What is a quartz watch? The best quartz watch movements
Choosing a watch can be a daunting task. Today on the market there is huge amount models. How not to get lost among this diversity? Which is better - quartz or mechanical watch?
Types of watch movements
First, let's figure out what types of watch mechanisms there are.
Mechanical watches use a weight or spring mechanism to generate energy (depending on the type of watch), and a balancer or pendulum is used as an oscillating system. The trigger mechanism is responsible for converting rotational energy into reciprocating or oscillatory energy. It is connected to the spring using a gear system.
A quartz watch is a device much like a mechanical watch, but with several fundamental differences V oscillatory system and power source. There are hybrid models that combine elements of both devices.
Electronic devices contain quartz elements, as well as a display instead of a dial and a microcircuit. They often have an expanded set of functions. Almost all are equipped with a stopwatch and calendar, and may have a built-in alarm clock, thermometer, barometer, and calculator.
How quartz movements came to be
Quartz watches are not something that was invented overnight. Their invention was preceded long work, numerous scientific research and achievements.
The design of mechanical watches was constantly being improved; they were complex and expensive. In an effort to make watches a simpler and more accessible item, W. A. Marrison in 1927 proposed a fundamental new mechanism clock - quartz. The first instruments built according to the new principle were bulky and were used in scientific laboratories as more accurate than mechanical ones.
Scientists from three countries - the USA, Switzerland and Japan - worked independently on improving and reducing quartz watches. The Japanese company Seiko has provided the most accurate quartz stopwatch for Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, and their first wrist watch launched on the market in 1969 - they became the first in the world. The first Swiss wristwatches quartz watch were developed in 1967 and went on sale in 1970. It was a real breakthrough, and discoveries poured in. In 1972, quartz watches, that is, electronic ones, were released, in 1978 they were equipped with a calculator, in 1979 - super-flat ones, in 1988 hybrids with a battery charged from kinetic energy - from hand movements.
How do quartz watches work?
An electronic unit located in a quartz watch sends impulses to a stepper motor that turns the hands. Quartz provides a constant pulse frequency. The motor and unit are powered by a battery. There is no need to wind such a watch, because the battery provides long term work.
A quartz watch is a universal mechanism that can become multifunctional device. An alarm clock, chronometer, stopwatch can be designed on this basis, and this will minimally increase the cost of the finished product.
The quartz movement can be equipped with both a dial and digital display. We call watches with a liquid crystal display electronic.
Why does a watch need a crystal?
Why is quartz crystal used in watches? It has unique properties: when exposed to electric current it contracts, and in doing so generates electrical impulses. With the help of current, quartz can be forced to compress and unclench at a constant frequency. These vibrations should have a resonance frequency of 32768 hertz, which is controlled by the size of the crystal. The quartz crystal stabilizes on its resonant frequency electrical oscillations of the generator.
How long can a quartz watch last?
When buying a quartz wristwatch, we often wonder how long it will last. What happens if the battery starts to run out or the quartz crystal starts to deteriorate? By the way, those who buy men's quartz wristwatches are more concerned about the service life of the product. Women are more likely to care about their appearance.
In terms of longevity, quartz devices are not inferior to mechanical ones. There is an opinion that mechanics are more reliable - after all, there are watches that have been working for centuries. But the quartz movement was invented relatively recently, and many simply throw away their boring watches before they break, preferring to periodically change models.
If a quartz watch's battery runs out, it may lag. If quartz begins to collapse, they will begin to rush. Both the battery and the crystal can be replaced.
Watches and fashion
Today, not only accuracy and reliability are valued in watches, but also of great importance. Watches are produced in a variety of styles - casual for every day, classic models, ideal for a business suit, large sports watches with many additional functions, bright, ultra-fashionable watches of an unusual shape, pilot's watches in aviation style and elite luxury movements that can become a real family heirloom.
A quartz watch is not necessarily an affordable and inexpensive thing. Models famous brands can have a very high cost. Men's quartz watches, as a rule, are made in a classic style, elegant, and do not have flashy details. Models for young people may be more vibrant.
Women's quartz watches are elegant, their purpose is not only to show exact time, but also complement the image of the hostess. Many fashion brands produce watches with unusual design. Women's watches can be made in both classic and modern styles. They can be decorated with semi-precious and precious stones, resemble bracelets, or stand out with an unusual strap, for example, in the form of a bright satin scarf.
Which ones are more accurate?
Accuracy is another important factor when choosing a watch. After all, no one likes it when they are constantly in a hurry or behind.
The accuracy of a mechanical watch may depend on temperature, adjustment, degree of gear wear, position in space, and spring winding.
The quartz watch mechanism is more accurate. The generator produces constant impulses, on which the movement of the hands depends.
For mechanical watches, a deviation of 20 seconds per day in one direction or another is considered normal; for the best branded watches - 5 seconds. The best quartz watches can provide accuracy of up to 5 seconds per year, ordinary representatives - 20 seconds per month. Thus, even the highest quality mechanical watches cannot surpass quartz watches in accuracy.
Pros and cons of mechanical watches
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical watches. Experts have been working on their improvement for hundreds of years; they are quite reliable and have not lost popularity to this day.
The watch mechanism may be fragile. You should not take them with you on an extreme hike or intense sports training. An exception may be special impact-resistant models.
Mechanical watches can be repaired. The master can make any part to order and restore your great-grandfather’s inherited watch.
The mechanics do not depend on batteries. The disadvantage is that they need to be constantly wound, but this problem can be solved with the help of automatic winding. Autonomy can be up to 20 days.
Modern mechanical devices are accurate, but still significantly inferior to quartz ones.
Mechanical watches are assembled personally by a master, which increases their cost, especially considering that handmade is highly valued today.
The mechanism of the watch is interesting, it’s nice to watch the gears moving. Many manufacturers use this - models with transparent body, allowing you to observe the movement of parts - “skeletons”.
Mechanical watches are usually housed in a metal case and can be heavy.
The watch may contain big set functions, but this significantly increases their cost.
When the temperature changes, they lose accuracy.
Service life more than 10 years with good care.
Pros and cons of quartz watches
What important qualities do quartz wristwatches for men and women have?
Quartz watches are shock-resistant and can be used by active people, fans of extreme sports and tourism.
Have large number functions thanks to an electronic chip.
The body is made of plastic, which makes the product lightweight and durable. Even children can wear them.
Thanks to the built-in battery, the watch does not need to be wound. A high-quality battery will ensure continuous operation for 10 years.
Quartz devices can only be repaired if spare parts are available, which are produced in-house. If the model is outdated and parts are not produced, it will be difficult to repair the watch.
Quartz watches are characterized by high accuracy of +/- 5 seconds per year. This factor is independent of temperature changes.
Which ones to choose
It is impossible to say for sure which watch is better - quartz or mechanical. Indeed, despite the wide popularity of modern electronic products, traditional mechanics has found its loyal fans, especially in lately, when the abundance of new materials, including transparent durable plastic, allows you to enjoy the sight of a well-coordinated watch mechanism.
Quartz watches are considered more accurate and practical to use, while mechanical watches are a timeless classic of watchmaking. If we consider the issue of price, then hand-made mechanics are more expensive than mass-produced quartz, although in both categories you can find both high-cost luxury models and budget ones.
Of course, quartz watches are suitable for an active life and sports, and a “mechanical” watch can complement the classic look.
The property of quartz to compress under the influence of current and send impulses in the 50s of the twentieth century revolutionized watchmaking: instead of a spring, the crystal became the source of movement of the hands. Thanks to him, today we see the watches of the most different forms, size and functionality. Usually we are offered a choice between mechanical, quartz and electronic, and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. The former are less accurate and require winding (often automatic), they are subject to physical influences and differ relatively large sizes(at least in mass production). Their hands move due to a spring mechanism.
A fair question would be: how do electronic watches differ from quartz watches if they operate on the same crystal? Indeed, both of these types belong to quartz movements, and only the method of displaying information differs. However, traditionally “quartz” refers to electronic-mechanical watches with hands (sometimes called “analog”), and “electronic” to those with a digital display.
Comparison
Any quartz movement requires a power source - in a watch this is a battery. A crystal in an electromagnetic field oscillates with a certain periodicity. In an electronic watch, such vibrations are converted into discrete signals, which are displayed on a digital display, in quartz ones they are transmitted to a stepper motor, which rotates a system of gears and arrows. We see, accordingly, this way:
Quartz electronic watch 
Quartz analog clock
The difference between electronic watches and quartz watches is the ability to integrate them into almost any system, regardless of purpose and size. They may not have their own display at all, but use general device information output: this is how we see the time on computer monitors and smartphone screens, this is how we set a timer on various household appliances.
Electronic multi-function clock Choosing from a display window in a store, potential buyer wants to know what the difference is between electronic and quartz watch specifically for him, the consumer. Both of them do not require a factory, but need to replace the battery every few years - and this is, perhaps, all that the models have in common. Electronic watch Due to the presence of a display, they are often equipped with additional functionality: everything from a calculator to a weather station is built in there. Electronic-mechanical - only watches that have a classic appearance.
They choose watches mainly in accordance with their own taste and wallet size. Electronic ones, however, do not very often become a status item: in the “luxury” category there are almost exclusively hands. Models of any type are equipped with shock-resistant and waterproof cases; straps can be silicone, leather, plastic, metal - this only affects the choice. But the fashionable “skeleton” design is available only for quartz watches: a visible working mechanism (gears and motor) under a transparent cover. Electronic ones cannot demonstrate anything so interesting.
Skeleton watch Quartz or Mechanical
Thanks to advances in the modern watch industry, most watches you will find on the market are quite good quality, and executed in various forms and design. One of the main things that distinguishes all these wristwatches from each other is the type of power from which the watch movement is driven: quartz or mechanical.
Quartz watch.
Mid-level prestige watches usually use a quartz movement (quartz watch). The quartz movement elements do not move. Instead, a small quartz crystal is used in combination with a battery to generate signals at a specific frequency. This frequency is used to maintain the movement of the hands within a certain interval. Because the quartz movement is powered by battery, quartz watches do not require winding.
The precision of electrical quartz signals makes quartz watches more accurate than mechanical watches. As a result, quartz watches will have to be adjusted less often than mechanical watches. Because of this advantage, quartz is still used in many luxury watches, especially in the lower end of the premium watch spectrum, particularly Tissot and Citizen.
In 1969, Seiko released the first Astron quartz watch for commercial use. Since then, quartz watches have become the predominant form of watch - accessible, lightweight, cheap to manufacture and extremely accurate.
Mechanical watch.
For expensive premium watches, from $1000 and above, a mechanical movement is the standard and the rule. This may seem counterintuitive since quartz watches are more accurate than mechanical watches. However, when it comes to watchmaking, tradition is much more important than the latest technology. The best manufacturers Premium watchmakers have been practicing their craft for hundreds of years (for example, Vacheron Constantin, the oldest manufacturer of luxury watches, was founded in 1755), and the mechanical movements used for these watches represent an important heritage.
At present, mechanical technology still embodies traditional ways watch production, but the mechanisms of such watches have various complications and are ultra-complex. The main component of a mechanical watch is the mainspring. This spring stores the energy of the winding, which ultimately makes the hands of the watch move. Energy is replenished every time you wind the watch, turn the crown and thereby tighten the mainspring. The spring, when released, sets in motion the gears, which in turn set the hands of a mechanical watch in motion. 
Most modern mechanical watches need to be wound every one or two days. Once the spring has fully opened, releasing all the potential energy, the clock will stop until it can be wound again. The best watchmakers try to come up with more effective ways using spring energy to increase the operating time of the watch before the next winding.
One of the important innovations in mechanical watch technology is the invention of automatic mechanical watches. Automatic mechanical watches use energy generated by the natural swing of the wrist. Because of complex design moving parts in such parts, owners should service their watches every 5 years professional service. A well-maintained, well-designed mechanical watch can remain in excellent working order for generations.
Pros and cons: quartz or mechanical.
Now that we have figured out what quartz and mechanical watches are, we need to consider subtle points everyday use these types of watches. On the one hand, if quartz watches are more accurate, why should I be interested in mechanical watches? Indeed, if you are interested in extremely precise timekeeping (for example, in scientific experiments), then the choice of quartz watches is obvious. However, technology is often not the final criterion when choosing what will be on your wrist for 12 hours every day. Mechanical watches today are an art that constantly comes into contact with you. A fine mechanical watch also imparts status to its owner. Such watches attract attention that mass watches cannot compete with. Another advantage of mechanical watches is that the winding mechanism does not require replacement, while quartz watches require battery replacement, which can happen at the most inopportune moment, on vacation or, even worse, on a work trip.
Final word
If we talk about which watches are the best (quartz or mechanical), then it is impossible to give a specific answer. Quartz watches are considered more practical to use, while mechanical watches are the classics of watchmaking. If you are considering a quartz or mechanical wristwatch, you will probably notice that there are many various types luxury watches, both quartz and mechanical. To make the selection process easier, keep in mind that quartz watches can usually be found in the price range of more than low level, while mechanical ones are in the more expensive premium segment, thereby emphasizing the unique skill of the watchmaker.
Today it is not so much a functional component as a stylish accessory that complements any look. Just like centuries ago, modern people often prefer to deal with watches classic type, which look impressive, status and strict. But which watch is better to choose - quartz or mechanical, this is precisely the problem that often arises among potential buyers.
Difference between mechanical and quartz watches
Before deciding for yourself which watch is better - mechanical or quartz, keep in mind that the main difference between these two types is the energy source and, accordingly, the device. For example, mechanical watches use a spiral spring installed in a gear drum. In such a watch the spring is wound (twisted). It unwinds and thereby sets the drum in motion, on which the operation of the clock mechanism depends.
A quartz watch consists of an electronic unit that signals the stepper motor to move the hands. Both of these elements are powered by an internal battery.
So which wristwatch is better - quartz or mechanical?
The selection criteria should be based on what you expect from the accessory. If accuracy is important to you, then when considering which wristwatch is best, take into account a few nuances. The fact is that the movement of mechanical watches is influenced by factors such as weather conditions, frequency of adjustment, and location. In addition, the spring may unwind unevenly, as a result of which a discrepancy in accuracy is possible on the order of daily 10-30 seconds.
At the same time, quartz models, subject to error-free automation, demonstrate almost academic accuracy. Their deviation is only up to 10-30 seconds per month!
It is worth pointing out that mechanical watches often cost several times more than quartz watches. This is due to the need manual settings and the use of semi-precious (and sometimes precious) stones that can withstand the contact pressure between parts. Because of this, mechanical watches are considered elite-class products, expensive, almost works of art. There are models with self-winding, thanks to which the watch winds itself when walking. True, their body is significantly thicker. Therefore, if we talk about which women’s wristwatches are better, then it is better to give preference to simply mechanical or quartz products.
Do you want to buy a watch, but don't know which one? Let's figure it out and answer the questions that most often arise when purchasing: what are quartz and mechanical wristwatches. What are their pros and cons?
How do mechanical watches work?
The main difference between quartz watches and mechanical watches is the energy source that powers the movement. In mechanical watches, this is done by a spring in the form of a spiral. It is located in a drum and has a serrated edge. When winding the watch, the spring is wound, and when it unwinds, the drum is activated, which starts the entire watch mechanism.
What are quartz watches?
A quartz watch is powered by a battery that powers the entire electronic unit, as well as a stepper motor. The engine receives an impulse from the electronic unit once per second, as a result of which the arrows turn. High stability of the frequency of generated pulses is ensured by a quartz crystal - hence the name of this accessory. Such a watch is wound once (the next winding will be carried out only when the battery has to be changed). Quartz watches are highly accurate and comfortable to use. Most often we call such watches electronic, although in fact they are quartz with a digital display.
Modern manufacturers offer quartz wristwatches, which are a mini-computer. Thanks to the programming of the microcircuit, they can easily be equipped with a stopwatch, chronograph, alarm clock or calendar. Additional features there may be many.
Mechanical watches appeared more than four hundred years ago, but quartz watches entered the market only in the second half of the twentieth century. Today there is a constant debate about which watch is better - quartz or mechanical. But they all have their pros and cons, which we will discuss.
Advantages and disadvantages of mechanical watches
One of the main advantages of “mechanics” is the absence of the need to constantly change the battery. This means that such wristwatches do not require additional service, there is no need to buy batteries, which means there are no additional financial costs.
Mechanical watches are highly repairable. Today, any watchmaker can make a broken part. And even despite the fact that such watches could have been made a very long time ago, they can be repaired with the possibility of preserving the original mechanism. They have a long service life. All parts of such accessories are made of metal, which, of course, prolongs the life of the mechanism itself. That is why mechanical wristwatches, both women's and men's, are considered more prestigious.
To the disadvantages of watches of this type may include: sensitivity to shocks, inaccuracy of the watch, as well as high cost- when assembling them, exclusively manual labor is used.
Although it is still worth paying money for such jewelry work by a watchmaker. In addition, today you can find a decent model in a more budget price segment. Moreover, you don’t need to go far. Here, look at excellent mechanical watches for reasonable money.
Pros and cons of quartz movement
The main advantage of a watch with a quartz movement is its accuracy. The time difference per month can be up to twenty seconds, and for the most best hours such a deviation can be up to five seconds in one year.
Such wristwatches are much more reliable than mechanical ones, since they have fewer parts (just an electronic unit and a stepper motor).
A watch with a quartz movement does not need to be wound daily. Today there are models in which the battery is changed once every three years. There are also quartz watches with a battery that lasts up to ten years.
Assembly of watches with this type of mechanism occurs when full automation, which is certainly cheaper than manual labor. Therefore, the cost of models with a quartz movement is several times less than that of mechanical ones. You can afford such a watch on any budget. And perhaps even several. Under different style and a reason.
But the disadvantages include:
Small but regular cash costs for purchasing a battery.
Low maintainability. If the manufacturer has stopped producing spare parts, such wristwatches can only be repaired if the mechanism is completely replaced.
Fragility - quartz watches that were released at the end of the twentieth century will not work today for the simple reason that modern batteries will not work with them.
All these disadvantages are, of course, relative. Few people would be scared by the prospect of changing the battery when a stylish and fashionable watch accessory is at stake. Moreover, when he has the maximum good value price and quality, and thanks to modern technologies the quality is often even higher than the stated price. Here are three super models for example.
Based on the above, it is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of which wristwatch is better - quartz or mechanical. When choosing one type of mechanism or another, you should proceed from your individual preferences. Which of the benefits we have listed are valuable to you? Think and make your purchase with confidence.