A quartz watch or a mechanical watch - the differences and strengths

Watches can be divided into two groups – mechanical watches and quartz watches. In this article, we'll walk you through the differences and strengths of these watch types.

Quartz Watches

Quartz watches are watches that run on batteries. The first quartz watch was introduced to the market back in 1969, thanks to advances in microchip technology, and since then they've evolved over the years into the second-accurate accessories they are today. The word "quartz" comes from how the watch's movement works – time is measured using the vibrations of a quartz crystal. Most watches on the market today are, in fact, quartz watches.

Mechanical Watches

A mechanical watch, or automatic watch, captivates with its intricate mechanics. While quartz watches rely on batteries, a mechanical watch only needs the movement of your wrist – kinetic energy – to keep running, which winds the mainspring. The mainspring, in turn, transfers this kinetic energy into the movement. A fully wound automatic watch will keep running for a few days even at rest.

One special feature of automatic watches is the skeleton watch model, such as the HAVU Korpi, which lets you admire the movement through the sapphire crystal on the watch face. With the movement constantly on display, it's easy to appreciate the attention to detail, engineering skill, and above all the aesthetics involved in making the watch – like the smooth sweep of the second hand. Watches that require such precise craftsmanship also come with a higher price tag than quartz watches.

Quartz Watch or Mechanical Watch?

So which watch should you choose – a quartz or a mechanical one? If you're a watch enthusiast, we recommend getting both types. But if you have to pick just one, think about what you value more – the most accurate time possible, or the movement and its appearance.

If you wear your watch only occasionally – choose a quartz watch. Thanks to the battery, quartz watches keep accurate time even after being off your wrist for longer periods, so they're always spot on. Today's quartz watches are also slightly more accurate than automatic watches, though the difference is minimal.

If you appreciate fine mechanics and wear your watch regularly – choose an automatic watch. Mechanical watches need kinetic energy to keep the movement running, so regular use is recommended for convenience, to prevent the watch from stopping in a drawer if left unused for several days. Still, resetting the time only takes a few seconds once the watch has stopped, and it doesn't require a battery change. The beauty of mechanical watches lies in the hundreds of tiny parts working together to keep time, as well as the fact that they never need batteries.