The Great Quartz Debate

I've seen many a new collector, after getting their first taste of a mechanical, or mechanical automatic timepiece, vow to never buy another quartz timepiece again. But collectors shouldn't be so quick to swear-off quartz timepieces forever, and I'm going to give you some solid reasons why.

My first argument for quartz love, is accuracy. The least expensive quartz movement, will generally be more accurate than most any base, automatic movement. So with a solid quartz timepiece, you shouldn't have to worry about wild variances of gaining or losing time. There are also high-end quartz movements, and some certified chronometers whose accuracy are nearly unmatched by the best automatic movements.

Unless you have a winder for every automatic timepiece within your collection, chances are there will come a time when you go to grab one of your automatics, and it will be dead to the world, requiring you to wind it up, and then set said timepiece. From a convenience standpoint, nothing beats a grab-n-go quartz. Pressed for time, your quartz piece is always ready for action, save the need for a battery change.

Alpina, Startimer Chronograph

My third, last, and probably best argument for the quartz love, is brand upgrade and experience. As you may know, quartz timepieces are generally less expensive than comparable automatic timepieces. So if you're looking to experience, or get into higher-end, luxury brands, quartz is definitely a good way to start. This will give you some of the advantages of getting into higher-quality brands, better build construction, materials and watch movements, at a fraction of the cost. As an example, I was able to find the Alpina, Startimer Chronograph pictured, for well under $200. And though it sports a High-End Quartz movement, it still incorporates all of the build quality of a $900+ Alpina automatic.

So, don't be so quick to look down your nose, or shun a lowly quartz timepiece, as they can give your collection an upgrade in brand quality and practicality at the same time.