Choosing a watch can be a daunting task. Today, a huge number of models are presented on the market. How not to get lost among this variety? Which are better - quartz or mechanical watches?
Types of Clockworks
To begin with, we’ll figure out what types of clockwork are.
Mechanical clocks use a weight or spring mechanism to obtain energy (depending on the type of clock), and a balancer or a pendulum is used as an oscillating system. The trigger mechanism is responsible for converting rotational energy into reciprocating or oscillatory. It connects to the spring using a gear system.
A quartz watch is a device that in many respects resembles a mechanical watch, but with several fundamental differences in the oscillatory system and power source. There are hybrid models that combine elements of both devices.
Electronic devices carry quartz elements, as well as a display instead of a dial and a microcircuit. They often have an advanced feature set. Almost all electronic watches are equipped with a stopwatch and calendar; they can have a built-in alarm clock, thermometer, barometer, and calculator.
How did quartz movements
A quartz watch is not a thing that was invented in one day. Their invention was preceded by long work, numerous scientific research and achievements.
The device of mechanical watches was constantly improved, they were complex and had a high cost. In an effort to make the watch a simpler and more affordable subject, W.A. Marrison in 1927 proposed a fundamentally new watch mechanism - quartz. The first devices, built on a new principle, were bulky and were used in scientific laboratories as more accurate than mechanical ones.
Scientists from three countries — the United States, Switzerland, and Japan — worked independently to improve and reduce quartz watches. The Japanese company Seiko provided the finest quartz stopwatch for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, and launched its first wristwatch in 1969 - they became the first in the world. The first Swiss wrist quartz watch was developed in 1967 and went on sale in 1970. It was a real breakthrough, and the discoveries fell like a cornucopia. In 1972, quartz watches on liquid crystals were released , that is, electronic, in 1978 they were equipped with a calculator, in 1979 super-flat, in 1988 there were hybrids with a battery charging from kinetic energy - from hand movements.
How do quartz watches
An electronic unit located in a quartz watch sends impulses to a stepping motor that turns arrows. A constant pulse frequency provides quartz. The engine and unit are powered by a battery. Such a watch does not need to be started, because the battery provides a long battery life.
A quartz watch is a universal mechanism that can become a multifunctional device. On this basis, an alarm clock, chronometer, stopwatch can be designed, and this will minimize the cost of the finished product.
The quartz movement can be equipped with either a dial or a digital display. We have a watch with a liquid crystal display called electronic.
Why watch a crystal
Why is a quartz crystal used in watches? It has unique properties: when exposed to electric current, it contracts, and at the same time generates electrical impulses. With the help of current, quartz can be forced to compress-unclench at a constant frequency. These oscillations should have a resonance frequency of 32768 hertz, which is governed by the size of the crystal. A quartz crystal stabilizes the electrical oscillations of a generator at its resonant frequency.
How long can a quartz watch work?
When buying a quartz watch, we often wonder how long it will work. What happens if a battery starts to run out or a quartz crystal breaks? By the way, those who buy men's quartz watches care more about the product’s life. Women are more often concerned about their appearance.
In terms of longevity, quartz devices are not inferior to mechanical ones. There is an opinion that mechanics are more reliable - after all, there are watches that have been working for centuries. But the quartz movement was invented relatively recently, and many just throw away a boring watch before it breaks, preferring to periodically change models.
If a quartz watch runs out of battery, it may lag. If quartz begins to collapse, they will begin to rush. Both the battery and the crystal can be replaced.
Watches and fashion
Today, watches value not only accuracy and reliability; appearance is also of great importance . The watch comes in a variety of styles - casual for every day, classic models that are ideally suited to a business suit, large sports watches with many additional functions, bright trendy watches of an unusual shape, pilot watches in an aviation style and luxury luxury mechanisms that can become a real heirloom .
A quartz watch is not necessarily an affordable and inexpensive item. Models of famous brands can be very expensive. Men's quartz watches are usually made in a classic style, elegant, have no catchy details. Models for young people can be brighter.
Women's quartz watches are elegant, their goal is not only to show the exact time, but also to complement the image of the hostess. Many fashion brands produce watches with an unusual design. Women's watches can be made both in classic style and in modern. They can be decorated with semiprecious and precious stones, resemble bracelets, stand out with an unusual strap, for example, in the form of a bright satin scarf.
Which are more accurate?
Accuracy is another important factor when choosing a watch. After all, no one likes it when they are constantly in a hurry or behind.
The accuracy of a mechanical watch may depend on temperature, adjustment, gear wear, spatial position, and spring plant.
The movement of quartz watches is more accurate. The generator produces constant pulses, on which the movement of the arrows depends.
For mechanical watches, a deviation of 20 seconds per day in one direction or another is considered normal, for the best branded watches - 5 seconds. The best quartz watches can provide accuracy up to 5 seconds per year, ordinary representatives - 20 seconds per month. Thus, even the highest quality mechanical watches cannot surpass quartz in accuracy.
Pros and Cons of a Mechanical Watch
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of a mechanical watch. Experts have been working on their improvement for more than one hundred years, they are reliable enough and do not lose popularity until now.
The watch mechanism can be fragile. It’s not worth taking them with you on an extreme trip or for intense sports training. An exception may be special shockproof models.
Mechanical watches can be repaired. The master can custom-make any part and restore the inheritance of your great-grandfather's clock.
The mechanics are battery independent. The disadvantage is that they need to be constantly started, but this problem can be solved with the help of automatic winding. Autonomy can be up to 20 days.
Modern mechanical devices are accurate, but still significantly inferior to quartz ones.
Mechanical watches are assembled personally by the master, which increases their cost, especially taking into account the fact that manual work is highly appreciated today.
The watch mechanism is interesting, it’s nice to watch the gears. This is used by many manufacturers - models with a transparent body have recently gained popularity, allowing to observe the movement of parts - “skeletons”.
Mechanical watches are usually enclosed in a metal case and can be heavy.
A watch may have a large set of functions, but this greatly increases their cost.
When the temperature changes, they lose accuracy.
Service life more than 10 years with good care.
Pros and cons of quartz watches
What important qualities do a men's and women's quartz watches have?
Quartz watches are resistant to shock and can be used by active people, lovers of extreme sports and tourism.
They have a large number of functions thanks to the electronic chip.
The case is made of plastic, which makes the products light and durable. Even children can wear them.
Thanks to the built-in battery, the watch does not need to be started. A high-quality battery will provide continuous operation for 10 years.
Quartz devices can only be repaired if spare parts are available from the factory. If the model is out of date and spare parts are not manufactured, it will be difficult to repair the watch.
Quartz watches are characterized by high accuracy +/- 5 seconds per year. This factor is independent of temperature changes.
Service life 5-10 years.
Which to choose
You can’t say exactly which watch is better - quartz or mechanical. Indeed, despite the wide popularity of modern electronic products, traditional mechanics found their loyal fans, especially recently, when the abundance of new materials, including transparent durable plastic, allows you to enjoy the look of a well-coordinated clockwork.
Quartz watches are considered more accurate and practical to use, and mechanical watches are the timeless classic of watchmaking. If we consider the issue of price, then manual mechanics are more expensive than mass-produced quartz, although in both categories you can find both high-end luxury models and budget ones.
Of course, quartz watches are suitable for active life and playing sports, and the "mechanics" can complement the classic image.