Key takeaways
- Quartz watches run on a battery and tick once per second.
- Automatic watches are mechanical and wind themselves as you move your wrist.
- Quartz is the most accurate and lowest-maintenance choice.
- Automatic is for people who love mechanical craft and a smooth sweeping seconds hand.
Every watch has an engine inside it, called the movement. It decides how your watch keeps time, how often it needs attention and even how the seconds hand moves. Most watches today use one of two types: quartz or automatic. Here is what sets them apart, so you can choose the one that suits you.
In this guide
How a quartz watch works
A quartz watch runs on a small battery. The battery sends a current through a tiny quartz crystal, which vibrates at a very steady rate. The movement counts those vibrations and moves the hands once per second. That is why the seconds hand on a quartz watch ticks in clear, single steps.
- Accurate: quartz is one of the most precise ways to keep time in an everyday watch.
- Low maintenance: put it on and go. The battery typically lasts for years before it needs replacing.
- Grab-and-go: it keeps running in a drawer, so it is always on time when you pick it up.
- Slim: quartz movements are compact, which allows for thinner cases, like our Wraith with a 10 mm profile.
How an automatic watch works
An automatic watch is mechanical: it needs no battery. Inside is a weighted rotor that spins as you move your wrist. That motion winds a spring, and the spring powers the watch. Instead of a tick, the seconds hand moves in a smooth sweep.
- Self-winding: wear it and it keeps itself running.
- Power reserve: once fully wound, it keeps running for a period after you take it off. If it stops, give it 20 to 30 turns of the crown or simply wear it again, then reset the time.
- Craft you can see: many automatic watches, like our Skeleton and Spine, show the movement at work through the dial.
- Character: an automatic is slightly less precise than quartz, which is normal for a mechanical movement and part of its appeal.
Quartz vs automatic at a glance
| Quartz | Automatic | |
|---|---|---|
| Power source | Battery | Movement of your wrist |
| Seconds hand | Ticks once per second | Smooth sweep |
| Accuracy | Very high | Good, slightly less than quartz |
| Maintenance | Battery change every few years | No battery; wear or wind it regularly |
| Best for | Easy, everyday wear | Watch lovers who enjoy mechanical craft |
Which one should you choose?
Choose quartz if you want a watch that is always ready, needs almost no attention and keeps very accurate time. It is a great pick for a first watch or for rotating between several watches. Building a small collection? A leather watch roll keeps them protected on the go.
Choose automatic if you like the idea of a watch that runs on your own movement, enjoy seeing the mechanics at work and wear your watch most days.
Shop the story
Quartz and automatic watches at DIFFRNT
Most of our watches use a Japanese quartz movement, made for easy everyday wear. Browse them in our quartz collection, or start with our best-sellers.
Prefer mechanical? Our automatic collection includes skeleton watches with an NH35 or NH36 automatic movement and the N948, an automatic dive watch with 20 ATM water resistance.
Not sure which size suits your wrist? Read our guide: What size watch should I get?
Keep reading: how long do watch batteries last?, parts of a watch explained and how to remove light scratches from a watch.
Frequently asked questions
Is a quartz watch worse than an automatic?
No. They are different, not better or worse. Quartz is more accurate and needs less attention; an automatic is chosen for its mechanical craft and character.
Does an automatic watch need a battery?
No. An automatic watch is powered by a spring that winds itself as you move your wrist.
What happens if I don't wear my automatic watch?
It runs for a while on its power reserve and then stops. Give the crown 20 to 30 turns or simply wear it again, then reset the time.
