Let's talk about Quartz

[DSJ]

It's almost like a political thread (but safe for debate on TRF!), considering the (mostly con) opinions about quartz on TRF, but I think it would make for good conversation this week.

In the evolution of watches and clocks, no one can dispute the impact the quartz movements have had. I'm guessing there's not many of us who do not have a quartz watch or clock in our household (wall clock, alarm clock, microwave, coffee maker, VCR, etc., they're everywhere!). What was an expensive alternative to mechanical 30+ years ago has become an inexpensive way to provide timekeeping to the masses. Currently McDonalds is including a digital quartz watch with a kids' Happy Meal.

Because of this, the "WIS-perspective" towards quartz movements tends to be more negative than positive, and this may also be in light of quartz nearly supplanting mechanical watches. Another side effect, and one of my frustrations is that I can no longer find a Synchronous clock (60hz) for my kitchen that I would love to have.

Despite the fact that many of us strongly prefer mechanical timepieces (and I'm including clocks, as I am a clock fan too), quartz is here and here to stay. Their use in watches range from nameless drug store watches, all they way up to haute horologie brands. Even our own Rolex had a quartz watch (interesting in its own right) for many years.

So, good, bad, or indifferent, what do you think? Let's discuss!

Here's a link for those who like to learn more...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz_clock

[Mosco]

Soulless.... Cheap... With the exception of Breitling Emergency, of course! Pull out the antenna and have emergency crews hovering over your head in no time - that is, indeed, sweet.

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Soulless.... Cheap... With the exception of Breitling Emergency, of course! Pull out the antenna and have emergency crews hovering over your head in no time - that is, indeed, sweet.

Soulless?
http://www.oysterquartz.net/the_5035_movement.htm

No more than a hybrid car is soulless, compared to a traditional internal combustion engine!

[Mosco]

Originally Posted by DSJ

Soulless?
http://www.oysterquartz.net/the_5035_movement.htm

No more than a hybrid car is soulless, compared to a traditional internal combustion engine!

I disagree with the analogy. Just ask a watch purist - odds are, they will agree. Besides, first ever timepieces were mechanical - same as first ever engines had variations of internal combustion. Hybrids are deviation from those fundamentals - thusly, you will never see a hybrid Ferrari.

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Hybrids are deviation from those fundamentals - thusly, you will never see a hybrid Ferrari.

Oops!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...lasts_off.html

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/07/15/...ybrid-by-2015/

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07...-cars-by-2015/

Never is a long time. Although the auto purist in me also wonders about this.

BTW, I am enjoying our debate, and please don't think I'm contradicting you for contradicting sake!

[mretzloff]

Of course quartz watches are here to stay. So are cars with automatic transmission, TV dinners, and anything else that makes life easier.

I prefer mechanical because I love the ticking it makes.

[iwantagmt]

Hello I am new here, this is only my second post, but I just wanted to share my thoughts regarding quartz...when i first became interested in watches I looked down on the quartz watches as cheap imitations of real (mechanical) watches. However, as I get closer to actually shopping for a nice watch (I'm 22 and still trying to save up for something good) I realized that I might actually be happier with a quartz, due to not having to worry about hurting it (I know some ETA based watches cannot have ther date changed between certain hours) and constantly re-setting it if not worn for a few days.

Thus, as I get closer to a purchase, my thought process has changed from "a watch's value is based on the quality of the movement" to "a watch's value is based on the pleasure of wearing."

Unfortunately, there are very few good quartz watches in my mind, and I wish that more models were available in quartz. Right now my shopping list consists of a Seamaster 300M Pro Quartz (with Speedmaster bracelet), a Seamaster Aqua Terra Quartz, or a Breitling Colt II Quartz.

Bottom line, I definitely think that the quartz watch has its place in the world of fine watches.

[WatchTimes]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Soulless.... Cheap... With the exception of Breitling Emergency, of course! Pull out the antenna and have emergency crews hovering over your head in no time - that is, indeed, sweet.

The Breitling Emergency was a great watch BUT the frequency they used is not really in use anymore...

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by JYogi

The Breitling Emergency was a great watch BUT the frequency they used is not really in use anymore...

That's not good, so nobody's listening? Retrofit?

[gettocard]

Originally Posted by DSJ

That's not good, so nobody's listening? Retrofit?

it is still used. They are just upgrading it to a new one. My local dealer is a sucker that wants to sell the old version without letting know customers about the upgrade.....

[doghouse]

Quartz are fine if you want to tell time. My mechanicals are my only "man jewelry" I wear.

[jas55]

They are still good watches.

[Rebel]

I like my jogging watch with the alarm function. However, if I could have only one watch.......it would be my mechanical for sure.

[DSJ]

This is interesting:
http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/quartz/

[ijen0311]

Let's talk about quartz, baby... let's talk aaaaabout quartz.

My Breitling is a quartz. It's a sweet watch.

[gettocard]

I love my Suunto and my Timex !!!

[cody p]

i love the smooth sweep of the shadow of my sundial.

i like quartz, especially heq stuff. would love to have a gs with the 9f.

i like mech for 2 reasons: the retro aspect, and the fact that the piece on my wrist is not ubiquitous.

[Mosco]

i will join this discussion shortly - friggin crazy day!

[mailman]

I love my Timex Ironman and check the accuracy of my mechanicals with my G-Shock

[Mosco]

I own a quartz watch - a Hamilton Multi-Touch - but not for the watch aspect. It is an altimeter, alarm, tachymeter, compass and has a temperature gauge - all for under $500. However, I do not consider it a watch anymore than I consider my microwave a watch.

Now as far as women's watches are concerned - it is a different story. My female clients care about the case, precious metals/stones, etc, but not so much the movement. Hence the current line of Patek Twenty-4's. If you want accuracy and care-free maintenance, get a quartz watch. If you are more interested to have various components working together in unison driven by momentum and spring tension only (not an outside interchangeable power source), then, of course, mechanical is for you. Naturally, me being a watch - snob (LOL), I prefer the latter.

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by Mosco

I own a quartz watch - a Hamilton Multi-Touch - but not for the watch aspect. It is an altimeter, alarm, tachymeter, compass and has a temperature gauge - all for under $500. However, I do not consider it a watch anymore than I consider my microwave a watch.

Now as far as women's watches are concerned - it is a different story. My female clients care about the case, precious metals/stones, etc, but not so much the movement. Hence the current line of Patek Twenty-4's. If you want accuracy and care-free maintenance, get a quartz watch. If you are more interested to have various components working together in unison driven by momentum and spring tension only (not an outside interchangeable power source), then, of course, mechanical is for you. Naturally, me being a watch - snob (LOL), I prefer the latter.

I like the Multi-Touch. A friend who's a cop uses it as his on-duty/uniform watch, rather than his Submariner.

A colleague has a Patek 24. Stunning watch, but yes, quartz movement. Unlike my mother and wife, who have "bought in" to the idea that a Rolex can be worn every day as an only watch, many women use watches as jewelry accessories, and change them as often as their earrings, necklaces, etc., so quartz makes a lot of sense as it would be tedious to reset the watch every few days/weeks.

[Flaxmoore]

No problem with quartz here. Being a poor grad student, an "expensive" watch is $100, not the thousands that a Rolex will run, or the $500 for a mechanical Victorinox or something similar. My beater Citizen is all-stainless, which is vital- Timex, for some reason, rusts out on my wrist. Even the "stainless" models will rust in a year or so, giving me hives when I wear it.

Kind of sucks- I had one that reminds me of the Tudor Minisub that I had to retire due to rusting.

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by Flaxmoore

No problem with quartz here. Being a poor grad student, an "expensive" watch is $100, not the thousands that a Rolex will run, or the $500 for a mechanical Victorinox or something similar. My beater Citizen is all-stainless, which is vital- Timex, for some reason, rusts out on my wrist. Even the "stainless" models will rust in a year or so, giving me hives when I wear it.

Kind of sucks- I had one that reminds me of the Tudor Minisub that I had to retire due to rusting.

Wow, you have any pics of the corrosion on your Tudor and/or Timexes? You're definitely a candidate for someone who NEEDS 316 or 409 SS!

[Flaxmoore]

Originally Posted by DSJ

Wow, you have any pics of the corrosion on your Tudor and/or Timexes? You're definitely a candidate for someone who NEEDS 316 or 409 SS!

I misspoke, I suppose. I don't have a Tudor, just a Timex that reminds me of one. I just spent 20 minutes trying to get a good picture, but I can't for some reason. The wrist side of the watch body, to describe it, looks like a combination of steel and pumice- lots of little pits and dings, all of them sharp!

[DSJ]

More commentary anyone? Please???

[topcat30093]

I believe that a quartz watch have become part of every day life.

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by topcat30093

I believe that a quartz watch have become part of every day life.

Fully agree.

[JJ Irani]

Now that you mention it, David......I'm pretty sure there are much more Quartz watches out there as compared with the mechanical ones.

The majority of the people out there buy a watch merely to tell time. The number of "cheapo" quartz watches must number in the several millions and must be also very, very affordable to all and sundry.

So, yes, I'd say Quartz still rules!!

JJ

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Now that you mention it, David......I'm pretty sure there are much more Quartz watches out there as compared with the mechanical ones.

The majority of the people out there buy a watch merely to tell time. The number of "cheapo" quartz watches must number in the several millions and must be also very, very affordable to all and sundry.

So, yes, I'd say Quartz still rules!!

JJ

Yes, something I read yesterday in researching this topic said that only 13% of watches sold these days are mechanical, so 87% are quartz. I was actually surprised that a full 13% are still mechanical, actually!

Heck, even your current Omega is quartz, JJ!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by DSJ

Heck, even your current Omega is quartz, JJ!

What quartz OMEGA? This one?