By The Eye desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
A watch’s movement is its engine, and there are three main kinds. Quartz runs on a battery and a vibrating crystal; a standard one drifts only about 15 seconds a month. Automatic, or self-winding, is mechanical and winds itself as you move your wrist. Hand-wound is mechanical and wound by the crown. Mechanical watches are less accurate: even a certified chronometer is allowed to run 4 seconds slow to 6 seconds fast a day. They’re prized for craftsmanship rather than precision.
Quick facts
- Quartz: battery-powered, about ±15 seconds a month.
- Automatic: winds itself with wrist movement.
- Hand-wound: wound by turning the crown.
- COSC chronometers: −4 to +6 seconds a day for mechanical movements.
- Automatics typically store 36 to 80 hours of power off the wrist.
- Mechanical watches need a full service every few years.
How do the three compare?
| Quartz | Automatic | Hand-wound | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Battery (or solar) | Wrist movement winds a spring | You wind the crown |
| Accuracy | About ±15 seconds a month | Several seconds a day | Several seconds a day |
| Seconds hand | Ticks | Sweeps | Sweeps |
| Upkeep | Battery change every few years | Full service every few years | Full service every few years |
| If left off the wrist | Keeps running | Stops once its power reserve runs out | Stops once it unwinds |
What does “chronometer” mean?
That the movement has passed testing by COSC, the Swiss official chronometer testing institute, in different positions and temperatures. For mechanical movements, the standard is −4 to +6 seconds a day. COSC also certifies quartz movements, to a far tighter standard of about ±0.07 seconds a day.
Why pay more for less accuracy?
Because mechanical watches are about craft: hundreds of small parts, assembled and adjusted by hand, working without electronics. A modest quartz watch will keep better time than a very expensive automatic. What the automatic offers is the engineering, the heritage and the sweep of the seconds hand.
The WahLiao Verdict
Buy quartz for accuracy and ease; buy mechanical because you love how it works, and budget for servicing. Before you buy either, ask what a service costs and how often the brand recommends one.
Questions people ask
Why has my automatic stopped?
It ran out of stored power after being left off the wrist. Wind it a little and reset the time.
Do I need a watch winder?
No. It’s a convenience for people who rotate several automatics.
Is a solar watch quartz?
Yes. It’s a quartz movement charged by light, so there’s no regular battery change.
How often does a mechanical watch need servicing?
Every few years; estimates range from three to eight or more, so follow the brand’s advice.
Sources: Asia Tatler on mechanical and quartz movements; Bob’s Watches on quartz and automatic; Strapsco, guide to watch movements; Jura Watches on COSC testing.
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