Automatic or Quartz?

brainer

Member
I am new to watch collecting but everything I read pretty much discounts quartz watches for the serious collector. Given the technical superiority of quartz along with the resistance to impacts, is there a place for a quartz watch as a luxury timepiece, or only as your "ditch digger " to protect your "real watches"?
 

JBROO

Silver Member
I am new to watch collecting but everything I read pretty much discounts quartz watches for the serious collector. Given the technical superiority of quartz along with the resistance to impacts, is there a place for a quartz watch as a luxury timepiece, or only as your "ditch digger " to protect your "real watches"?
What you have read is correctšŸ˜‰
 

TimeCaptain

Black Diamond Member
I can only speak for myself, but my collection will always have multiple quartz watches.
My Longines VHP chronograph quartz is among my favourite ever watches.
I had a Grand Seiko 9F Sport quartz for a short while and I definitely want another one of those…
 

TimeCaptain

Black Diamond Member
And I would add…..it should be MECHANICAL vs. Quartz. Because you can have manually wound mechanical movements.
In fact, I always felt that automatic is a gimmick. I would choose manual over automatic, if given the choice, for absolutely any watch at all.
 

Gunderscore

Silver Member
Both.

BUT what you really need are:
  1. Balance wheel electric!
    1. You need sparks on your wrist!
  2. Tuning forks!!
    1. Hummmmmm!
Have fun going down those rabbit holes.

Many great quartz out there, including:
img_20260213_082747_mp-jpg.282225
 

MrYYZ

Black Diamond Member
I do like how GS continues to experiment and perfect their quartz movements, rather than consigning them to the garbage bin. Not only are they highly accurate, but they’re great to grab and go, and too to set your automatics and mechanicals by.IMG_0051.jpeg

IMG_2582.jpeg
 

haven_seeker

Black Diamond Member
I do like how GS continues to experiment and perfect their quartz movements, rather than consigning them to the garbage bin. Not only are they highly accurate, but they’re great to grab and go, and too to set your automatics and mechanicals by.View attachment 304523

View attachment 304527
If GS made solid yellow gold quartz watches with bracelets…it’d probably be an end game watch for me.

There’s some YG cases but not much for bracelets to go with those lovely cases.

Though it’s not a quartz, I really want to have this dial back in my life again:
IMG_5805.jpeg


I will get there!!
 

SPARTAN

Charter Member
I like all watches.... I got this one for the fun the of it the other day .... I just cannot bond with it.
Has a great fit and has amazing specs .... I don't know what it is, I'm trying really hard

Screenshot_20260814_190803_Photos.jpg
 
Last edited:

Badenoch

Gold Member
The quartz vs. automatic/mechanical is an intellectual vs. emotional discussion.

Intellectually, the quartz is the superior timepiece. It is more durable, more accurate and with few exceptions less expensive. Throw in solar and atomic timekeeping or GPS and the quartz becomes even better.

Emotionally, there is a certain appeal in not having every element of your life controlled by fast-moving electrons and appreciating the excellence that can be achieved with coiled springs and gears powered by mechanical kinetic energy. The automatic/mechanical watch traces its history to the early 16th century when Peter Henlein created the first portable timepiece and there is something appealing about being a distant part of that lineage.

Both quartz and automatic/mechanical have their place in the grand scheme of things. Only the foolish would dismiss or disparage either.
 
Last edited:
Top