Quartz vs automatic watches: which should you buy?
Quartz vs automatic watches compared on accuracy, battery life, servicing, price and daily wear, with maker and COSC figures. Which should you buy?
Quartz vs automatic watches: which should you buy?
Quartz vs automatic watches compared on accuracy, battery life, servicing, price and daily wear, using figures from named makers and the COSC chronometer testing body. Neither type wins overall.
In the quartz vs automatic choice, a quartz watch keeps time with a battery and a vibrating crystal, while an automatic is a mechanical watch wound by your wrist movement. Quartz is more accurate and cost less in the one price example we checked. An automatic needs no battery and has a mechanism to look at. Neither wins overall.
This guide is for anyone choosing between the two, with figures from named makers and from the Swiss chronometer testing body COSC. Our first watch, the Vannin Field Watch (coming soon), is an automatic, so we have tried to give quartz its due.
Quick verdict: choose quartz if accuracy or price matters most. Choose automatic if you want no battery and a mechanical movement. Choose either if you simply want a good watch you will wear.
Quartz vs automatic watches at a glance
Quartz is stronger on accuracy and, in the example we checked, on price; automatic is stronger on having no battery and on mechanical craft. Table 1 sets a quartz watch vs automatic watch side by side, so you can compare the two kinds of watch movement in one place.
Figures are makers' published ranges and the COSC criteria, and they vary by watch. Note 1: Seiko's interval is for its watches generally and is not split by movement type, Longines gives different intervals on two pages, and Omega's page gives one complete-service interval without saying which movement type it covers. Note 2: the first 30 models listed on Timex UK's Marlin collection page on 9 October 2026, in pounds sterling.
The difference between quartz and automatic watches comes down to what keeps time and what powers it. In quartz a crystal vibrating 32,768 times a second keeps time, powered by a battery; in an automatic a balance wheel beating 6 or 8 times a second keeps time, powered by a spring.
| Feature | Quartz | Automatic |
|---|---|---|
| What powers it | A battery, or a light-charged cell in solar models | A mainspring wound by a rotor as you move; many can also be hand-wound |
| What keeps time | A quartz crystal, 32,768 vibrations a second in Seiko's specification | A balance wheel, 6 or 8 beats a second (21,600 or 28,800 an hour) |
| Published accuracy | Seiko solar quartz: plus or minus 15 seconds a month | Seiko 4R36: plus 45 to minus 35 seconds a day. COSC chronometer: minus 4 to plus 6 seconds a day |
| Battery | One to five years depending on model (Longines); CWC G10 3 to 4 years; Vaer S3 40 months | None |
| Servicing makers state (note 1) | Replace a dead battery promptly (Seiko, Omega); Omega recommends a yearly water resistance check | Seiko about 3 years; Longines 3 to 5 or 6 to 8; Omega 5 to 8 |
| Second hand | Steps once a second | Eight small steps a second at 28,800 an hour, which looks like a sweep |
| Left off the wrist | Keeps running until the battery is flat | Runs for its power reserve (Seiko 4R36: about 41 hours), then stops |
| Price example (note 2) | Cheapest with Quartz in its name: £130 | Cheapest with Automatic in its name: £225 |
| Where it is stronger | Accuracy; price in the Timex example | No battery; mechanical craft |
How does a quartz watch work?
A quartz watch sends current from a battery to a small quartz crystal, which vibrates at a steady rate, 32,768 times a second in Seiko's specifications. A circuit counts the vibrations and sends a pulse once a second to a small motor that moves the hands. That is what a quartz movement means in a watch, and it is the main point in any quartz movement vs automatic comparison.
Seiko describes the crystal's steady vibration as the standard of timekeeping, with an integrated circuit and a step motor turning its signal into movement of the hands. Its Quartz Astron was released on 25 December 1969, and Seiko calls it the world's first quartz watch on the market. Its crystal ran at 8,192 Hz, which Seiko says is one-fourth of today's frequency.
The step motor is why a quartz second hand ticks once a second, and Seiko calls that stepping motion the symbol of quartz watches. A solar quartz watch swaps the battery for a rechargeable cell that Seiko says is charged by light; the rest of the chain is the same.
How does an automatic watch work?
An automatic watch, also called a self-winding watch, is a mechanical watch: a mainspring stores energy, a rotor winds it as your wrist moves, gears carry the energy to the hands, and the escapement and balance wheel release it in steps. Those steps come 6 or 8 times a second, which is 21,600 or 28,800 beats an hour.
Longines says an automatic keeps running while it is worn, and generally for a period afterwards. Left down for long enough, the power left (the power reserve) runs out, the watch stops and you set it again before wearing it. Seiko lists about 41 hours for its 4R36, and the Swiss retailer Brogle says modern movements usually beat 21,600 or 28,800 times an hour and a reserve of 24 to 60 hours is usual.
Many automatics can also be wound by hand with the crown. This page does not cover winding steps; our guide to how to wind an automatic watch does.
Automatic vs mechanical watch: what is the difference?
An automatic is a kind of mechanical watch, so automatic vs mechanical compares a type with its family. Mechanical covers any watch run by a mainspring, whether you wind it by hand or a rotor winds it for you; automatic means the second kind. Quartz vs mechanical is therefore the same choice as quartz vs automatic.
Makers use the words this way. Omega describes two types of mechanical watch, automatic and manual, Longines says mechanical movements include manual and automatic varieties, and Seiko's manual puts hand-wound and auto-wound watches under one mechanical watch heading.
Mechanical: any watch driven by a mainspring, gear train, escapement and balance wheel. Hand-wound (manual-wind): mechanical with no rotor, wound by the crown. Automatic (also called self-winding): mechanical with a rotor that winds the mainspring from wrist movement. Quartz: powered by a battery, with a quartz crystal keeping time. It is not a mechanical watch.
People often shorten automatic to auto, as in auto vs quartz, and the two words mean the same thing.
Many automatics can also be hand-wound; Seiko sells its 4R36 as automatic with manual winding. The odd case out is Kinetic. It is a quartz watch, and Seiko says it has a generator driven by the wearer's wrist that stores power in a rechargeable battery, which needs replacing less often than a conventional cell.
Are automatic watches more accurate than quartz?
No. Quartz is the more accurate technology, and makers quote it in seconds per month where mechanical watches are quoted in seconds per day. Seiko publishes plus or minus 15 seconds a month for some solar quartz calibres and plus 45 to minus 35 seconds a day for its 4R36 automatic.
A tolerance is the most a maker says a movement should drift, not what your watch will do. The month column multiplies the daily range by 30 and is shown only to put both types in one unit. Seiko adds that an actual daily rate may fall outside its range.
Longines puts quartz accuracy down to the much higher frequency of its oscillator. A typical wristwatch crystal vibrates 32,768 times a second, against 6 or 8 beats for a balance wheel, which is roughly 4,100 to 5,500 times as many (our arithmetic). Frequency is a big part of the explanation, not the whole of it. The Vaer figures in Table 2 come from the maker's own product pages for its S3 and A5.
COSC is the strict benchmark for mechanical watches. It tests a mechanical movement for 15 days, in five positions and at three temperatures, and certifies an average daily rate of minus 4 to plus 6 seconds, according to its chronometer page. Omega says its Master Chronometer watches go further, to 0 to plus 5 seconds a day for movements over 26 mm. COSC also certifies quartz watches, but says it tests them to its own internal requirements, and we found no quartz rate on its current pages, so we give none.
Every other figure in Table 2 is a maker's own range, and ranges vary by watch. Seiko says a mechanical watch's rate changes with how long it is worn, temperature, arm movement and how far the mainspring is wound, and that it measures the rate over a week or so rather than a single day. Magnetism can also change it.
If you want a watch that is right to within seconds a month, buy quartz. If you can live with seconds a day, accuracy should not decide the automatic vs quartz question.
| Type of watch | Published range | Over a 30-day month, at the edge of that range (arithmetic) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seiko solar quartz (V114 to V116) | Plus or minus 15 s a month | Plus or minus 15 s | Seiko manual |
| Vaer S3 quartz | Minus 10 to plus 20 s a month | Minus 10 to plus 20 s | Vaer product page |
| COSC mechanical chronometer | Minus 4 to plus 6 s a day | Minus 2 to plus 3 minutes | COSC |
| Omega Master Chronometer (movements over 26 mm) | 0 to plus 5 s a day | 0 to plus 2.5 minutes | Omega FAQ |
| Seiko 4R36 (a maker's published tolerance, not a chronometer figure) | Minus 35 to plus 45 s a day | Minus 17.5 to plus 22.5 minutes | Seiko manual |
| Vaer A5 automatic (a maker's published tolerance, not a chronometer figure) | Minus 5 to plus 10 s a day | Minus 2.5 to plus 5 minutes | Vaer product page |
Battery life, servicing and running costs
A quartz watch needs a new battery every one to five years, depending on the model, according to Longines. An automatic needs no battery, but makers advise servicing about every three to eight years, depending on the maker. Both types need their water resistance checked.
Longines: a quartz battery lasts from one year to five years, depending on the watch. CWC lists a three to four year battery life for its G10 quartz, which takes a Renata 371 cell. Vaer lists a 40-month battery life for its S3 quartz. Omega says battery life depends on the watch and the functions used, and that most of its quartz movements show a low battery by moving the second hand in 4-second jumps. Seiko says to replace a dead battery soon after it runs out, to avoid leakage damage, and that the battery fitted at the factory may not last the stated time.
These are makers' figures for particular watches, and they differ, so a model's own page is the reliable number. See the CWC G10 page, the Omega FAQ and Seiko's battery advice.
Servicing intervals differ too. Seiko recommends servicing its watches about every three years, and gives that one interval without splitting it by movement type. Longines suggests about every three to five years for automatics in one article, while its maintenance page gives six to eight years for mechanical watches. Omega recommends a complete service every five to eight years, depending on use and environment, and a water resistance check once a year; its page does not say which movement type that covers.
Seals age whatever the movement, which is why Seiko says a watch's water resistance is not permanent. Our guide to what 100 m water resistance really means explains the ratings. Makers publish service intervals, not lifespans, so we do not give a figure for how long an automatic watch lasts.
Price is one example, not a rule. On 9 October 2026 the first page of Timex UK's Marlin collection listed 30 models. The cheapest with Quartz in its name was £130, and the cheapest with Automatic in its name was £225, a collaboration model; the cheapest Chatham Automatic was £240. Seiko UK lists the 4R36 Seiko 5 Sports SRPJ83 at £260. Price follows the maker, the case and the materials as well as the movement. We found no verified service or battery-change cost, so we make no running-cost comparison.
Third options. Solar quartz uses a rechargeable cell charged by light, so there is no regular battery change, although Seiko still recommends a service every three to four years. Kinetic is quartz with a generator driven by your wrist. Spring Drive is a mainspring watch with a regulator that has no escapement, and Seiko says it is accurate to one second a day.
Everyday use: wearing, storing, magnetism and knocks
A quartz watch keeps going until its battery runs out, while an automatic runs down after its power reserve if you do not wear it, and then needs setting again. Seiko lists about 41 hours for its 4R36, and makers name a figure for each movement, so ask for the one for your model.
Wearing and leaving it. Longines says a quartz watch can be left off the wrist for a week or even a month without resetting the time, battery permitting. An automatic put down for a few days or a week may need setting again before you wear it.
Storing. Seiko advises keeping an unworn watch in its box in a ventilated, dust-free place that is not too humid, hot or cold, away from magnets and phones. For a quartz watch, replace a dead battery promptly, because leakage can damage the movement.
Magnetism. Seiko says magnets can affect both types, differently. Analogue quartz watches have tiny step motors that can be affected, so the watch may stop or misbehave, and the fix is to move it away and reset the time. A mechanical watch can stay magnetised after it leaves the field and then needs demagnetising at a service centre. Seiko says digital quartz is generally unaffected because it has no motors. Seiko names phones, speakers and magnetic clasps among the sources.
Knocks. Seiko advises avoiding strong shocks such as drops onto hard surfaces, and calls a watch a sensitive precision instrument. That advice is not split by type, and we found no maker comparison of how quartz and mechanical watches cope with knocks, so we do not rank them.
The second hand. A quartz second hand steps once a second. An automatic at 28,800 beats an hour moves in 8 small steps a second, which looks like a sweep. Where a point depends on the model, ask the maker or a watchmaker about the watch you are considering.
Quartz or automatic: which should you buy?
Choose quartz if you want the best accuracy and a lower price; choose automatic if you want no battery and a mechanical movement you can live with seconds a day for. If you will simply wear it most days, either an automatic or quartz watch is a good watch. These lists give five reasons for each.
Choose quartz if
You want seconds a month instead of seconds a day: Seiko publishes plus or minus 15 seconds a month for some solar quartz, against plus 45 to minus 35 seconds a day for its 4R36. You want the lower price, as in the Timex example above, where the cheapest quartz was £130 against £225 for the cheapest automatic. You want to leave a watch in a drawer and find it still running, battery permitting. You are happy to change a battery every one to five years, depending on the model, and to have the water resistance checked. You want light-powered quartz, which swaps the battery for a rechargeable cell, although Seiko still recommends a service every three to four years.
Choose automatic if
You like a mechanical movement and its sweeping second hand, which at 28,800 beats an hour moves 8 steps a second. You do not want to buy batteries. You are happy to wear it regularly, or to set it after a few days off the wrist. You accept a service every few years, as makers advise: Seiko about every three, Longines three to five or six to eight, Omega five to eight. You want to know what is happening inside: a mainspring, a rotor, an escapement and a balance wheel doing the work that a crystal and a circuit do in quartz.
Either is fine if you are choosing on design, size and price rather than movement. Longines says many brands offer both types, so you can pick the watch you like first and let the movement follow.
Four questions can settle it.
Do you need the best accuracy? If so, quartz. Do you mind changing a battery every few years? If so, an automatic or a solar quartz. Do you wear one watch every day? If so, an automatic keeps itself wound; if you rotate several, quartz is easier to leave in a drawer. Does the mechanism matter to you? If so, an automatic.
Where the Vannin Field Watch fits
The Vannin Field Watch is an automatic, so it sits on the mechanical side of this comparison. It is coming soon, and this is what we have published about it.
Movement: Miyota 9039 automatic. Hacking seconds and hand-winding. 42-hour power reserve, 28,800 BPH and 24 jewels. 38.0 mm case, priced at £399.
Peter Jones, our co-founder, has always liked mechanical watches for the many small parts working together to tell the time, with no battery, and that is why our first watch is an automatic.
As a type, automatic watches need periodic servicing and have a rate quoted in seconds a day. If accuracy is your priority, quartz is the right choice, and we would say so.
We describe the Field Watch as a contemporary mechanical watch, and we have not published a rate, a service interval or a timing figure for it, so this page gives none. For what Miyota itself publishes about the 9039, read what the Miyota 9039 specification says. For the design side, there is Peter's Journal entry on the first Vannin watch being a field watch. You can register your interest in the Field Watch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between quartz and automatic watches? A quartz watch runs on a battery and keeps time with a vibrating crystal, while an automatic is a mechanical watch wound by a rotor as you wear it. Quartz is more accurate, quoted in seconds a month rather than seconds a day, and needs a battery change. An automatic needs no battery but needs servicing. Table 1 above compares them row by row.
Are automatic watches better than quartz? Not overall; it depends on what you want. Quartz is stronger on accuracy and, in the Timex example we checked, on price. An automatic is stronger on having no battery and on mechanical craft. Neither wins in general, so use the section above, Quartz or automatic: which should you buy, to match each type to your priorities.
Are automatic watches more accurate than quartz? No. Quartz is more accurate. Seiko publishes plus or minus 15 seconds a month for some solar quartz calibres and plus 45 to minus 35 seconds a day for its 4R36 automatic. COSC certifies mechanical chronometers at minus 4 to plus 6 seconds a day. Figures vary by watch, and an actual rate can fall outside a published range.
Automatic vs mechanical watch: what is the difference? An automatic is a mechanical watch. Mechanical covers hand-wound watches, which you wind with the crown, and automatics, which have a rotor that winds the mainspring from your wrist movement. Many automatics can also be hand-wound. The real contrast is with quartz, which runs on a battery, not with automatic.
What are automatic watches? Automatic watches are mechanical watches that wind themselves as you move your wrist, with no battery. A rotor winds a mainspring, and the energy is released through the gears and the escapement. When unworn they run for their power reserve, about 41 hours for the Seiko 4R36, then stop and need setting again.
Do you have to wind quartz watches? No. A quartz watch runs on a battery, or on a cell charged by light in a solar model, so it has nothing to wind. You replace the battery instead, and Seiko and Omega both advise doing it promptly to avoid leakage damage. Automatics are the watches that are wound, by wrist movement or by hand.
Are quartz watches automatic? Normally no. Automatic means a mechanical watch that winds itself from wrist movement. The exception that confuses people is Seiko's Kinetic, a quartz watch with a generator driven by the wrist that charges a rechargeable battery. Solar quartz is powered by light and is not automatic either.
Are automatic watches more expensive than quartz? In the one same-maker example we checked, yes. On Timex UK's Marlin page on 9 October 2026, the cheapest quartz listed was £130 and the cheapest automatic £225, and Seiko UK lists its 4R36 SRPJ83 at £260. Price also follows the maker and the case, so it varies across brands. We make no running-cost comparison.
Brogle: automatic watches explained; COSC: Chronometer Certified; CWC: G10 issue watch with battery hatch; Longines: automatic and quartz movements; Longines: maintenance intervals; Longines: watch movements explained; Omega: frequently asked questions; Seiko: 4R35 and 4R36 manual, accuracy of mechanical watches; Seiko: 4R35 and 4R36 manual, specifications; Seiko: 5 Sports SRPJ83; Seiko: Kinetic; Seiko: magnetism; Seiko: quartz; Seiko: solar quartz manual, specifications; Seiko: solar watch mechanism and care; Seiko: Spring Drive; Timex UK: Marlin watches; Vaer: A5 Tactical Field automatic; Vaer: S3 field watch (quartz)
Maker pages and standards listings used on this page were checked on 9 October 2026.
Prices and specifications checked October 2026. Tell us if something has changed.
- Brogle: automatic watches explained
- COSC: Chronometer Certified
- CWC: G10 issue watch with battery hatch
- Longines: automatic and quartz movements
- Longines: maintenance intervals
- Longines: watch movements explained
- Omega: frequently asked questions
- Seiko: 4R35 and 4R36 manual, accuracy of mechanical watches
- Seiko: 4R35 and 4R36 manual, specifications
- Seiko: 5 Sports SRPJ83
- Seiko: Kinetic
- Seiko: magnetism
- Seiko: quartz
- Seiko: solar quartz manual, specifications
- Seiko: solar watch mechanism and care
- Seiko: Spring Drive
- Timex UK: Marlin watches
- Vaer: A5 Tactical Field automatic
- Vaer: S3 field watch (quartz)