Automatic or Quartz Watch? Differences, Pros and Cons from the Workshop

Automatic or quartz watch? The question is more common than you might think. Here is the answer from the workshop.

The fundamental difference

An automatic watch uses the kinetic energy of your wrist movement to wind a mainspring. A quartz watch uses a battery that powers an oscillating quartz crystal.

Automatic Watch: Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Craftsmanship and watchmaking tradition
• No battery to replace
• Smooth sweeping seconds hand (continuous motion)
• Value: luxury automatics hold or appreciate in value
• Mechanical appeal: you can see the movement through the case-back

Disadvantages

• Precision: ±2–10 seconds per day (vs ±15 seconds per month for quartz)
• Maintenance: service every 4–5 years (€200–800)
• Power reserve: if you do not wear it, it stops in 38–72 hours
• Sensitive to magnetic fields and shocks

Quartz Watch: Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Extreme precision: ±15 seconds per month
• Minimal maintenance: battery every 2–5 years
• Lower cost
• Does not stop if you do not wear it
• Resistant to shocks and magnetism

Disadvantages

• Ticking seconds hand (less elegant)
• Value: quartz watches lose value rapidly
• Less artisanal appeal
• Battery to replace (small environmental impact)

Which to choose?

If you seek tradition, craftsmanship, investment: automatic. If you seek precision, practicality, affordability: quartz.

In the luxury segment, automatic is the standard. Rolex, Omega, and Patek Philippe do not produce quartz watches (with rare exceptions). But for everyday use, a good quartz watch makes sense.

Maintenance

Both require maintenance, but of different kinds. An automatic needs a complete service every 4–5 years (disassembly, cleaning, lubrication). A quartz needs only a battery every 2–5 years and a gasket check.