Discussion
This gets asked frequently.
mikeveal's stock response said:
Here are the main differences between quartz and mechanical movements. I'll try and place them in in order of importance, with the most important first.
Because of the next two bullet points, quartz watches have no soul.
Quartz watches use an off the shelf chunk of crystal to run an electronic oscillator at 32.768KHz. The electrical circuit could be designed by any first year degree student and most of them look like they have been. There is no art and no presentation in the design of a quartz watch mechanism.
Mechanical watches are horrendously complicated mechanical oscillators. The design of which requires an intimate knowledge of mechanics, of material science (material hardness, thermal co-efficient of expansion, lubrication) and an insane and obsessive attention to detail especially with regard to efficiency. Watch designers also have an appreciation and intimate knowledge of hundreds of years of horological evolution.
Not only is the design of watch mechanics a bit of an art form, the designers often go to extreme lengths to decorate the movements, even when they are hidden from view.
The second hand on a mechanical watch will sweep around the dial in a way that is soothing to watch, whereas the second hand of a quartz watch jerks gratingly at one second intervals.
Quartz watches go "Tick-------Tick-------Tick-------" whereas mechanicals go "TicktockTicktockTicktockTicktock", in quiet moments you will listen to your mechanical watch and be filled with joy.
With a quartz watch you just set it and forget it. You are denied the joy of adjusting and winding a mechanical movement.
Quartz watches will not require a 5-10 year service. A mechanical will need to sent to a watchmaker to be stripped down, cleaned, lubricated and regulated. Another chance to lavish care and attention on your mechanical masterpiece.
When you're wearing a mechanical watch, you'll never know exactly what the time is. When someone asks you the time you'll be able to say "it's roughly ...". Even the very best mechanical watches are only specified to be accurate within -4 / +6 seconds a day, whereas a cheap quartz watch will be accurate to an irritating +/- 1 second a month. Wearing a mechanical watch will therefore give you a new and more relaxed approach to time and time keeping.
I hope this helps you with your decision. I think it should be clear from this that quartz watches are inferior in every way.
Because of the next two bullet points, quartz watches have no soul.
Quartz watches use an off the shelf chunk of crystal to run an electronic oscillator at 32.768KHz. The electrical circuit could be designed by any first year degree student and most of them look like they have been. There is no art and no presentation in the design of a quartz watch mechanism.
Mechanical watches are horrendously complicated mechanical oscillators. The design of which requires an intimate knowledge of mechanics, of material science (material hardness, thermal co-efficient of expansion, lubrication) and an insane and obsessive attention to detail especially with regard to efficiency. Watch designers also have an appreciation and intimate knowledge of hundreds of years of horological evolution.
Not only is the design of watch mechanics a bit of an art form, the designers often go to extreme lengths to decorate the movements, even when they are hidden from view.
The second hand on a mechanical watch will sweep around the dial in a way that is soothing to watch, whereas the second hand of a quartz watch jerks gratingly at one second intervals.
Quartz watches go "Tick-------Tick-------Tick-------" whereas mechanicals go "TicktockTicktockTicktockTicktock", in quiet moments you will listen to your mechanical watch and be filled with joy.
With a quartz watch you just set it and forget it. You are denied the joy of adjusting and winding a mechanical movement.
Quartz watches will not require a 5-10 year service. A mechanical will need to sent to a watchmaker to be stripped down, cleaned, lubricated and regulated. Another chance to lavish care and attention on your mechanical masterpiece.
When you're wearing a mechanical watch, you'll never know exactly what the time is. When someone asks you the time you'll be able to say "it's roughly ...". Even the very best mechanical watches are only specified to be accurate within -4 / +6 seconds a day, whereas a cheap quartz watch will be accurate to an irritating +/- 1 second a month. Wearing a mechanical watch will therefore give you a new and more relaxed approach to time and time keeping.
I hope this helps you with your decision. I think it should be clear from this that quartz watches are inferior in every way.
Many women, for some bizarre reason, seem not to give a toss about the intricacies of the movement in their watch.
Even odder, they seem to think that they should be able to pick up their expensive piece of jewellery and have it tell them the time without having to wind and set it.
Watch geeks like us prefer mechanical, but real people don't care.
Even odder, they seem to think that they should be able to pick up their expensive piece of jewellery and have it tell them the time without having to wind and set it.
Watch geeks like us prefer mechanical, but real people don't care.
Aprilia99 said:
thanks for the response, very passionate.
I'm led to believe the reason these are not automatic is due to the small size...
any specific view to this watch over the general quartz vs automatic debate?
It's for your wife right?I'm led to believe the reason these are not automatic is due to the small size...
any specific view to this watch over the general quartz vs automatic debate?
She probably won't care whatsoever about having a mechanical watch. She will probably see it as important that she can take her watch out the box and it's got the right time on it. She will see it as an inconvenience even to have the battery changed, she would not comprehend having to send it away for a service.
I'm sticking my neck out here but she will probably also see the watch as an item of jewellery not as a "timepiece". For that reason she might not consider a Patek to be anything special. It might be worth taking a look at Cartier, who do luxury very well and she might consider their watches to be rather more attractive than the Nautilus 7010.
Correct, for the wife.
She loves the brand and if I had more cash I would stump up for the 4936G but its almost double.
i think its design has aged well, they do a slightly larger one which is automatic but doesnt have the leather strap...
ah decisions decisions... will also check out the Cartier as suggested...
She loves the brand and if I had more cash I would stump up for the 4936G but its almost double.
i think its design has aged well, they do a slightly larger one which is automatic but doesnt have the leather strap...
ah decisions decisions... will also check out the Cartier as suggested...
I've got to say that, as a watchmaker, Mike's "stock reply" irritates me in a couple of ways in its simplistic outlook.
High grade quartz watches certainly don't use an "off the shelf quartz crystal" with "a circuit that could be designed by any 1st year....". It's true that the technology guarantees inherently better accuracy, but exactly the same could be said about the move from verge escapements to the lever.
In fact, his point about knowing the exact time crosses into that as well. For all practical purposes an even half decent lever watch is "exact time". If he wants that relaxed outlook then perhaps he feels we should all be wearing culinder movements good for maybe 2 or 3 minutes a day!
Companies like Patek also go to similar lengths to make their (never seen) quartz movements things of beauty. This is what would be inside that Nautilus:
That finish is every bit as good as you'll find on their mechanical movements!
If people choose to only take an interest in mechanical watches then that's fine, but denigrating supreme workmanship of any type because of ones own personal prejudices suggests a somewhat blinkered view!
High grade quartz watches certainly don't use an "off the shelf quartz crystal" with "a circuit that could be designed by any 1st year....". It's true that the technology guarantees inherently better accuracy, but exactly the same could be said about the move from verge escapements to the lever.
In fact, his point about knowing the exact time crosses into that as well. For all practical purposes an even half decent lever watch is "exact time". If he wants that relaxed outlook then perhaps he feels we should all be wearing culinder movements good for maybe 2 or 3 minutes a day!
Companies like Patek also go to similar lengths to make their (never seen) quartz movements things of beauty. This is what would be inside that Nautilus:
That finish is every bit as good as you'll find on their mechanical movements!
If people choose to only take an interest in mechanical watches then that's fine, but denigrating supreme workmanship of any type because of ones own personal prejudices suggests a somewhat blinkered view!
Ouch.
It still only goes tick--------tick--------tick.
The difference between a high grade quartz and a normal part, from an electronics design is not that great. Perhaps it's because I'm an electronics engineer that I look on the quartz with disdain.
I must admit though, that Patek is nicely decorated for a soul-less quartz.
It still only goes tick--------tick--------tick.
The difference between a high grade quartz and a normal part, from an electronics design is not that great. Perhaps it's because I'm an electronics engineer that I look on the quartz with disdain.
I must admit though, that Patek is nicely decorated for a soul-less quartz.
If she likes it, then get the 7010.
Calling a Patek manual movement "just an ETA" would probably get my e-lynched; similarly, I would not consider a Patek quartz on a par with a mass-manufactured plastic movement in say my £15 Ben Sherman. Just because the power source is a battery instead of a spring, and the oscillator a crystal instead of a balance wheel neither adds nor removes soul. Both are mechanical devices with considerable thought given to gears, lubricants, temperature effects, etc; a quartz crystal's frequency is entirely down to its design and is temperature sensitive (quartz watches are tuned to keep the best time on the wrist as this is a fairly constant value compared with ambient).
The engineering of the stepper motor and gears takes no less thoroughness than a similar set of gears from a mechanical power source. It is a design consideration that gives the one second tick; moving the hand requires power, so more frequent movements use more power shortening the battery life. The 7010 has a battery life of about 3 years, with a low power indicator of moving the hand only once every four seconds. Compare this with the need for daily winding of a manual movement and either continuous wear or a separate winder unit for an automatic mechanical. Ladies might be on to something with a device that is so low maintenance and can be used intermittently without needing adjustment.
As an electronic engineer, the ability to run an electro-mechanical system for so long and so reliably in a relatively harsh environment (can you imagine a TV lasting even a day if put through a similar cycle of humidity and mechanical impulse!) on just a watch battery is a delight to see.
Calling a Patek manual movement "just an ETA" would probably get my e-lynched; similarly, I would not consider a Patek quartz on a par with a mass-manufactured plastic movement in say my £15 Ben Sherman. Just because the power source is a battery instead of a spring, and the oscillator a crystal instead of a balance wheel neither adds nor removes soul. Both are mechanical devices with considerable thought given to gears, lubricants, temperature effects, etc; a quartz crystal's frequency is entirely down to its design and is temperature sensitive (quartz watches are tuned to keep the best time on the wrist as this is a fairly constant value compared with ambient).
The engineering of the stepper motor and gears takes no less thoroughness than a similar set of gears from a mechanical power source. It is a design consideration that gives the one second tick; moving the hand requires power, so more frequent movements use more power shortening the battery life. The 7010 has a battery life of about 3 years, with a low power indicator of moving the hand only once every four seconds. Compare this with the need for daily winding of a manual movement and either continuous wear or a separate winder unit for an automatic mechanical. Ladies might be on to something with a device that is so low maintenance and can be used intermittently without needing adjustment.
As an electronic engineer, the ability to run an electro-mechanical system for so long and so reliably in a relatively harsh environment (can you imagine a TV lasting even a day if put through a similar cycle of humidity and mechanical impulse!) on just a watch battery is a delight to see.
As others have suggested some people (not just the female of the species) do not get the whole hand made movement stuff but do like brand, image, style, etc
My wife is content with my interest but to her a watch is a functional and ideally stylish bit of jewellery
Answer ? A new Cartier Tank Francaise acquired through DomH yesterday and I have a very happy wife currently crafting a fish pie wearing her Tank
Won't be the right call for all but seems to have been a good call for me - OP I hope you find the right one
My wife is content with my interest but to her a watch is a functional and ideally stylish bit of jewellery
Answer ? A new Cartier Tank Francaise acquired through DomH yesterday and I have a very happy wife currently crafting a fish pie wearing her Tank
Won't be the right call for all but seems to have been a good call for me - OP I hope you find the right one
mikeveal said:
Ouch.
It still only goes tick--------tick--------tick.
The difference between a high grade quartz and a normal part, from an electronics design is not that great. Perhaps it's because I'm an electronics engineer that I look on the quartz with disdain.
I must admit though, that Patek is nicely decorated for a soul-less quartz.
Fair comment about the difference between cheap and high-end quartz, although (again) similar could really be said about most mass produced mechanicals. It still only goes tick--------tick--------tick.
The difference between a high grade quartz and a normal part, from an electronics design is not that great. Perhaps it's because I'm an electronics engineer that I look on the quartz with disdain.
I must admit though, that Patek is nicely decorated for a soul-less quartz.
There are still "true" watchmakers out there, who breathe individual life into lumps of raw brass and steel, or produce truely innovative designs like the coaxial escapement, but there aren't that many in the big watch houses. At least, not at the point that a model goes into production!
Once the design is done (and a fair bit of that's textbook by now)it's over to the machines to make it. Adjustment for position and temp is still a dark art but even that becomes increasingly routine as the materials improve, the designers make little refinements, and the machines get better at making them!
As for the decoration on the Patek, I particularly like the treatment of the front plate which is never going to be seen by anyone outside a workshop!
mikeveal said:
When you're wearing a mechanical watch, you'll never know exactly what the time is. When someone asks you the time you'll be able to say "it's roughly ...". Even the very best mechanical watches are only specified to be accurate within -4 / +6 seconds a day, whereas a cheap quartz watch will be accurate to an irritating +/- 1 second a month. Wearing a mechanical watch will therefore give you a new and more relaxed approach to time and time keeping.
I read about some mechanical Seikos that are rated -2 / +4 which is rather impressive. michael gould said:
I will always have a problem with those two words together Patek and Quartz ..........it's still a £100 movement in a 10k watch
Yeah, can't really argue with that side of it (although probably a bit more than £100 given the relatively low production numbers). Sadly, it's true of a lot of mid range + watches now. I blame the Swiss Nothing wrong with quartz IMO, I was not at all into them at all until I was introduced to HEQ by a enthusiast.
I now have vintage seiko grand quartz and a couple of omega mega quartz from the era when quartz was the new thing and more expensive than automatic.
Due to this misconception that all quartz watches are the same, I was able to pick them up cheap for what they are. I like a automatic or a manual handwind movement as they have a soul but not all quartz movements are the same.
The patek quartz movement is probably pretty good, my wife is always asking me to sort out her auto's out, put the time/ date right and get them going. So sometimes a watch to just pick up and go is an advantage. I bought her a omega mega quartz but her favourite watch at the moment is a vintage gold gents TV dial bulova.
I would like to pick up a Rolex Oysterquartz, but she would 100% nick it and wear it all the time.
I now have vintage seiko grand quartz and a couple of omega mega quartz from the era when quartz was the new thing and more expensive than automatic.
Due to this misconception that all quartz watches are the same, I was able to pick them up cheap for what they are. I like a automatic or a manual handwind movement as they have a soul but not all quartz movements are the same.
The patek quartz movement is probably pretty good, my wife is always asking me to sort out her auto's out, put the time/ date right and get them going. So sometimes a watch to just pick up and go is an advantage. I bought her a omega mega quartz but her favourite watch at the moment is a vintage gold gents TV dial bulova.
I would like to pick up a Rolex Oysterquartz, but she would 100% nick it and wear it all the time.
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