A quartz watch offers the perfect blend of style and function, with a beautiful and lightweight design to match. Explore the range at Michael Hill to find your next timepiece.
A quartz watch is a timepiece that uses a battery regulated by a quartz crystal in order to keep accurate time.
In 1969, renowned Japanese watchmaker Seiko introduced the Astron, the world's first quartz watch. This marked the start of the quartz revolution, with the Seiko quartz watch delivering unrivalled performance with an accuracy to within five seconds per month, 100 times more than any other watch during that period.
Quartz watches are highly regarded for their superior accuracy and durability. They are easy to maintain, thanks to having fewer moving parts, and longer battery life. Although some quartz watches now come with additional features, like chronographs and date displays.
When it comes to a quartz watch, its meaning is simple: standing for reliability, timeless style and sleek practicality.
The quartz watch works by using an electronic oscillator regulated by a quartz crystal. It’s this quartz crystal that is the key to keeping accurate time. It sends an electrical signal through the quartz crystal, causing it to vibrate. This process is known as quartz movement, which regulates the way the watch hands move.
Quartz movements are powered by a battery, which produces a current in the watch circuit. This in turn powers a tiny electric motor, converting electrical energy into mechanical energy to make the gears in the watch turn, causing the hands to move.
Pioneered by Seiko, the use of quartz has simplified the art of watchmaking by replacing complex movements with more accurate timekeeping and requiring far fewer parts. Seiko quartz watches have earned an excellent reputation for their reliability and innovative design, with a wide range of watches to suit every style, including gold, silver and rose gold tone watches. Seiko watches are also tough and durable, able to last for many years with the right care and maintenance.
The main difference between a quartz watch and an automatic watch is their power source.
While a quartz watch is battery powered, an automatic watch relies on the energy and movement of a wearer's hand to power it. While the battery in a quartz watch will last a long time it will eventually need replacing, while automatic watches can go for many years, as long as it is worn consistently.
Automatic watches are celebrated for their craftsmanship and are an ideal choice for the stylish collector, prized for their complex mechanisms. The appearance of movement can also be fascinating, being able to see the inner workings of most automatic watches from the back of their cases.
While quartz watches are renowned for their precision and minimal upkeep, requiring no manual adjustments. Quartz watches are also thinner, lightweight and durable, thanks to their simpler design and fewer moving parts, making them a great everyday timepiece.
The best quartz watch or automatic watch all comes down to personal preference. When choosing your own, consider how it will fit with your lifestyle and needs, and pay close attention to its quality and design.
