Quartz?

[Goodwatch]

If it’s quartz, it ain’t a real watch! True? Are we only enchanted by the mechanical watch? Preferably a chronometer? Some of the higher end brands that started to produce analogue quartz watches in the seventies, in an attempt to stop the tidal wave of cheap watches from Japan, promptly stopped when the mechanical watch entered its renaissance.

Omega still makes quartz versions, as does Breitling (very well executed, only a 15-second deviation a year). But I get the feeling that analogue quartz watches are on a lower plane than their mechanical siblings.

Rolex, and I must grand them that, never panicked and although they produced a quartz model, it only played a marginal role.

There were a couple of ‘mega quartz’ models from various makers, achieving astonishing accuracy. Think of <4-second deviation a year. No mechanical wrist chronometer could ever achieve this but yet these watches faded away into history.

There’s something irrational about the mechanical watch. If it is about time keeping alone, why not buy a (less expensive) quartz watch that is much more accurate and relatively maintenance free to boot?

What do you think? Leaving all those cheap 10 dollar imports out of the equation and concentrating only on the ‘better’ watches, will an analogue quartz watch ever gain the same status as the mechanical watch? From a WIS point of view that is.

[Rockrolex]

I would have to say, probably not. I think it's the complexity of the mechanicals that make them so interesting and wonderful to behold.

I own a number of quartz watches, all but one of which are analog (although most) are ana-digi. Granted most of them are Casios, but I have a reasonably good Citizen Skyhawk and an Omega X-33.

But my daily wearers are generally my mechanicals.

[BigHat]

I love the idea of a super high tech quartz watch with all the bells and whistles. A super COSC cert. for quartz (better than now) would be interesting.

If I really needed to depend on a watch, it wouldn't be anything other than quartz, that's why I have a few of them. A "bugout bag" watch. The mech watches are fun though.

Some around here can't understand, but liking what quartz can do doesn't automatically disparage mech watches. Next watch highly likely will be another mech model.

[Letsgodiving]

I can't see it but the line has been blurring somewhat between mechanical and quartz with Kinetic and Seiko's Spring drive but you're right there is just something about a mechanical watch.

When I was a kid I used to think of it as if I were ever to be stranded on a deserted island my mechanical watch would work for however many years I was there until rescue. The guys with batteries would be SOL. Little did I realize it would probably be off by a few days but no need for details when you are kid.

[cody p]

there's a few quartz that i'd like for my collection: omega x-33, citizen chronomaster, seiko spring drive (ok it's a mech-quartz hybrid), grand seiko cal. 9f83... but if i could only have/keep one it would be my rolex - and no it's not an oyster quartz, although, come to think of it, i'd like to own one of those too.

[East Bay Rider]

I like gears and springs but I have to admit that with the newest innovations like atomic timekeeping and solar power, these newest electronic watches are probably the best bang for the buck.

[explodingtaco]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

Think of <4-second deviation a year. No mechanical wrist chronometer could ever achieve this . . .

YET

[Perdu]

I certainly would'nt say no to an X-33 and Grand Seiko or a thermally compensated Breitling. Nothing wrong with Quatrz.

[Jimbits76]

Omega quartz SeaMasters seem really expensive.

£1000 new for a quartz watch....is that too much to pay?????????

J

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by Perdu

I certainly would'nt say no to an X-33 and Grand Seiko or a thermally compensated Breitling. Nothing wrong with Quatrz.

A Grand Seiko is a mechanical watch.

There are some nice quartz, and I own a Citizen, Hamilton and G-Shock. All that said, I too prefer mechanical for most of my applications these days.

[Perdu]

Originally Posted by DSJ

A Grand Seiko is a mechanical watch.

There are some nice quartz, and I own a Citizen, Hamilton and G-Shock. All that said, I too prefer mechanical for most of my applications these days.

I think there is a quartz Grand Seiko. I saw one in a japanese Seiko brochure.

[steelrolex]

I don't think so. If quartz watches were around 50/60 years ago how many would still have the original movement and be able to use new batteries without any mods? I love mechanical watches but I don't have anything against quartz.

[GradyPhilpott]

I like quartz, but my interests are returning to mechanical, much to my surprise, but I was warned when I joined my first watch forum that it would happen.

Still, quartz stability is a boon and if you add radio-control and solar power, you've got a heck of a combination.

If you like watches, I don't see how you cannot find interest in both.

Here's an interesting article for those who've never seen it.

http://forums.timezone.com/index.php...61#msg_1410426

[Irish Dan]

Thanks for the link Grady, I enjoyed that.

[Mr. K]

I love both mechanical and quartz. If I could only have one, I'd go with mechanical, but lucky for me I am not limited to just one.

Just like, "if" I could have only one watch, it would be a Rolex, but still I would miss my others.

To answer the question, in the WIS world, I do not think quartz holds the same status as mechanical. Will it ever? Maybe, but probably not for awhile.

I own a quarts Omega SMP, Breitling thermocomensated chronometer Colt II, and a high frequency Seiko Brightz from Japan. And I love them all. I owned a couple OQ too, and loved those as well.

Quartz has a place in my collection and I can say I would miss them if I did not have them. It is up to each individual how you want to create your collection, and I choose to have a few quartz watches.

I for one hope that with time, high end quartz will make it into more WIS collections.

[BigHat]

What were/are the quartz watches that were accurate to 4 secs a year? Not any of the atomic synching I hope.

[TheDude]

This is a -serious- quartz watch. Better movement than the Breitling.


"The Citizen" - also goes by the name Chronomaster.




http://www.higuchi-inc.com/thecitizen.html



This Grand Seiko is supposedly quartz. Looks to be a half-millie... :)

Attractive no?

[Flash Gordon]

My Cartier is the only quartz watch that I bought over 2 decades ago. However, I feel I would much prefer to own a mechanical watch than quartz for serveral reasons:

1. Periodically changing of battery is not good for the watch, the case gets scratched, the screws in the back of my Cartier are visibly aged due to the screw driver, open and close the case every two years or so is also a costly operation especially you own a Cartier or other expensive quartz.

2. Quartz is a much cheaper movement compared to the mechanical movement of the same make. However, brands like Cartier charge a lot of money for a cheap quartz movement that they don't even make! I feel you get much better "value" for a mechanical watch than a quartz one. Heck, putting a quartz movement in a luxury (expensive) watch, is short changing the customer! My 0.02.

My 0.02

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by Flash Gordon

My Cartier is the only quartz watch that I bought over 2 decades ago. However, I feel I would much prefer to own a mechanical watch than quartz for several reasons:

1. Periodically changing of battery is not good for the watch, the case gets scratched, the screws in the back of my Cartier are visibly aged due to the screw driver, open and close the case every two years or so is also a costly operation especially you own a Cartier or other expensive quartz.

2. Quartz is a much cheaper movement compared to the mechanical movement of the same make. However, brands like Cartier charge a lot of money for a cheap quartz movement that they don't even make! I feel you get much better "value" for a mechanical watch than a quartz one. Heck, putting a quartz movement in a luxury (expensive) watch, is short changing the customer! My 0.02.

My 0.02

Those two cents are made of pure gold!

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by TheDude

This is a -serious- quartz watch. Better movement than the Breitling.


"The Citizen" - also goes by the name Chronomaster.




http://www.higuchi-inc.com/thecitizen.html



This Grand Seiko is supposedly quartz. Looks to be a half-millie... :)

Attractive no?

Thanks! I've asked for a quote on the Citizen as this one of my favourite no-nonsense quality brands

[cody p]

Originally Posted by Flash Gordon

My Cartier is the only quartz watch that I bought over 2 decades ago. However, I feel I would much prefer to own a mechanical watch than quartz for serveral reasons:

1. Periodically changing of battery is not good for the watch, the case gets scratched, the screws in the back of my Cartier are visibly aged due to the screw driver, open and close the case every two years or so is also a costly operation especially you own a Cartier or other expensive quartz.

2. Quartz is a much cheaper movement compared to the mechanical movement of the same make. However, brands like Cartier charge a lot of money for a cheap quartz movement that they don't even make! I feel you get much better "value" for a mechanical watch than a quartz one. Heck, putting a quartz movement in a luxury (expensive) watch, is short changing the customer! My 0.02.

My 0.02

i tend to agree, especially with your second point. i have a tag f1 which i bought a couple of years ago for about $800 can. MY BAD! the quartz movement in it is an eta F06.111. it is a low end eta quartz movement that can be purchased for approx $17 us from a watchmaker supply company. it has worked well and is accurate to 1 sec a month, but $800 for that watch, i don't think so.