The Problem With Quartz
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- Опубліковано 3 лип 2018
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See below for full list of watches shown.
When you’re new to watches, and someone tells you that the watch you adore is horrible because it's quartz. It can be confusing. So this is an attempt to explain why there is such a disconnect in the greater watch enthusiast community when it comes to quartz.
This is also a greatest hits of watches from my videos, as well as a preview of some watches to come.
Watches shown in order of appearance:
Filson Mackinaw:
Seiko 5 SRPB89k (on Amazon): amzn.to/2lSM8Jp
Pagani Design : s.click.aliexpress.com/e/hYjLPmu
Alpha Daytona : ebay.to/2KLlOiq
Timex Southview Chrono: amzn.to/2pIo6TP
Citizen Calendrier (on Amazon): amzn.to/2IuED41
Shinola Runwell 36mm(on Amazon): amzn.to/2lRJ53Z
Timex Fairfield Supernova: www.timex.com/browse/collecti...
Timex Weekender Chrono (on Amazon): amzn.to/2HrwL35
Starking Chrono (on Amazon): amzn.to/2tVqf0n
Cadisen Conquest: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/GMEJoWG
Orient Star Retrograde:
SNK807 (on Amazon): amzn.to/2C2VKaH
Orient Bambino (on Amazon): amzn.to/2EIcB52
Vostok Amphibia 420:
Timex Flyback (on Amazon): amzn.to/2z9Rjhz
Torbollo Chronograph: bit.ly/2u5V6Xp
Bulova 97B122 Precisionist:
Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links, I am an Amazon affiliate so I would earn a small commission on qualified purchases. But most of the time Amazon is just the best source to link something just to get a look. I always encourage you to shop around and find the best price.
In Addition, I'm also an affiliate with AVI-8, Armilla, Aliexpress, Spinnaker, eBay, Jomashop, and Phoibos.
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I Am Running Down the Long Hallway of Viewmont Elementary by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
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Artist: chriszabriskie.com/ - Навчання та стиль
I made this video 2 months ago, and it helped push me over the 1000 subscriber threshold in early July. For some reason there has a been a huge spike in traffic in the last day on it. So this video has once again helped push me over a threshold. This time just over 2000 subscribers. Thank you to everyone who has just joined!
just joined after getting my Seiko snk! love the Chanel very straight foward
On some pieces, like Bulova, I prefer quartz, because de history included. But generally mechanical watches have more personal appeal.
This is a very good video. Saved it to my favorites. Good advice at the end on the perils of gifting mechanical watches. I gave watches to my wife and son this Christmas and made sure they were quartz 😉.
Congratulations for your video ! I really appreciate your subtle reasoning ... far from the usual cleaving content we can find on social networks (“Quartz = no interest”, and more often “a Quartz fan is a strange concept”)
I really don't understand why or how anyone could sit through that droning monologue. I gave thumbs down because you were so uninspiring. Public speaking is not your fortay.
I think the main problem with quartz movements is, there is no problem with quartz movements. The reality is they're more accurate and more reliable than mechanical movements. I appreciate the engineering that goes into mechanical movements but the problem with quartz is that a lot of"watch people" are just snobs.
I think the whole "has no soul" argument is only sorta valid (sorta) if your talking about a high end, made almost entirely by hand, watch. I don't think a lower end automatic moment, that is cranked out an assembly line is much different that a quartz watch at the same price.
I have a high-end ($$$) automatic watch, an inexpensive wind-up, and three quarts watches. I wear each one at different times.
Right now I am wearing my Vostok Komandirskie mechanical wind-up.
If a friend says to me, "Look at my new quartz watch" or "Look at my replica Rolex, or "Look at my (real) Patek Phillipe", my response to each? "Nice watch".
Whatever watch makes one happy is a nice watch.
@@RelativeTime That's a good point. Think of Seiko's 7s26. Or some old watchmaker, some old artisan creating a watch with the utmost care and passion.
Totally agree. Some of those believe that a mechanical watch requires higher engineering, which is totally not true. A quartz with high accuracy like the citizen with 1sec deviation per year is the real engineering piece. Those with GPS, RC or Bluetooth sync with atomic clocks are most innovative in engineering system design. Mechanical watches should be viewed as an art or craftsmanship, their values are more on the decorative and artistic side.
Funny becuase my baume et mercier is also "accurate". Be honest, quartz is for people who dont want to spend thousands on a true timepiece and only want something that looks nice.
If you appreciate horology and love timepieces, you will appreciate all movements
Well said!👍
How about Bowel movements?
D. C. Only when you eat enough fiber...
if you appreciate whoreology, you will appreciate all whores
Amen
I've had my quartz Seiko for 41 years now (cost was £28) and have bought automatics including a couple of Swiss ones over the years but my quartz Seiko does one basic thing that the automatics cannot do - it tells me the time - accurately. No frustration, as with automatics, having to check and reset my quartz Seiko. I'm absolutely in awe of the craftsmen who make automatic movements but the bottom line is that a watch is a device to be used for telling the time - accurately. It can be a fashion accessory and my stainless steel bracelet strap along with the white face and clean and simple Seiko lines is a classic look and looks good on me so I'm sticking with quartz and Seiko.
Totally agree . . . same experience here.
Quartz: what you use to set your mechanical watches.
There is a lot of truth to that.
I actually use my phone
@@danielhristov6175 Which have quartz in itself.
@@brutalvous Smartphones don't use quartz movement to measure time, they just take the time from the signal in the air.
@bullsballs just to make it clear i love both mechanical and quartz watches.
(I do prefer automatic simply because i consider it art)
Check the Seiko King Turtle Save the Ocean Manta Ray edition (to see what i mean) that watch creates feelings that other doesn't.
That said. My all time favorite is and always will be the Seiko Tuna 1000m quartz.
Cheers.
I use to work at Bell Labs, and enjoy the science behind the quartz watch technology (poor understood by most). I now really appreciate the meca quartz movements from Seiko, and have several watches with that movement. The are highly accurate and the sweeping second hand is smooth. A COSC certified Quartz movement is really special as well.
You don't have to favor one over the other. I love my Seiko SKX and appreciate it's craftsmanship. But without quartz we wouldn't have G-Shocks, which are one of the most amazing watches ever made!
Well put
totally agree! Love CASIO G-SHOCK and SEIKO ASTRON too, these watches can offer atomic time and they are solar too, for a good value for money.
I would add Victorinox Inox as a heavy duty quartz watch for what they bring.
You mean we would not have affordable watches for the masses.
I’m a watch collector and own both mechanical and quartz watches. You are correct in saying that mechanical watches are more appreciated than quartz watches mainly because of the intricate workmanship however maintaining a sizable mechanical collection is expensive. I enjoy my quality quartz watches as a marvel of engineering and don’t need to have them serviced nearly as often and they are more rugged than mechanical watches. There is a place for both designs. Thanks
Thanks Sam - I'm feel the same. I have high-end automatics stored in a watch winder case - then quartz on the other side of the closet in another small case. So\, I get up each morning and ask myself... Tissot? Rolex? Omega?... after I have selected my automatic for the day, I take it over to the quartz box to know what time to set! 5 shiny ticking faces all with the exact same time. I love both kinds.
For my work as mariner I need accurate time. That is why I use quartz watches. When I get onboard I adjust the watch from GPS and forget it and after 30 days when I go home they have usually creeped 15-30 sec. Now I am using Casio Tough Solar and it´s price is under 80 usd. To get similar accuracy from a mechanical watch I would have to pay thousands of usd. The Casio has even other functions which I use, world time, alarms, timers.... none available from mechanical watches.
I believe that there are many others like me who need these qualities in work and are very happy to pay little and get much.
Thanks for a nice video and calm opinions on this subject!
That's a great example of when quartz is better off. Thank you for sharing!
My Casio loses about 8 seconds a month. Which isn't bad. thats like 2 minutes a year.
15-30 sec/month isn't typical for a quartz. My regular quartz watches are 2-10 sec/month. My high accuracy quartz are less than 1 sec per month.
I recommend a Bulova Accutron 262KHz high accuracy Moon Watch chrono with a sapphire crystal. Check Amazon and Ebay. Mine is PHENOMENALLY ACCURATE. +/- 2 sec/year!
@The Truth Do you REALLY need an internet connection? I seriously doubt it.
There is a nostalgic element to automatic watches and the idea of the movement mimicking a heartbeat.
People who look down upon quartz watches have never taken a circuit analysis class. That said I own both mechanical and quartz watches.
Very true. I learned some very basic electrical engineering in some Comp Sci courses. But I majored in chemistry. So I've spent a lot of time learning about things that are more conceptual. I think most people who like watches don't hate quartz. I think it's more just a very very vocal minority. Thanks for watchin!
Many of us have no interest in electronics. I'd rather watch blades of grass grow.
@@tancreddehauteville764 I would rather watch paint dry than read a Gobshite’s comments
Great first 90 seconds, both fun, laconically delivered and spot on. Mechanical movements can be almost hypnotical in their beauty, and that's something a quartz movement will never be able to match. That is, unless one finds beauty in precision and the unfathomable accuracy of a +/- 1 second deviation in a whole year of time keeping in a wrist watch being charged by available light. Both can be mind blowing in their own right.
I think very few people realize what it actually takes to create a quartz watch - not only the mechanical work, but also the process of designing and production of the integrated circuit, even a relatively simple one with quartz crystal oscillator and set of dividers.
I prefer quartz, for practicality.
You don't buy a mechanical watch for what it does, but how it does it. It's like a piece of jewelry. The moment you start thinking about practicality and functionality a smart watch will always be the best option.
Until you hit rain and a traditional digital will keep on swapping options
@@oxaile4021 you can't see the mechanical watch working when you're wearing it. It looks exactly like a quartz. You're just a snob if you only wear mech watch.
In todays day, I don’t think the mechanical watch is a tremendous achievement. Gimme quartz for accuracy, size, and cost. Gimme a $200 boluva precision over a $10k Rolex. I wear my $20 Casio to work everyday. My Swiss mechanical fortis marine master has been in my drawer for years collection dust.
@@MayDayDevinci This. And furthermore, the usual argument for "you can know and see how mechanical watch works" is, in most cases, pure hoax.
No average people, least the average Rolex people in suits, understand how mechanical clockwork works.
I, as an anti-snobby nerd, who would never spend money for an overpriced watch, but who is interested in all kinds of technical things and their deep inner workings, and finding both mechanical clockworks and quartz ones technically interesting, I can honestly say that the working principles, with all the complications, of mechanical clockworks are *way* more difficult to understand than of the simple quartz circuitry and dividers!
I grew up in 60’s. everyone had hand wind watches. Few forgot to wind their main watch.
Excellent tutorial. I believe you were spot on with your summary of, the age old, quartz vs mechanical question. I myself appreciate a good quality quartz movement just as much as a well made mechanical movement. There are manufacturers that produce some truly amazing quartz calibers, that are every bit as complex, (if not more so) than most mechanical movements. Grand Seiko for example makes some impressive, top notch quartz calibers. I both own and appreciate both types, and like you, feel that they both have a time and a place in my life style. Excellent presentation. Thanks for sharing
I love my Citizen Eco-drive i've had it since 2006 and it's still going strong!
Mine from 2002 - zero problems till now 2021...
@@alexandrberg3712 Not bad going! So whats happened to it?
Same with mine. Had them about 10 years.
Same for me, Citizen Eco-drive is simply AMAZING.
Most light powered watches or chronographs are Solar powered, which means it doesn't work with artificial light. But Eco-drive works with all types of light.
Not with the same efficiency, but I have one time charged reasonably mine with my flashlight in less than ¼ h.
Got mine for retirement at work and it is running strong. So nice I hate to wear it for everyday stuff.
If every watch came in quartz and mechanical I would buy quartz almost every time. I shiver to think what it would cost to service all my mechanical watches!! A car??
I own both Quartz and Mechanical, and i love/hate them for different/same reasons, I have a high end Seiko solar radio control, always dead accurate, always. I love that about it but to be honest, I also hate that about it. There is nothing to futz around with, no winding, setting, checking the accuracy, temperature, face up? face down? .. conversely all the things I love/hate about my mechanicals.. I love futzing with them, I love/hate that they are +6 seconds a day, then +7 the next.. did I wind it? etc.. So for me it's great to have both, depending on my mood and what I need to do on any given day. Sometimes Quartz. Sometimes Mech. I love/hate them both.. Is this a hobby or just OCD? ;)
It's probably both! But I'm the same way. One thing I love about automatics, is that each individual watch is different And I enjoy discovering the specifics of each one, as well as occasionally trying to tinker and improve that. But some days, I may not be in the mood to deal with it.
Giles: Just not used to automatic transmission. I loathe this just sitting here, not contributing. No, no, no, it's just not working out.
I have a solar seiko as well... and I'm buying an snk809 now (an automatic) I guess mechanical things just have a soul - also I don't understand why people just don't use the arguement that you're not reliant on batteries with autos :p
You'll enjoy the 809, great honest little watch.. love mine.. Nice choice. Is this your first mechanical?
@@viktordelta247 Just what I needed, It's going to act as a beater (I've just joined the military.) But still has the little something special in general to me and to look at through the clear backing. It is my first mechanical/automatic watch!
I like both quartz and mechanical. But seeing and hearing the ticking of a mechanical movement relaxes me. It is nothing less than a small miracle.
This is very true. When I was reviewing a hamilton khaki mechanical, I noticed a very faint musical bell like ting that was within the normal movements ticking. But the pitch and tone changed ever so slightly as the hand went around the dial. It was strangely peaceful and beautiful. At first I thought I was hearing things, but I did find a few others commenting the same thing. Just something with that movement I guess.
@@RelativeTime man I might have to get one just for that. I love to listen to my glycine tick away.
Quartz watches tick as well, try it put one to your ear
What a bullshit cliche thing to say! If your hearing the mechanical movement of your watches then you need to start spending more on your watches pal 😂
SG M I'm a bit Mutt 'n Jeff...!
I love my Seiko Monster and I equally love my Citizen Eco Drive. Both are amazing in their own, special ways.
I absolutely love quartz watches because the whole point of wearing a wristwatch is to be able to accurately measure time. Quartz is superior in this most important criteria. Besides, of you're a "regular joe", it borders on the irresponsible side to spend hundreds of dollars on a watch when you have a family.
A quartz watch is also great if you own multiple watches and wear each one infrequently.
Depends on the person. A lot of people wear it as jewelry.
Nah the thing is a nice expensive mechanical watch can be passed down as a family heirloom. I had my grandfathers classic Seiko chronograph and bellmatics passed down to me and they will also be passed down. Not irresponsible at all. A well looked after mechanical watch will last multiple lifetimes, my children need not spend anything on a classic beautiful mechanical watch or any watch for that matter except for servicing
@@Nick-wh4jt A quartz watch just needs a battery change every 5 years or so, of course it can be passed down. It just needs the build quality to last. Princess Diana gave her sons quartz Omega Speedmasters when they were little. Prince William is wearing his still and I'm sure he'll pass it on. They're Omegas so they're built to last. Not every quartz watch is a walmart cheapo.
@@MakerInMotion the point of my comment was that quartz is not superior to mechanical despite the original comment. To each their own but to just flat out say quartz is superior is definitely not just open to one’s opinion.
Some people prefer vinyl records over CD too. Some people prefer things that are technically inferior.
As a long time admirer of watches and neophyte collector I really enjoyed this video. Thanks! Your cadence of speech is easy listening.
I have many quartz watches and several automatics. I tell you the difference. I never come home after work and check my quartz watch to see if it lost time or if it's within its tolerance. Owning automatics is a pain in the ass.
I appreciate both for their complexity and the research and development that went into both but mechanical movements will never come close to quartz for it's simplicity, effectiveness and accuracy.
Vice versa.
The Seiko VH31 is a quartz movement that operates at 4 beats per second. Think of it as 2/3rds as smooth as an automatic with the accuracy of a quartz. The Vario Eclipse and Kingsbury Monarch are two examples of this.
Love this great spot on commentary on this topic as well as your other stellar videos ( including the Vostok ones )too!!
Great video. I have found myself going to the mechanical watch because of how all those parts work together and how the second hand moves. It make me appreciate it more. I have an atomic G Shock always available by my sink in the bathroom as a point of reference that I use for yard work, at home in the evening and working out. During the week going to work I'm now rotating an Orient M- Force diver and Bulova Sea King diver with the UHF movement. The best of both worlds.
Thanks! I need to check out more Bulova watches. With the UHF, percisitonist, and accutron lines, they do seem to give you the best of both worlds. How do you like the m-force? I was looking at the Triton, which seems to be a smaller version.
@@RelativeTime I really like the M Force it has the crown on the left side which is great for me since I use it on my left wrist. Love the power reserve since I use it every other day you can see it powering up slowly during the day.
Quite an interesting topic. You did a great job discussing this topic. I believe there is nothing wrong with quartz. The biggest problem with mechanical is the ever increasing costs involved with fine watchmaking. There are several additional points that one might consider in relation to the topic also. One of those is upkeep. Higher end watches are expensive to maintain with a typical service cost running about $1000 for a service. The more complicated the watch, the higher the cost. If you are maintaining a mechanical watch on a regular frequency than these maintenance costs compared to quartz are quite high. A battery change every 5 years is inexpensive for quartz compared to that. Even a solar quartz drops that maintenance even further as long as the battery/capacitor is not allowed to sit depleted for a very long time. Also, there is also a new genre of mechanical watch "snobbery" for lack of a better term. These are the "never silicon" enthusiasts who consider any watch contain any form of silicon part to be rubbish. This includes any parts of springs that may be made from silicon. Watch giants like Patek Philippe, and Rolex already have balance springs made with silicon and these are frowned upon by these watch "purists". It make me wonder what one of the greatest watchmakers of all time would think. I believe that the great innovator, Abraham Louis Breguet, would probably embrace silicon being used in watches if it was to improve timekeeping because that was a part of his ethos.
I really like watches, and the idea of having a specific object in my person that measures time. As with all my tools, I like them to be as precise and flawless ass possible, but wrist watches aren’t just tools, but fashion accessories too.
The way a mechanical movement looks is insanely captivating, much more than a quartz movement. I just wish someone created a beautiful quartz movement that could look as good as a mechanical, and for the brands that boast about their in-house mechanical movements to stop covering them with a metal back, all that price tag just so the service guy can appreciate it.
Very well balanced thoughts and I am glad to hear about this topic without any rage just a relaxed view on the pros and cons! Great!
Brilliant analogy with the car engine!
Personally, I love Mechanical watches. There’s something about giving a watch the ‘Seiko Shuffle’ at night before bed! 😉
You are right about giving a watch to someone. If you know their preference, great. If not it would be better just to give them a Quartz watch. Nothing wrong with that. Thx for the video dude
Well the gift thing is from personal experience. I got a small automatic for my wife, she never wears it because she doens't want to set the time. I got her a nice quartz watch, and she loves it. I got my nephew a seiko snk, and for months he kept asking me if something was wrong with it, because it kept stopping. Thanks again!
My girlfriend prefers the ladies Citizen eco-drive. She has 3 of them.
ha ha . quartz is always the better choice for woman .
of course she does
James Lee Always get the lady what she wants. Otherwise she will always remember.😋
Agreed.
I like both worlds.
And I like the precision such a miniature machine is capable of providing.
I use the analogy that a quartz watch is like a photograph, whereas a mechanical watch is like a painting, one is a more accurate representation, the other is something more intangible, but lovely. (however using a 'pagani design' watch to illustrate your point is a bit like the painting being done by a 6 year old with moms lipstick).
Very well said. As well as OUCH! I would of hoped It would of at least qualified as a crayon drawing, maybe an etch-a-sketch? 😀
Although in all seriousness, I try to work with what i have, when I can. I figure it's better to use my own footage then grab a photo off the web that I may, or may not have fair usage of. Plus it has a much more dramtic effect from a film making standpoint.
Although I also thought I was making a good point about the Filson as well. Since it's technically a Shinola, the argument is frequently that it's no better then any fashion or even chinese watch.
Im going to use this line someday
I would say that quartz is like a digital photography, mechanical like analogue photo and big old clocks with pendulum like paintings.
Perfect analogy.
@Ginja Ninjaaa I don't believe that analogy is valid.
I cannot believe I watched this vid right to the end, what's even more surprising is that I really liked this vid. Great job bud 👍👍
Amazing video... how come I missed this one... that intro is just hair raising good :)
Soon be on 20k my friend, am pleased I was there at the early side, you deserve way way much more :))
Your friend :)
From a military and field aspect. I’d rather have to deal with changing a battery every 5 years than having to reset the time every few days. If you’re nostalgic then go mechanical. If you don’t care about what people think and want something practical then go quartz.
I think that like many things, horology is a hobby where one grows over time. I myself have been guilty of the "mechanical movement or bust" snobbery in the past. As I learned more, however, I began to appreciate the design, accuracy, and durability of quartz. Today, my collection ranges from a GS 9F and Casio Oceanus (with Sallaz-polished titanium and Casio tough quartz movement) to your standard ETA 2824-2 or Seiko 6R15 pieces. I love them all and wear them proudly.
I continue to enjoy your videos.You have wonderful honest and informative and entertaining approach.
Thank you! My style is a little different then a lot of the channels out there. So it's nice to know it's appreciated. On a side note... Where did you get your avatar / profile pic. It's awesome!
This is a very good video! I agree with your opinion and I share them. I am on a limited budget and have not had an automatic watch in a very long time simply because I can't afford them. My personal favorite watch now is an inexpensive analog and my only issue is that the style I have does not have a day function.
I was looking at the internet recently and was surprised to see a watch listed for several thousand dollars.
I have both automatic and quartz, and I like them all. Of my two favorites, one is automatic and one is quartz. What I'm a snob about, is the quality, and that it's a watch that pleases me. It doesn't need to be expensive, but I want to enjoy looking at it in months 2, 3, 4 and on. Too many seem to be out there trying to check off somebody else's list of the right watches to owe. Sure, one needs to do some research so as not to be a total rube, but it's your money, your wrist and your joy. Nobody neeeeeeds a Rolex, worthy though they are.
That's a very good point. I think a lot of people chase Rolex, and specifically a subby, because it's the watch "they are supposed to want". And they don't really think about if it's what they really want until after they buy it.
I was seduced into the world of mechanical watches a couple of years ago, building up a small 12-15 piece collection. It has slowly dawned on me, however, the extent to which I've been had! I have enough mechanicals that I switch them out day to day and so have to reset and wind whichever watch I'm going to use for the day. I'm constantly concerned that I don't accidentally smack or drop one of these complicated and fragile beauties. I live with the fact that none of my watches are as accurate or durable as the $25 timex I can buy at the local Target, even though all of them cost considerably more! I've also realized that all of these silly beasts will require expensive servicing in the not too distant future! And for what? A smooth sweeping second hand? The benefits of heritage and prestige and the celebration of craftspersonship are just not worth it, at least for me, not for the significantly greater costs over the life of each watch. The only thing that I know I will miss is the amazing variety and creativity that is poured into the mechanical watch business. I'm now in the process of liquidating my mechanical collection and starting again with quality quartz. I've found that while there are less options for quality and creative quartz watches, they are still out there, and perhaps the increased rarity will make the hunting that much more enjoyable.
you might just want to get a Spring Drive and call it a day.
@@youarebeingfooled HAQ - Grand Seiko 9F and Citizen A060
This video was well put together. I had thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Thanks.
Thank you very much.
really nice video, great detail. thanks
the watch collecting communities prejudice against quartz is little more than a load of pretentious bollox and snobbery that belongs in the 19th century.
i find solar movements more appealing these days for a growing watch collection , they are basically maintenance free and will run accurately without fuss for the best part of 20 years.
Accuracy on most mechs are a pile of crap , with a power reserve rarely extending past 3 days - i dont find that appealling or practical in any way to be honest.
Sounds like you are on the side of practicality and functionality. Judging from the majority of comments I've gotten, I think it's a small minority of watch collectors that are anti quartz. It's just they are very vocal about it.
I bought a Sekio Solar diver this summer and love it. It shares space with several Swiss and German mechanical watches (Omega and Glashütte Original to name two) all of which I could sell for considerably more than I paid for my quartz Seiko. Mechanical watch snobs are usually new to the hobby and rarely own anything of real significance, objectively speaking. Their arrogance comes off more like insecurity than expertise, which is why they bang on quartz. Most I know with an impressive collection have and appreciate quartz watches, which makes sense given their understanding of horology.
Ttt
Damn WTF?
Unless it is your primary watch or part of your core
If you need superior accuracy, buy a quartz watch. However for me it's the feeling that a mechanical watch is almost 'alive' and only works because I wind it.
maybe your watch have ghost in it snob
Not finding your watch stopped due to a dead battery is cool; just move the auto or wind.
Nyzma Kumala why do you have to be a stick in the mud
A mechanical watch works because a skilled watchmaker put it together.
An automatic watch is like a tapeworm, it is only alive as long as you are.
Thank you for (another) well-balanced video. I have both mechanical and quartz watches in my collection, and love both styles for many of the reasons you discussed here. As far as the snobs are concerned, there is important horological history in both camps, and both types should be appreciated for what they bring to the table. Same can be said for the various styles of watch---dive, dress, field, aviator and more all have their place an (so to speak) their time.
That is very true. One of the reasons quartz clocks were created, was because there was a need for more precise time keeping in both science and aerospace. If that not horologicaly important, I don't know what is.
Very interesting video. Well done!
I feel like there is just as much craftsmanship in a quartz movement as in a mechanical one and a lot of people that don't like quartz just don't understand how it works. I like and own both movement types but I think quartz is really underappreciated.
The majority of my watches are mechanical, but I do own quartz. You’re not a true watch lover if you don’t own both! ;-)
Very true. I think some people forget their is a difference between a dirt cheap quartz watch, and a good quartz watch. It's a big difference in quality, same as a cheap off brand Chinese mechanical movement, and a real japanese or swiss movement.
I have a Braun BN0106. (since 2014). I just love that watch. People forget that a LCD quartz watch doesn't have to be a plastic Casio or Timex. There are still some made with a steel case. And some nice design's.
Very interesting. I haven't heard of braun before. But your right, when I think of a nice digital watch, I pretty much think of casio and G-Shocks. At least for non smart watches. Although sony has an e-ink watch I'm curious about.
One Is None I can’t agree with you more!!
We can all agree on the fact both will last donkeys compared to smart watches
Thanks again for the thoughtful explanation. I’m presently looking for a field watch. Was narrowing it down to either Hamilton Khaki Mechanical or BOLDR Expedition. Now you have me thinking that I could and should consider quartz. So in short you’ve both helped and hindered my decision process LOL.
That's my job, simultaneously help and complicate things at the same time. 😎
Check out the Vaer Heritage Dark for a cool quartz Field watch.
Excellent video, with lots of valid points. Nice, that in a free-market economy, there is plenty of choice, and something for every taste.
I use to avoid Quartz like the plague. But that was before I took watch collecting a step further. Started getting into Vintage Seiko watches and that is when I came across the 80's Seiko with the 7a28 and 7548 Quartz movements. These 2 are no mickey mouse Quartz but a highly engineered and serviceable movement with mostly if not all metal components with jewels. Got myself a 7548 dive watch and a 7a28-7039 synchrotimer and never been happier. I still have Automatic for the majority of my watches but once you get a better understanding of Quartz tech it becomes alot more interesting.
I think a lot of people forget there is a difference between a good quartz movement, and a cheap $5 quartz watch. As well as the skill it takes to engineer and design a highly accurate well made quartz movement.
I stumbled on this video by mistake and watched thinking it might actually disseminate some useful information.
Did it inform
@@oscarosullivan4513 for me it "confirmed", since I have been interested in watches for 10+ yrs.
Brilliant presentation and application of choice words.
Thank you!
I do like automatics, love my seikos but when I'm running out the door and going to work it's more often than not I'm grabbing one of my g-shocks :)
Was this video made before Seiko released their VH31 high beat quartz movement? That 14400 bph is a beauty.
I don’t know
Sometimes a very similar watch is available in both quartz and mechanical. When the quartz watch is considerably cheaper and I want the particular style without the expense, I will chose quartz. Only problem is if i eventually love the style, I end up with the mechanical version too! :)
Marathon dilemma
As always, great video! I have a better appreciation of watches thank to you!
I love both types of movements. I have my quartz watches I wear through the week to work that I can grab and go like you say, and I have my Mechanical watches that I enjoy wearing on my time off.
Exactly. I wear a G-Shock to work, and enjoy wearing something different during my free time.
Mechanical or quartz I own both and both are great for me ,of course there are advantages and disadvantages and recently I'm admiring the grandseiko spring drive movement more like a hybrid it has a mechanical movement and yes it visible engine and a sweeping second hand also a dead accuracy watch
The Spring drive is an amazing movement. Heck all the Grand Seiko's have amazing movements. But the spring drive is an amazing idea.
Best of both worlds
I've recently purchased a kinetic quartz watch which I love. It's a nice bridge between mechanical and quartz. I have been a mechanical watch snob in the past, but am developing an appreciation for quartz.
I've got a kinetic that is almost 20 years old now. Love it, I'll never get rid of it. But as I bought more watches, I almost never wear it. Mostly because it's always dead, and the 2 second tick drives me crazy. Short of wearing only it for a week or so, I can never quite get enough juice in it.
You will learn to hate the kinetic as you are now it's slave.
Prefer automatic’s myself which brand would you recommend? All my previous automatic’s tended to loose accuracy over time. They all seem to slow down overtime. And the wrist pins that hold the band on tended to break because being an athlete they don’t hold up.
There are watches with fixed bars depending on the price level you are willing to go but you will be restricted to NATOs, Single Pass, or Screw on Leather Straps. From $300 to $9000. Without proper on time servicing... Autos will start to go wonky over time especially with hard use or winding them often rather than using movement to wind them.
Agree with everything you said! Thumbs up! I can appreciate both!
Picked up my first mechanical watch a few days ago. I've worn a quartz watch for the last few years and decided to take the plunge, not gonna lie, it's not as accurate and it does irritate me a little.
You will get used it and it will settle in. You might find yourself not being being just on time
I have both quartz and automatics and even a digital G shock. Most of the watches occupy different niches. Growing up I only had quartz watches (they were cheap, well spec'ed and worked) throughout school I had a cheap Casio digital which I had to change the strap for a Velcro g10 like strap which worked great until the lug snapped, I then had a couple of "surf" watches which were fashionable in the late 90s (basically divers on g10 style Velcro straps) the problem I had with Quartz fashion watches were they were very much disposable, the cost of replacing a battery was close to the cost of the watch. Also as they were "fashion" watches by the time the battery died the watch was out of fashion. When I started my PhD I brought a cheap timex expedition field watch (I was doing a lot or field work and the brown leather and simple white face looked the part) two straps later and the watch is still with me (it looks a little worse for wear, the silver coating on the brass is wearing off, but it has sentimental value). I also have a sekonda moon phase Quartz dress watch that was an impulse buy on holiday, and a gshock. I also brought myself a few seiko five automatics, my first was a little 21jewel dress watch on steel band (similar to one my dad got for his 21st birthday) which is great, but as I spend a lot of time in the field the "30m water resistance " always worried me, so when I got my first full time post doc position I brought the seiko sports "fifty five fathoms" diver, as my "work watch" which was brought as it looked good in the office and would survive the field. A year after that I brought my last eat seiko five sport field watch for a dedicated field watch. I love automatics, and both my dad and my granddad both always wore automatics (although my dad now wears a kinetic) so I grew up with the idea that an automatic was a "grown ups" watch. One thing I love is that an automatic will last a lifetime, I have known people pull an automatic out of a draw after a few years, give it a shake and it keeps good time, if a Quartz goes in a draw for a few years the battery will leak and ruin the watch. But as always ymmv
Keep.the battery changed and that quartz will last as long as.a mechanical watch
@@deanwaller8283 and if my grandmother had wheels she would be a bicycle... The point was if both are ignored for a couple of years the quartz is dead, but the auto still ticks.
Can't believe I haven't seen this video Shane, hit the nail on the head🙂👍
I’m an electrical engineer, so I’m highly driven by making things “faster, better, cheaper, lower power, more accurate, etc.”. Considering only such technical factors, mechanical watches have no reason for being.
However, as much as I like those technical factors, I admire genius, ingenuity, and creativity more. John Harrison’s clocks are astonishing. He solved the longitude problem. His clocks are beautiful works of art and are mechanically masterful.
Ironically, it was Eric Vittoz, a Swiss guy, who devised circuitry to run the tiny quartz tuning forks on tiny batteries for around a year. I attended a lecture by Vittoz. Very bright guy and also humble. I’ve employed his design methods to build quartz crystal oscillators just like those in our wristwatches. I greatly admire Vittoz.
And atomic clocks make quartz clocks seem crude.
But, jewelry is another art form and is also valuable.
Art takes many forms. Genius is expressed in all of those forms.
Automatic anytime. And yes there is a bit of a pain in love.
In the same vain, we can compare analog vs. digital.
A very thought provoking video. I would say I sit on the fence comfortably between various automatic and various quartz movements. Both certainly have their high and low points. I think its a very individual decision or you can embrace all aspects like I do and love them all....
Case, Dial and Leather is way important for than the movement, nobody sees what's inside your watch but everyone will judge it based on its looks and to he honest no one recognizes a luxury watch except Rolex. I can get a lot of watch for a low price when choosing quartz, I can choose a golden case, textured beautiful dial and more expensive leather straps. If I chose a mechanical I couldn't afford all that.
This is a very good video. As one says, I am just getting into the hobby of watches. Super thanks
Thanks, happy you enjoyed it.
Thinking about winding even if it`s an automatic watch it`s the reason i have quartz watches.
I wear an Amphibia 710379 as my main watch
For me, the only thing I don't like about quartz is the 1 tick per second. That's it. Everything else about quartz is undeniably superior. They can be made smaller and thinner, they are more accurate, and more reliable. And because of this, the design space for the quartz watch is so much larger, there's so much more room for the experimentation in form once you've mastered the function. And as for the ugly sweep of quartz, there are solutions for that too isn't there (Precisionist and Spring Drive)?
I would love it, if they could make a solar or a kinetic with a sweeping second hand. But I think the power consumption is too great.
Grand Seiko watches have second hands that run as smooth as my Seiko Wall Clock. It's an amazing watch considering it has quartz in its movement.
Bulova's Precisionist/High Frequency Quartz movements have a smooth sweep second hand.
Why don't they just make Quartz watches that tick 8 times a second? That's more than cheaper mechanicals, is a power of 2, and even if it draws more power than one tick/sec, they can just use a bigger battery.
MobiusCoin i refuse to pay much for quartz. And if you check virtual any supplier, their quartz is cheap. It can be stamped out via robotics, if you have mass produced electronics.for those that launch space shuttles or navy seal team, you need supper accurate. No normal person needs time accuracy down to few seconds. Be real. I do have some quartz they are for cheap beater. Sometimes I will buy a quartz watch watch of a type to see if I like it. Plus i have been with first responders, never saw them write down things to the second. Never seem someone say ‘you 3 seconds late. There are stop watches for athletes. Most people with chronos simply time their steak or hard boil egg, of some other fun thing. And after newness wears off, they seldom use it. They drive you crazy when they first get it, & want to time everything around them & annoy people with lectures on accuracy. But few need that.
I was really going to pull the trigger on a 20%-discounted new Orient Ray II this evening but backed down last minute when I realised what a hassle it will be 5 to 15 years down the line, when I have to get the watch serviced. And that servicing is crucial if the watch shall be in my heritage.
Great video yet again!
My favorite watch company is Timex so far. They have really great designs, built-in night lights in the dials, and are super accurate (loud though), but unfortunately are not of horological value because they are cheap, and quartz. Well, what can you do. They are recently coming out with some “lower end” automatic movements. I guess they’ve never really been a company that wants to make luxury or higher end pieces. More so durable, accurate watches.
Even though Timex watches are known as "disposable watches", they are excellent and last forever. My Timex that is 41 years old still runs (when I can wind it). the Stem is so polished smooth it's hard to turn and wind it, but it still ticks along.
Yes affordable and reliable.
durable yes but accurate no. they have been absolute bottom of the barrel for years. they will leak water and they will get dirty and scratch easily but keep running.
you can order everything you own from China. some of it will work good enough, but if you look at or use something quite a lot, it can be good to invest in something of good quality. this is true for any tool and watches are no different quartz or no.
I wear a $20 Casio to work everyday. My Swiss watch collects dust in my drawer. I regret ever purchasing my Swiss mechanical watch
I own lots of different watches, from auto to mechanical to solar. Quartz is 100% best choice, its cheaper, practical and far more accurate than auto.
Don't be too sure about that.Cheap uartz watches aren't very accurate and are out by multiple seconds every day.An expensive quartz movement is much better, but cost much more.I'm more surprised how accurate a nice mechanical watch is.
One of the cheap Chinese watches I’ve reviewed was a torbollo. If I remember right it gained a few seconds a day. Absolutely horrible for quartz, but accuracy wise it’s still better then most mechanicals.
if you can afford it. get a grand seiko spring drive. a mechanical quartz movement. (no battery)
yes more accurate.. agreed with you.
Until the battery runs out!
I enjoyed the video. Great advice re: mechanical watches as gifts. I have a Timex WR30M which has lost 3 seconds since setting for DST, 23 days ago. 0.13sec/day.
While I very much appreciate craftsmanship, quality of design, etc., I don't understand why one would have such a devotion to the result of these efforts if the function it is to carry out, the keeping of time, is performed so poorly. There are myriad examples of engineering excellence to be had which perform their function well, and those will more often catch my attention.
As an aside, you have a great way of introducing your credentials, without coming across as an elitist. Good work!
I appreciate both, I am planning on buying a mechanical watch, very soon, I want hack and wind, sapphire crystal, but it will be used very rarely, basically will be used as a pass me down.
But I only use quartz and has to be solar.
the problem with quartz, from a watch enthusiast’s perspective is that the beauty of a watch movement is it’s ability to run without a battery accurately and for a long period of time
It's 5:00 here. My self-winding automatic watch says it's 3:25. Happens about once a week, even though I wear it everyday. My cheap "fashion" watch, which I seldom wear, has the correct time.
Accurately? So please go to quartz.
A solar watch doesn’t need to be worn and still is more accurate
@@alvo-oooo You need to synch your mech watch once a week - lazy wearers get what they deserve.
@@User-nu6km It does need to kept exposed to light.
The biggest problem with quartz is a delayed end-of-life. Battery can go a year, five, ten years. And that very day when the quartz movement will stop might be when I will be on a boat, in the woods, in a car on a long highway and so on. That unsettling feeling that it will likely let you down in most inappropriate moment. Mechanical watches do not have that.
The , there is this post-apocalypse...not even dream, but quartz is a dependent technology. Mechanical watches are virtually eternal. Of course they are not and then there are plenty of solar powered watches these days, kinetic movements and so on. Still, mechanical Watch is a bicycle of timekeeping. It’s just you and your watch whenever you are:)
In a world going fully electronic problem with quartz is also in the fact that any next technology will wipe it without a trace. Smart watches most likely will wipe the quartz out because it does not have anything to counterweight, even if it is a nice fairy-tale (like mechanical watches), it plays in the same field, so to say.
Regarding precision - most of my good watches are within 1-15 seconds a month - what to ask for more? Not every quartz does that! And there’s nothing that requires or even makes possible a greater precision...
Yes and no. First, as mentioned in the video that the mechanical might not be wound... if one forgets a daily thing (winding a watch) - how in the hell one will remember thing that happens one time in 7 years?:)
Then, post-apocalyptic-boyscout says "what if you there's nowhere to get a new battery?":).
Then, to change battery you have to kill the watch, open up it's belly, change it's stomach and resurrect it. Quartz is a zombie watch!:)
And then, circuits and boards sometimes just die for no reason, somehow:(
And of course, there are quartz watches with indication of low battery - divers ISO standards require that...
"Quartz and mechanical" is like a "nuclear reactor and river mill" - that's it!:)
Of course! notice the amount of :)... But then, not one of my mechanicals ever failed me. But I do have several tea quartz and electronics in general dies always and quiet fast.
Even a mechanical watch will have an end of life. Although with proper care it can be extended much beyond a quartz watch. You could just look on ebay and see a vast number of seiko 5s from the 60's and 70s all brough back to life. Yet it's hard to find a quartz watch from the early 80s thats still working.
But eventually gears and metal will wear with age.
i have two decent quartz watches from the 80ies and they both tick away as though they will last forever . also one from the 90's that is all beat to hell but still functions perfectly and probably will last a couple more decades or more . its the same with most quartz wall clocks and alarm clocks , if they are not abused they will last decades .
James Lee True. Although sometimes you get unlucky. I have my dad's old quartz dress watch from the late 90s. I don't think the movement is made anymore, so its a little harder to find, and expensive if you do. I'd like to get it going again some day. But it's one of those things that would cost 4-5 times as much as it's worth to repair it.
How do you preserve a quartz watch to last long? I just got a quartz seiko and want to know how to preserve it for a good time, Do I leave the time running everyday and night? or do I stop it over night and set the time in the morning?
Never mind, it will work. However, when the battery needs to be changed, have it changed by a true expert who also cleans and lubricates the mechanical parts of the watch. Just changing the battery will cause mechanical issues with quartz as well as with mechanical watches.
Nothing beats the sound of ‘tick tick tick ‘ of a manual watch as for quartz watches they work but don’t give you the comfort of the ticking heartbeat of a manual watch & if you listen to the heartbeat you will realise that they tick differently the sound the rhythm it’s so beautiful that I listen to my watches as my comfort thing
Watches love them ✅✅✅👍👍
Own both. The cheapest quartz watch is more accurate than the most expensive automatic movements. When I’m in the hood I wear my timex. When I’m somewhere els I wear my seiko. I use a watch to tell time. Not make a social statement.
Well put. Love the name by the way.👍
Arnold, is that you ??.... Hurry up with the swiss please.. The children are starving.....
I use them to track time when I am out sailing or snorkelling
I appreciate Automatic watches and have a few (barely used), but you can't beat the convenience, accuracy and durability of a Quartz watch. I view my watches as a tool and a fashion accessory. It is not like the early days where a watch was a must to track time.
Well said, you perfectly
Explained the difference between someone who appreciates the fine art of building a beautiful time peace with a mechanical movement and someone who just wants a fashion design that keeps time
I’ve always purchased mechanical watches for several reasons but I recently purchased a “cheap” quartz field watch to wear as an every day piece and it has a 100 m water resistance rating so I can beat it up all I want and not have to worry about it! Great video keep them coming!
Thanks! What kind of cheap watch is it?
Me too
Just got grab n go quartz....
MARATHON FIELD WATCH...
and a 1990's fossil defender 1510 field watch phor $20.
All my watches are either quartz or auto
Love quartz watches, especially solar quartz movements. Robust, reliable, accurate and super low maintenance cost. I only own a few mechanical watches as having to set the time and wind them every time I want to wear them gets old fast. I’m also not interested in shelling out for servicing costs of mechanical watches. If I could buy the same watch with either an automatic or quartz movement, I’d buy the quartz every time. I really don’t get all the hate for quartz watches. Sure, it’s fun to know you have a little mechanical machine on your wrist. The one main advantage of buying mechanical watches is there is a greater selection of watches to choose from.
If your going with quartz. Solar is the way to go. Can't go wrong with Citizen Eco-Drive.
Fabulous Video , this Guy knows his stuff !
really enjoyable! pretty much agree in all respects. if you like a variety of watches and can afford to sample a few, a mix of autos (mechanical) and quartz can be interesting and fun. where you draw the line--expense per unit--is the real question.
i love my vostok amphibia, no more quartz for me.
That is my watch
Quartz watches are cool and I would definitely wear one.
Hi Shane, I don't know how I missed this video. I have several quartz watches in my collection. My favourite is probably the cheapest, my Cooper Navy Diver.
But at the end of the day I have no great preference. I just put on what I fancy on the day.
I like watching the tick tick tick, second by second. can be helpful/easy when timing short times. also i can get the exact same watch at up to a 50% discount sometimes.
In a world where humans can't even fart without their smartphone, a quartz wristwatch is something useless at best.
In the other hand, a mechanical watch is a piece of art and as you said jewelry.
Well put
There is something indefinable, fascination wise, when looking at the interplay of gears in a mechanical watch.
Or even the seconds hand or the sound
If there ever was a God of time keeping...he would have your voice! Excellent presentation and explanation! Hope your channel blows up and goes viral! Cheers from Bengaluru India!
"lawn decoration in the south!" You Sir are amazing at this dead pan comedy! I can't help but notice how straight forward and unpretentious your videos are! Keep it up mate!
Thank you! Channel is growing slow and steady. Everyone once in a while I get a surge, but overall I'm happy. The one thing I'm very happy and proud about is that I rarely get any trolls or smart ass comments. All the regular subscribers and viewers are all very polite and friendly. So it's developed a small but very good community.
Bought too many watches in the last two years. Decided to stop collecting for a year and closed the deal with two eco drives from Citizen. A Titanium piece with a 12 o’clock triangle pointing up and a GMT with the triangle looking down. The second hand hits every mark, and the overall look is my cup of tea. Love them…and the notion that I can forget about them for 6 months… hopefully 🙏🏽 will keep the addiction at bay…