Tick tick What to Pick? Mechanical Watches vs. Quartz Watches
Every time you plan to buy a watch, a straightforward question that boggles the mind is whether you should buy a mechanical watch or a quartz watch. What is the best pick? These wristwatches offer unique characteristics, and it is essential to understand their mechanics and limitations to hit the best deal. This article discusses the similarities and differences between quartz and mechanical wristwatches regarding accuracy, maintenance, longevity, and craftsmanship to facilitate your decision. You will also find some interesting facts about these watches, but for that matter, you need to read till the end.
What is a Mechanical Watch?
A mechanical watch derives its energy from working from a mainspring. You have two options to wind it: either wind it manually, or it automatically winds due to the wrist movement of the wearer. Winding a watch helps store potential energy that runs the main components inside a watch, like gears, to maintain accuracy. The sweeping second hand is a highlighting feature of mechanical watches. This arm circles the dial smoothly, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship.
Fun Fact: Do you know a mechanical watch can have 200+ parts, sometimes all assembled by hand? Some watches show the next level of craftsmanship. One such example is a skeleton mechanical watch featuring a transparent back case, which reveals the entire working mechanism inside a mechanical watch.
What is a Quartz Watch?
A quartz watch relies on a small battery to transmit electric signals through a quartz crystal. The electric current causes the quartz crystal to oscillate at a precise frequency, which drives the movement of the watch's hands. Quartz watches are popular due to their low maintenance and precision.
Fun Fact: Did you know a quartz crystal oscillates 32,768 times each second? This level of accuracy is highly commendable. Every month, quartz watches lag behind only a few seconds, thus contributing to their overall precision compared to mechanical watches.
Comparison Table: Quartz vs. Mechanical Watches
| Quartz Watches | Mechanical Watches | |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | Quartz watches are the most accurate. Due to the precise vibration of the quartz crystal, the watch lags only a few seconds per month. Fun fact: Quartz crystals are trustworthy, even astronauts have worn them on space missions due to their accuracy. |
The inside complexity of the best mechanical watch leads to gaining or losing several seconds per day |
| Maintenance | Quartz is pocket-friendly when it comes to maintenance. Besides battery replacement that might occur every 1-2 years, quartz watches can tell accurate time for decades. Fun Fact: Mechanical watches, despite their hundreds of parts, make history. Mechanical watches are passed down in generations as heirloom pieces. |
Mechanical watches require regular maintenance. Regardless of manual or automatic winding, each of the mechanical watches requires servicing every 3-5 years. Fun Fact: Mechanical watches, despite their hundreds of parts, make history. Mechanical watches are passed down in generations as heirloom pieces. |
| Longevity | Quartz watches work on electrical components. Although quartz crystals and electrical components can survive years, they have a narrow lifeline compared to mechanical watches. Fun fact: The history of mechanical watches dates back as early as the 16th century. |
Mechanical watches win the title in this regard. With regular maintenance, mechanical watches can continue to survive for generations. Interestingly, quality mechanical watches can even outlive their owners. Fun fact: The history of mechanical watches dates back as early as the 16th century. |
| Craftsmanship | There is no rocket science involved in quartz watches. The working principle and ticking motion are straightforward. This is one of the reasons for the large-scale production of quartz watches. Fun fact: Some skeleton mechanical watches can fascinate you by showcasing all inner working mechanisms via transparent casing. |
Mechanical watches are a testament to exceptional engineering. A typical luxury mechanical watch comprises several moving parts precisely working in pairs with each other for years, even decades. |
What to Choose?
Choose quartz if you need an affordable, low-maintenance, highly accurate watch. If you value craftsmanship and aesthetics, a mechanical watch might be your best option.
A reliable watch is more than just a time-telling accessory; it reflects your style and aesthetic taste, as well as glimpses of history.