Howcome quartz movements are so hated?

[buddenfan]

Howcome quartz movements are so hated? Half of Cartier’s watches use quartz but the industry standard seems to really look down upon it. Why is that?

[Jack T]

There’s likely to be pushback on your very strong statement. While many, if not a majority prefer mechanical movements, I’ve not seen any hate, which, itself is an overused word.
On the contrary, many post about their satisfaction with quartz movements from a variety of manufacturers. And a look at the Grans Seiko inventory of quartz movements, their designs and manufacture, you might gain an appreciation for them.

[Star Ferry]

Probably because Rolex has since its inception been focused on mechanical watches. And has not produced a quartz watch in a long time. In general most here are fans of mechanical watches and other mechanical things like cars.

Personally I own and have owned several quartz watches, from Swatch to G Shock to Grand Seiko, and do not hate them.

[Blansky]

Probably because there a few types of watch enthusiasts.

There are people who buy prestige brands for their cachet and recognition factor.

There are people who buy because they like the look of a particular watch.

There are people who are into horology, which is more defined by the history of the companies, the quaintness and magic of mechanical movements, and often too the complexity of the various complications.

For many, quartz has no soul and is just a electrical watch and is treated by watch lovers the way digital recording are treated by people who love vinyl recordings.

And then there are people who are a combination or none of the above.

A company like Cartier and a couple of others are often classified by horology types as more of a jewelry company than a "serious" watch company, even though they have a pretty impressive history in watchmaking.

And just to add fuel to the fire, many serious horology types don't really rate Rolex all that highly, although they do grudgingly appreciate the toughness of a Rolex, but consider their movements are rather pedestrian. "WHAT, NO DISPLAY BACK"???

[swils8610]

They have their place. Not in the luxury watch world in my opinion.


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[East Bay Rider]

I have several Citizen Eco-drives. I only bought one (resets nightly by the atomic clock which was new and cool at the time), the rest were gifts. I appreciate them for what they are, appliances for telling time. Don't get me wrong, I like them for whatever reasons I own them and all but one work flawlessly but they aren't mini mechanical marvels like the mechanical watches and pocket watches I own are. They don't have any romance to them and when they eventually fail they'll end up in a box as an old, forgotten gift. I won't think about them any more than I would reminisce about a failed clock radio or toaster.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

Howcome quartz movements are so hated? Half of Cartier’s watches use quartz but the industry standard seems to really look down upon it. Why is that?

Hate ? Why is that word thrown around so easily these days?

Anyhow...it really very simple. Many people who love watches love them at least partly because they love the mechanical nature of the movements. Quartz watches obviously don't fit that bill so they dislike them and/or don't buy them. Some will say quartz movements have no soul...those people are just trying to sound deep, it's nonsense. (I didn't read all the replies so if anyone already used the soul line...sorry, but it is a bit hackneyed)

That's the answer. If what you really want is an argument about the merits of Quartz I can't help you. I have owned Quartz, they are handy. I don't hate them, I just don't have a good reason to own one.

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[Chewbacca]

Hate is a bit strong but I know what you mean.

Those who appreciate timepieces as timepieces and all that’s involved with them are not as loud as todays broader premium watch enthusiast. And many aren’t educated enough on what a premium quartz movement is and what’s involved in marking them to form an argument beyond ‘they’re cheap’. Many even think ONLY Rolex makes a sweep seconds hand and that’s quite telling and a shame.

Whether one prefers a sweeping hand or ticking is also a consideration as is what their introduction to watches was.

[buddenfan]

A big difference would be that with Quartz every few years you have to change the battery? Is this correct?

[Maleg]

I agree with others that hate is an overused word, and too strong a word to describe the anti-quartz snobbery occasionally seen on watch forums.

My G-shock is quartz and I had a Rolex Oysterquartz (Ref 17000). It was an amazing watch. A far more accurate movement than any other Rolex in a Genta designed case.

People who avoid quartz avoid a significant segment of the watch world. A collection without some kind of quartz movement is incomplete IMO.

[HHIslander]

They are different but no hate here. I have a few. Without quartz, poor people wouldn't have watches and they'd be late for the fields.

[MrGoat]

Originally Posted by HHIslander

They are different but no hate here. I have a few. Without quartz, poor people wouldn't have watches and they'd be late for the fields.

Henry, did chewy hack your account?


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[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by HHIslander

They are different but no hate here. I have a few. Without quartz, poor people wouldn't have watches and they'd be late for the fields.

[HHIslander]

Originally Posted by MrGoat

Henry, did chewy hack your account?


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Chewy didn't grab the low fruit so I gave it a shot.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by HHIslander

Chewy didn't grab the low fruit so I gave it a shot.

Chewie is sooooo last year, now.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by HHIslander

They are different but no hate here. I have a few. Without quartz, poor people wouldn't have watches and they'd be late for the fields.

We just cancelled reading for the Help. Lobotomies are now mandatory.

[brandrea]

Because they’ve got no soul.

[GradyPhilpott]

When quartz watches hit the market, they were seized upon, because they were inexpensive and you only had to change the battery once per year and the accuracy was well beyond what inexpensive watches and a lot of not so inexpensive watches could achieve.

I remember thinking that I would never own another mechanical watch, because back in those days younger folks owned watches that would not keep very accurate time, had to be wound daily and they led to a lot of embarrassing situations. In other words, they weren't too reliable.

My main problem with quartz now is that I'll have the battery changed and wear the watch for a while and then it goes into my highly unpredictable rotation and by the time I want to wear the watch again, the battery is dead.

That's my problem with a lot of the quartz watches that I own. Of course, some that I own have five-year batteries or they are solar powered, but still a lot of the ones I own are just sitting somewhere with a dead battery.

Other people have other reasons, but most of the things that seem to bother others, don't really bother me at all.

[m j b]

I can tell when I'm wearing a quartz because of the electromagnetic field. I don't like it.

But I don't hate it.

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by m j b

I can tell when I'm wearing a quartz because of the electromagnetic field. I don't like it.

But I don't hate it.

If you are sensitive to EMF you should probably avoid the nuclear powered watches.

https://www.plus9time.com/blog/2020/...iko?format=amp

[Cliffnopus]

Hated?? My first 'good' watch (60 years ago) was an Accutron. I loved the accuracy of it, had it for years.

[Old Expat Beast]

The Holy Trinity of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin also make quartz watches.

https://www.patek.com/en/collection/movements/quartz

https://www.audemarspiguet.com/com/e...1261ST.01.html

https://www.vacheron-constantin.com/...ns/quartz.html

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Because they’ve got no soul.

Well of course no watch has a soul, but if it it did, surely it would more likely be the one regulated by a naturally-grown, naturally-resonating crystal (once revered by many ancient religions and cultures) rather than by a metal balance wheel.


“ . . . Native American Indians, African tribes, ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, Romans, Scots and countless other cultures used Clear Quartz in diagnostic healing, meditations and spiritual development, as religious objects and in funerary rites, and to dispel evil and magical enchantments.”

https://www.crystalvaults.com/crysta...opedia/quartz/

[Griswald]

Well...Air Cooled vs. Water Cooled- same concept with some folks.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

A big difference would be that with Quartz every few years you have to change the battery? Is this correct?

Unless it is solar-powered, yes. My Grand Seiko 9F needs a battery change every three years (during which time it will have gained a total six seconds at current performance), which I can do myself in five minutes, or have the GS service centre do for $40, which includes a pressure test to make sure it is still 100m WR. Other than that, it's unlikely to need a full service for several decades, even though it has a full 9-jewel mechanical drive train, thanks to its fully sealed movement housing.

[MrGoat]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Well of course no watch has a soul, but if it it did, surely it would more likely be the one regulated by a naturally-grown, naturally-resonating crystal (once revered by many ancient religions and cultures) rather than by a metal balance wheel.


“ . . . Native American Indians, African tribes, ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, Romans, Scots and countless other cultures used Clear Quartz in diagnostic healing, meditations and spiritual development, as religious objects and in funerary rites, and to dispel evil and magical enchantments.”

https://www.crystalvaults.com/crysta...opedia/quartz/

I was actually thinking the same thing Adam.


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[fmc000]

I only wear quartzes nowadays. My daily is a Citizen diver, full titanium with duratect treatment including the bracelet , gorgeous blue dial and bezel, eco-drive, quick-set date and 200m WR. I have to set the time only twice a year because of DST and back, what's not to love?

I paid less than 200€ new for it in an Amazon sale (MSRP is around 350€), definitely a real bargain IMHO.

[White Collar Boy]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

Howcome quartz movements are so hated?

If they are at all, I think it’s by people too eager to sound like mechanical watch aficionados. Nothing wrong with quartz watches at all.

[dafuture]

I don't hate them. I own a few myself and really enjoy them.

The people who do want "purist power." The quartz movement nearly killed off our beloved mechanicals in the 80s - people are always afraid of what they don't understand.

[Cliffnopus]

Originally Posted by Maleg

If you are sensitive to EMF you should probably avoid the nuclear powered watches.

https://www.plus9time.com/blog/2020/...iko?format=amp

And especially the mushroom cloud, should you inadvertently drop one.