Quartz is Alive! Secret Diary Of A Watch Girl and Nick Discuss Quartz Watches

Since its decimation of the Swiss watch industry over five decades ago, quartz has left an indelible impression on this traditional art form. For some, a battery-powered watch represents a soulless offering in a romantic world of fine craftsmanship. To others, a ticking seconds hand epitomises cost-effectiveness and remarkable accuracy.
Our editor, Nick Bennett, recently sat down to discuss this with passionate watch collector and enthusiast, Emily Marsden. They talked about the impact of quartz since its introduction, the stigma it carries in the world of high horology, and its place in the modern day. Along the way, they explored a couple of very special watches, each representing a different moment in time.
How do you feel about quartz movements in luxury watches? Would you own one? Let us know in the comments below.
If you enjoyed the chat, please like and subscribe, and be sure to check out Emily’s Instagram @secretdiaryofawatchgirl
Thanks for watching!
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[@flo12325]

Recently I discovered the black dial version of the Santos Dumont, which is mechanical, and thought to myself: „why didn’t they make it quartz? I don’t want a mechanical movement with an average power reserve that is more expensive than its quartz equivalents.“ - I feel like Cartier is a brand that understood well that their watches are fashion pieces primarily and if their whole catalogue was quartz I would even embrace it. For other brands that are more associated with high horology it’s obviously different …

[@watchcollectingwc]

It's a great point! Brands like Cartier, who are design-led for the most post, are typically more suited to quartz movements

[@TheGuitarSpaSingapore]

after collecting watches for a long time .. i’m tired of winding and ended up with 4 oysterquartz , royal oak quartz , Cartier tank quartz … i just take and go with the time accurate all the time i still have the rolex vintage 4 and 5 digit piece which i love

[@watchcollectingwc]

So many iconic watches are available in quartz and it's hard to argue with that grab-and-go convenience!

[@TheGuitarSpaSingapore]

@@watchcollectingwc that’s very true

[@neoelitist]

After about 15 years I came to the same conclusion!

[@ditmerk]

What a funny gentlewoman! Loved the conversation

[@edbutcher2399]

Loved this. Great conversation

[@IrishOister]

You know, that Oysterquartz is a fugly block, I also don’t like the ticking seconds in quartz. But there are some overlooked but cool vintage gems out there. The Breitling Aerospace from the late 90s… the ultimate airline pilot’s watch, titanium, control all functions from the crown, including a minute repeater. Or the sleeky Omega Polaris, with the gold inlay, which is ojectively among Genta’s top three. Both are analog/digital and have no seconds hand. Or the Omega Genève tuning fork models, with their hum and smooth second sweep. Or the Omega 120m Calypso diver, the slimmest diver in the world.

[@watchcollectingwc]

You've listed some great quartz models! The Seamaster 120 Calypso is an overlooked diver from the past!

[@Steffen-dg4kr]

Best quartz if you want quality is of course grand Seiko but often forgotten is Breitling. They developed amazing movements and nobody seemed to care 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@handsandcogs3171]

It was an innovative period in time , when there is a need to save a company they came together to produce the Oyster Quartz . At the time alot of manufactures were going down and probably thought that Quartz was the way forward. We would probably have seen a Quartz Daytona if the El Primero movement wasn't around to replace the manual wind ones .

[@watchcollectingwc]

We're pondering a world with an Oysterquartz Daytona! 😅

[@neoelitist]

Rolex also made the 66xx series of quartz movements

[@I-Libertine]

the thing is: quartz versions of popular automatic watches don't get at what moves me about the quartz. Take a watch like the Movado SE. The movement simply doesn't matter. Gaze into the depth of that dial. Learn the history. Study the evolution of horology. You will never again lust for an automatic for the sake of its "automatic-ness". You'll laugh at the so-called snobs as juveniles, just the way you once realized (once upon a time) that, say, diameter actually matters, that Invictas are ugly but their Pro Divers are brilliant, and that Cartier is vastly underappreciated. Quartz haters always strike me as unlearned. Wear what you love. Wear what moves you. And grow to a point where the opinions of others matter not one jot.

[@watchclog2979]

I have a quartz royal oak- just dont tell anyone ;)

[@watchcollectingwc]

All of that classic angular design with grab-and-go convenience

[@ricardochaveste7367]

Is shame guy's, your missing out, is my humble opinion ,that's all I'm going to say about this subject... great 😊content...

[@martinoconnor923]

They don't seem to understand quartz at the turn of 1970 was cutting edge....... the future and the most expensive tech...... all the trend setters had quartz and LED by 1972 LED was more expensive then Rolex and even the president of the United States had a Pulsar by Hamilton it was then the future.... love the style of this show and the hosts ..... but they needed someone who knows the subject and the history of the quartz crisis to equal their commentary out.....

[@Andrew.W75]

Completely agree, the level of knowledge here of Quartz is superficial at best

[@darylisaac6615]

nahhhh ,skipping this hype train.