Fancy brand (Omega, Tag etc) quartz watches - rubbish?
Discussion
I note that brands like Tag Heuer and Omega do 'entry level' quartz watches.
Are these considered any good or a total waste of money?
I understand with the automatic variants, one is paying for the engineering/movement but I suppose with quartz, is the only differentiating factor between these and a Casio the exterior and the brand name?
Do they keep their value like the automatic versions?
Are they just considered the s
t version for poor people?
(And yes...I know Omega or Tag Heuer might not be considered 'fancy' by the standards of here, but to normies, they are).
Are these considered any good or a total waste of money?
I understand with the automatic variants, one is paying for the engineering/movement but I suppose with quartz, is the only differentiating factor between these and a Casio the exterior and the brand name?
Do they keep their value like the automatic versions?
Are they just considered the s
t version for poor people?(And yes...I know Omega or Tag Heuer might not be considered 'fancy' by the standards of here, but to normies, they are).
With a quartz movement, you tend to pay for the name on the dial rather than anything of horological significance. As such, they tend not to retain their value compared to mechanical movements.
That's not to say they're bad, some offer functionality that wouldn't otherwise be available...Breitling Emergency etc. Some buyers prefer the accuracy and convenience of an infrequent battery change to winding and setting the watch if it has been unworn and not on a winder.
As ever, it's best to buy what you like and don't consider a watch an investment, unless it's something really top-end.
That's not to say they're bad, some offer functionality that wouldn't otherwise be available...Breitling Emergency etc. Some buyers prefer the accuracy and convenience of an infrequent battery change to winding and setting the watch if it has been unworn and not on a winder.
As ever, it's best to buy what you like and don't consider a watch an investment, unless it's something really top-end.
I would usually go for an automatic and undoubtedly they are more desirable but I do have Quartz movements in my collection including a Breitling Endurance Pro which I am a big fan of and I like I can just throw it on without thinking do I have to set it up, I did buy it used at 12 months old and it had lost 1/3 of it's value in that time which for me made it a good purchase but would have stung a bit if I bought it brand new from an AD
The vast majority of Quartz Omegas are small dress watches and some cost £40k so not exactly cheap either they have a couple of specialist sports quartz watches but that's about functionality rather than them being entry level.
If you're looking for a men's Omega watch you're going to have to try hard to buy a quartz from Omega and they are £6600-£7000.
Not sure the OP has bothered at actually look on the website.
If you're looking for a men's Omega watch you're going to have to try hard to buy a quartz from Omega and they are £6600-£7000.
Not sure the OP has bothered at actually look on the website.
Barchettaman said:
Higher end quartz from Tag and Omega absolutely tank in value and are difficult to sell on.
Perversely this makes them excellent pre owned buys if you really want the functionality, accuracy, ease of servicing and reliability of a quartz module.
Yep, this.Perversely this makes them excellent pre owned buys if you really want the functionality, accuracy, ease of servicing and reliability of a quartz module.
My wife bought an entry level quartz Tag over 15 years ago and it's still running perfectly. I criticised her choice a lot at the time but have to confess it was a canny buy that's never let her down. She loves it and refuses my offer to buy her something more premium.
Also worth noting that quartz watches from a given brand almost always have a similar level of case finishing and bracelet quality as their more expensive mechanical siblings. Grand Seiko is a good example of this. Their quartz watches almost feel like a bargain for the level of finishing.
Wills2 said:
The vast majority of Quartz Omegas are small dress watches and some cost £40k so not exactly cheap either they have a couple of specialist sports quartz watches but that's about functionality rather than them being entry level.
If you're looking for a men's Omega watch you're going to have to try hard to buy a quartz from Omega and they are £6600-£7000.
Not sure the OP has bothered at actually look on the website.
Quartz are available 2-3k if ‘you bother to look’ on their website. If you're looking for a men's Omega watch you're going to have to try hard to buy a quartz from Omega and they are £6600-£7000.
Not sure the OP has bothered at actually look on the website.
Wills2 said:
The vast majority of Quartz Omegas are small dress watches and some cost £40k so not exactly cheap either they have a couple of specialist sports quartz watches but that's about functionality rather than them being entry level.
If you're looking for a men's Omega watch you're going to have to try hard to buy a quartz from Omega and they are £6600-£7000.
Not sure the OP has bothered at actually look on the website.
Indeed, Omega used to do more quartz watches (the seamaster worn in Goldeneye was a quartz) but it appears they have moved away from that end of the market these days.
If you're looking for a men's Omega watch you're going to have to try hard to buy a quartz from Omega and they are £6600-£7000.
Not sure the OP has bothered at actually look on the website.
Indeed, Omega used to do more quartz watches (the seamaster worn in Goldeneye was a quartz) but it appears they have moved away from that end of the market these days.
g3org3y said:
I understand with the automatic variants, one is paying for the engineering/movement but I suppose with quartz, is the only differentiating factor between these and a Casio the exterior and the brand name?
There's significant variation between quartz movements. The Grand Seiko ones, and the top end Eco Drives, are far more accurate still than the £20 Casios.My "The Citizen" is rated to 5 seconds per year accuracy, and IIRC there's one that's 1 second per year.
I’ve got an Omega Seamaster with a quartz movement. Just wanted something well finished, accurate and resilient to wear every day that I could use as a backup when occasionally scuba diving, and with a simple clear analogue dial as I work in a very time pressured environment where these things are genuinely valuable. For this it’s pretty much perfect.
Mechanical watches are lovely, but are fragile, less accurate, more sensitive to knocks, need more frequent and expensive service so are not right for this job.
Can’t say I’ve ever been that bothered about the name on the dial, and in 15 years of wearing it every day, not a single person has ever even commented on it, so I assume nobody else is bothered either. Outside of a few watch geeks nobody cares!
Don’t really know or care what it’s worth (which surely only matters if you want to sell it?) and can’t remember what it cost. It’s a bit scruffy now with a few scratches and light marks on the bezel, but still looks good enough to wear with a suit or non-flashy worn with a t-shirt.
Mechanical watches are lovely, but are fragile, less accurate, more sensitive to knocks, need more frequent and expensive service so are not right for this job.
Can’t say I’ve ever been that bothered about the name on the dial, and in 15 years of wearing it every day, not a single person has ever even commented on it, so I assume nobody else is bothered either. Outside of a few watch geeks nobody cares!
Don’t really know or care what it’s worth (which surely only matters if you want to sell it?) and can’t remember what it cost. It’s a bit scruffy now with a few scratches and light marks on the bezel, but still looks good enough to wear with a suit or non-flashy worn with a t-shirt.
Quartz is a good alternative if you already have a case full of automatics.
I like having a quartz 'beater' handy if I just want to grab a watch and go, something like a diver that can take some abuse. Personally I wouldn't pay more than $1K CAD for a quartz watch, but some of those older seamasters look good.
I like having a quartz 'beater' handy if I just want to grab a watch and go, something like a diver that can take some abuse. Personally I wouldn't pay more than $1K CAD for a quartz watch, but some of those older seamasters look good.
Edited by Bob_Defly on Thursday 18th September 18:01
Sporky said:
g3org3y said:
I understand with the automatic variants, one is paying for the engineering/movement but I suppose with quartz, is the only differentiating factor between these and a Casio the exterior and the brand name?
There's significant variation between quartz movements. The Grand Seiko ones, and the top end Eco Drives, are far more accurate still than the £20 Casios.My "The Citizen" is rated to 5 seconds per year accuracy, and IIRC there's one that's 1 second per year.
Bob_Defly said:
Quartz is a good alternative if you already have a case full of automatics.
I like having a quartz 'beater' handy if I just want to grab a watch and go, something like a diver that can take some abuse. Personally I wouldn't pay more than $1K CAD for a quartz watch, but some of those older seamasters look good.
Agreed, I certainly wouldn’t be paying really big money for one. As I said, can’t remember what mine cost but from memory high 3 figures. It’s pretty much a tool to me, just like I have a cheap Chinese leatherman copy and a proper Leatherman, they both do the same job but one’s a lot nicer to use than the other. The real one is probably 50x the price but worth it to me as it’s just a nice thing to have and use. My wife or indeed 90% of the population probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. I like having a quartz 'beater' handy if I just want to grab a watch and go, something like a diver that can take some abuse. Personally I wouldn't pay more than $1K CAD for a quartz watch, but some of those older seamasters look good.
Edited by Bob_Defly on Thursday 18th September 18:01
Countdown said:
I'm by no means a watch expert but I have to say the bit in bold surprises me. I own one of these and, apart from when the battery is being replaced I don't think it's ever lost any time.
Something like that is easily as accurate as anyone needs in a wristwatch, but you'd expect up to 10 seconds a month or so from a non-temperature-compensated quartz movement. The more you wear it the more accurate it'll be (they're generally calibrated at 26°C). I guess it all depends on what you are looking for in a watch and how much one is prepared to pay for it. Not forgetting whether you are bothered about its value in years to come.
When I bought my Omega Aqua Terra back in 2010, I knew I wanted an Omega and a watch which would cover a lot of bases. At the time I couldn’t justify the extra cost of an automatic version although back then the difference was IIRC somewhere in the region of £1,000 so I paid £1600 for it.
Now the same automatic AT retails at £5,900 and although there isn’t a quartz version second hand are going for £2,000.
It’s a great watch and whilst I have only 4 watches now(including a cheap Stuhrling(don’t judge me) it is my favourite and gets the occasional compliment, just as does my automatic Certina which cost £650!
Non watch people will probably notice a Tag and a Rolex more than any other brand.
If ever I had a few spare (thousands) of pounds, then yes I would go out and buy the automatic version of the AT in blue along with a Speedmaster and a Seamaster but as it is I am quite happy with what I have.
When I bought my Omega Aqua Terra back in 2010, I knew I wanted an Omega and a watch which would cover a lot of bases. At the time I couldn’t justify the extra cost of an automatic version although back then the difference was IIRC somewhere in the region of £1,000 so I paid £1600 for it.
Now the same automatic AT retails at £5,900 and although there isn’t a quartz version second hand are going for £2,000.
It’s a great watch and whilst I have only 4 watches now(including a cheap Stuhrling(don’t judge me) it is my favourite and gets the occasional compliment, just as does my automatic Certina which cost £650!
Non watch people will probably notice a Tag and a Rolex more than any other brand.
If ever I had a few spare (thousands) of pounds, then yes I would go out and buy the automatic version of the AT in blue along with a Speedmaster and a Seamaster but as it is I am quite happy with what I have.
Countdown said:
I'm by no means a watch expert but I have to say the bit in bold surprises me. I own one of these and, apart from when the battery is being replaced I don't think it's ever lost any time.
Surprises me too because it’s rubbish. I have £60 Casio and it is spot on. I also have a Auto Speedmaster which needs altering once a monthcraig1912 said:
Surprises me too because it s rubbish.
Then it's well documented rubbish.https://calibercorner.com/casio-caliber-3071/
https://calibercorner.com/casio-caliber-5359/
Loads more quartz movements documented at Caliber Corner. Your anecdata with a sample size of one isn't particularly relevant.
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