Swiss quartz movement keeps your watch running right on time
A watch?s movement is literally what makes it tick (or not make any sound at all, as the case may be). It is the engine which gives it life and dictates how (and how accurately) it keeps time.
There are three kinds of movement, or calibre, utilized by watchmakers today: quartz, mechanical, and automatic. Quartz relies on batteries which feed electricity through tiny quartz crystals to keep time. Mechanical means the piece is literally made of clockwork ? traditional gears and springs which have to be wound in order to keep accurate time. Automatic or self-winding watches have the same internal workings as a mechanical watch, but utilize the kinetic energy of the wearer to power the piece, making winding unnecessary.
Why Choose Quartz
Quartz movement makes for an incredibly accurate timepiece. The electrical current run through a quartz crystal oscillates at a constant frequency, which means that tick-tick-tick you hear and see from the second hand is perfectly calibrated, some to within even a few seconds a year. Batteries only need to be changed every two to five years, and can power not only the timekeeping mechanism but also extra features like barometers, altimeters, and illumination. Because a quartz watch needs less moving parts to function, they are often less expensive than their mechanical counterparts.
However, fine Swiss watchmakers do make luxury quartz watches which adhere to their very strict standards of accuracy and quality.
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Quartz watches, again due to their more streamlined and simplistic design, tend to be more durable and easy to maintain than mechanical, making them the perfect wearable timekeepers for everyday use.
When Mechanical Movement is More Desirable
Mechanical watch enthusiasts are all about tradition and craftsmanship. Not much has changed in the inner workings of mechanical clockwork since its invention, and many fine watchmakers are known for their attention to detail along with being the keepers of a time honored craft.
Because of this, mechanical watches are often thought of as works of art. Many are handmade and require skill and experience to make properly. Mechanical watches are also revered for their longevity, often being handed down by family members, making them wonderful heirlooms to treasure.
While not quite as accurate as their quartz cousins, they can still be reliable timepieces?to within a few seconds per day?and fascinating collectors? items to boot. While mechanical watches tend to be more expensive and require more regular maintenance by way of cleaning and winding than quartz, the cost is justified in their beauty and testament to human ingenuity.