
Some quartz watches will allow you to swap out the bands or even choose between different bands when purchasing.
Metal bands are handy because you can rapidly put them on and take them off with the clasping mechanism. Leather bands are softer and sometimes more comfortable for users.
Water Resistance
Will you be swimming, bathing, fishing, or doing anything else near the water? If so, you may want to opt for a water resistance watch.
Water resistance varies on depth, with different watches being certified for different depths. Most are measured in meters, with some being able to go as deep as 300 m (1000 ft) or more.
Chronograph
A chronograph is just a fancier name for a stopwatch. A lot of analog quartz watches come with chronographs and the feature doesn’t really seem to affect price that much.
My Tag has a chronograph that I never use, but I like the look of it. Most folks will rarely have to use their chronograph, but having one (or not having one) definitely affects the overall look of the watch.
Final Thoughts
Watches are categorized based on the type of movement (or caliber) they utilize for power. In the case of quartz watches, a battery is used to send an electric signal through a quartz crystal, causing the crystal to vibrate.
This vibration is used to fuel the synchronous ticking of the second hand.
The use of batteries and quartz was a huge development in the evolution of the watch. Since their introduction in the late ’60s, they have continued to evolve and become more advanced.
These feats of engineering have become increasingly popular for several reasons, including the facts that they’re affordable, accurate, and very easy to use.
But there are also some very advanced (and very expensive) quartz watches out there.
And even though most serious watch collectors still gravitate toward mechanical models, the quartz watch still deserves its duly earned respect.