Automatic Vs Quartz Movement - Why Automatic Watch Is The Better One

Comparison of automatic vs quartz movement is something that have been discussed among watch fans for a long time.

While there are various take on this - either neutral or one sided, it's definitely something that is interesting.

I'm an automatic watch enthusiast, and even though I do know about the technological advantage that quartz movement has over the automatic, I still am going to root for ol' automatic.

The reason why I say automatic movement is better than quartz movement is:

It's Unique Due To Its Mechanical Feature

Just look around you and I'm pretty sure you will notice that electronic items are almost everywhere such as TV, phone, computer, car, and others.

Call me nuts, but the ubiquity of electronic items around me is making me feel restless.

Don't get me wrong though. I absolutely love these inventions as it have made my life better.

Just imagine where we'll be without phone for instance. Without it, communication will be very slow and not as instantaneous as it is right now.

And without a computer, I won't be able to write this blog!

While these are great inventions, I do feel that our lives are constantly inside the sphere of electronic items and we're moving apart from our origins.

Somehow, I yearn for a device or gadget that is not made up of electronic items. And automatic watch fits that bill nicely.

It's made up of hundreds of small parts that's moving entirely based on the concept of conversion of energy from potential (stored inside the tightened mainspring) to kinetic energy (moving of gears/parts to keep time and show it).

Such wondrous timekeeping device is something that's very ingenious in these times. I cherished the fact that it's doing something very useful i.e telling time without the need for modern electronic chips.

And it's doing so with little intervention from us! There's other devices that do things without electronics but these often need some labor from us for it to work.

And this is why the automatic watch movement is a truly unique device in our time.

For a more neutral take on the comparison of both movements, you can read this awesome article on automaticwatchesformen.com

With That Being Said, Quartz Is The Better Watch, Technically

While I'm all for automatic watch, I'm not going to completely sideline quartz watch.

Indeed, it's a marvelous creation - it's like automatic watch on steroids. It can tell time more accurately, can has lots of functions (chronograph, alarm, gps, timezones, etc.) with a still affordable price.

Thus, if we're comparing specs to specs, quartz movement is the better watch.

The huge amount of functions that we can stuff inside it is incredible. It's a must have a decade ago but now not anymore because...

The Same Functions Can Be Found In A Smartphone

Indeed, our smartphones have become very very smart. Even a basic android/iphone smartphones can do everything that quartz watch can do - even more with the use of apps.

Which is why I'd argue that quartz watch is not huge functionality is not something to drool about in this age because the exact same features can be found in a smartphone - which most of us have!

Can we live without a watch? Yes. But can we live without our phone? Heck, No!

Conclusion

Without a doubt, quartz watch is an outstanding device. It can do what automatic watch can do, and lots more.

However, in this age of smartphones, which can do everything a quartz watch can do, it's entire existence is redundant.

But automatic watch? That mechanical timepiece will be truly unique for years to come =)