Quartz or Mechanical Watch: What’s the Right Choice?

Whether you're a watch enthusiast or a beginner, sooner or later everyone faces the dilemma between a quartz movement and a mechanical movement when choosing a timepiece.

There are two types of watch movements: quartz and mechanical.

In the case of quartz, a cut quartz crystal is used to generate a frequency of 32,768 hertz, creating an oscillatory motion that marks the passage of one second. An electronic circuit sends an impulse to an electric motor every time the number of vibrations produced by the quartz corresponds to one second, which in turn moves the hands of the watch.

Mechanical watches, on the other hand, are further divided into two categories: manual winding watches and automatic watches. Manual watches need to be wound by turning a crown connected to the mainspring. This operation must be performed frequently, almost daily, and requires a lot of care and passion to keep the watch running accurately. Automatic winding, however, is powered by the natural movement of the wrist, meaning the watch needs to be worn regularly to prevent the power from running out.

The type of movement significantly influences the category of watch you want to purchase: mechanical watches are prestigious objects, often more expensive, and require more care. They are ideal for gifting on special occasions.

A quartz movement watch, while considered to belong to a lower category, is a good alternative, if only because it requires a smaller budget. It’s a perfect watch for everyday wear or as a backup piece, reserving a more valuable model for special occasions.

When it comes to reliability, quartz movement guarantees greater precision in timekeeping. However, since it runs on a lithium battery, it will need a battery replacement when the power runs out. Mechanical movement, by contrast, has no energy limitations, though due to its winding mechanism, both automatic and especially manual watches don’t always guarantee second-by-second accuracy.

If you are passionate about watches or simply want to learn more, in our stores, you will not only find the model that best suits your needs but also benefit from the knowledge and experience necessary to satisfy all your curiosities and requirements.

Florio Folini Srl
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23100 Sondrio - ITALY 

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