Looking at buying a high end watch? If you've been shopping around, you've probably noticed that watches come in two main types, quartz and mechanical. What you may not know is what the differences are between these two designs, and why you might want to choose one over the other. In this article, we will explore the inner workings of each of these designs, and explain how to choose the one you want.
A mechanical watch, quite simply, is a watch that uses a complex set of gears, springs, and other physical devices to help keep time. No electronics are involved at all.
These watches come in two types, manual and automatic. A manual watch must be wound up by hand every so often (typically offer 40 hours or so), while automatic watches wind themselves off the movement of your arm. Most mechanical watches sold today are of the automatic variety, but certain manual watches are still available.
A quartz watch, on the other hand, applies a small electric current to a quartz crystal, which then vibrates at a precisely known frequency. This signal os translated via electronics to move the motor which drives the hands. Most watches worn today are of this type.
So, which is the superior design? It really all depends on what you're looking for. A quartz watch is far cheaper, more accurate, and more shock resistant than a mechanical watch. They also require much less maintenance. In many ways, it would seem that quartz watches are superior.
However, which one you choose really depends upon what you're looking for in a watch. Due to their demanding nature, mechanical watches are designed with the utmost precision and style. For those looking for a more luxurious watch, mechanical watches tend to inspire much more pride of ownership than quartz watches do, because of this legacy. By all accounts, a mechanical watch is just "cooler" than a quartz model.
Mechanical watches also have the advantage of not requiring batteries. This allow them to work in extreme temperatures where a quartz watch might fail. Also, since mechanical watch are repairable, they are likely to last much longer than a quartz watch would.
So, I think you can see the differences between these two styles of watches. Mechanical watches are much classier, cooler, and longer lasting, making them a much coveted "status symbol." If you're a more practical type, and just need to know the time, a quartz watch will do the job quite admirably. Just go with what you prefer, and enjoy your new watch! |
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