Quartz, Mechanical or Manual: Which Type to Choose According to Your Criteria

Which quartz watch, mechanical or automatic really corresponds to your lifestyle? This question constantly returns among horology enthusiasts. Between precision, tradition and practicality, each movement tells a different story, responds to distinct uses, seduces diverse personalities.

Yet, beyond technical considerations, the choice of a movement mainly reveals your relationship with time, with the object, with daily ritual. A quartz watch will accompany your daily life with absolute reliability. A manual mechanical will reconnect you to the ancestral gesture of winding. An automatic will combine tradition and modernity.

At Maison Tellus, we offer these three technologies according to your expectations. Because choosing a movement means choosing a philosophy.

The Three Movement Families

Quartz movement: powered by a battery, it uses oscillations of a quartz crystal to measure time with remarkable precision. Simple maintenance, reliable, accessible.

Manual mechanical movement: energy stored in a mainspring that you wind daily. Pure horological tradition, ritualized gesture, physical connection with the watch.

Automatic movement: like manual, but winds itself thanks to your wrist movements via an oscillating rotor. Modern practicality on a traditional mechanical base.

Each technology has its supporters, detractors, domains of excellence. None is superior in absolute terms. Everything depends on your criteria.

The Quartz Watch: Precision and Simplicity in Daily Life

Function and Assets

The quartz movement revolutionized horology in the 1970s. Its principle? A cut quartz crystal oscillates at a precise frequency (32,768 Hz) when it receives an electrical impulse, here produced by the battery. This regular vibration operates the display mechanism.

The undeniable advantages: → Exceptional precision: +/- 15 seconds per month where mechanical and automatic watches vary by about 5 to 10 seconds... per day! → Minimal maintenance: battery change every 2-3 years → Absolute reliability: resists shocks and temperature variations → Accessible price in all ranges → Ready to wear immediately

For Whom? What Usage?

The quartz watch suits perfectly people who seek a reliable timepiece for their professional or personal daily life. Ideal if you wear several watches alternately, travel frequently, or prioritize practicality.

Typical profile:

• ✔️ Active life, frequent travel
• ✔️ Seeking absolute precision
• ✔️ Simplified maintenance desired
• ✔️ First horological purchase

At Tellus, our quartz models benefit from the same high-end finishes as our mechanicals: 316L steel cases, sapphire glass, Parentheses® personalization.

Manual Mechanical Movement: Tradition and Ritual

The Art of Daily Winding

Direct heir to the first timepieces, the manual movement stores energy in a mainspring via the crown. Each morning, you wind your watch: simple gesture, direct connection, intimate ritual.

This technology seduces through its mechanical purity. No electronics, no battery. Just human ingenuity serving time measurement, transmitted for centuries.

The specificities: → Autonomy: 38 to 72 hours depending on models → Precision: +/- 10 seconds per day on average (according to regulation) → Reduced thickness: absence of automatic rotor → Transparency: case back to admire the movement

For Enthusiasts of Horological Gesture

Manual addresses amateurs who appreciate the physical connection with their watch. Daily winding creates particular intimacy, a moment of connection with the object.

Typical profile:

• ✔️ Passion for traditional horology
• ✔️ Appreciation of daily rituals
• ✔️ Regular wearing of the same watch
• ✔️ Seeking mechanical authenticity

Maintenance remains simple: service every 4-5 years with a qualified watchmaker to preserve precision and longevity.

Automatic Movement: Balance and Modernity

The Best of Both Worlds

Automatic combines mechanical tradition and modern practicality. A semi-circular rotor oscillates with your wrist movements, automatically winding the mainspring. No need for daily gestures: your natural activity suffices.

This technology seduces through its perfect balance between horological heritage and contemporary usage.

The characteristics:

• Natural winding through wrist movements
• Power reserve: 38 to 80 hours depending on calibers
• Precision: +/- 15 seconds per day on average
• Perpetual functioning if worn regularly

Swiss Horology in Its Accomplished Form

Automatic represents contemporary Swiss horological excellence. Mastered technical complexity, proven reliability, optimal usage pleasure.

Typical profile:

• ✔️ Appreciation of mechanical know-how without constraint
• ✔️ Daily or very regular wearing
• ✔️ Seeking a patrimonial watch
• ✔️ Sensitivity to horological innovation

At Tellus, our automatics use Swiss calibers selected for their reliability and finishes. Each movement can be admired through the transparent sapphire case back.

Comparative Table: Choose at a Glance

Criteria	Quartz	Manual	Automatic
Precision	Excellent (+/-15s/month)	Good (+/-10s/day)	Good (+/-15s/day)
Maintenance	Minimal (battery 2-3 years)	Service 4-5 years	Service 4-5 years
Autonomy	2-3 years	38–72h	38–80h
Daily gesture	None	Winding	None
Patrimonial value	Average	High	Very high
Entry price	Accessible	Intermediate	Intermediate

How to Choose According to Your Personal Criteria?

Your lifestyle determines your choice.

You travel often, regularly change watches? → The quartz watch imposes itself through its reliability and practicality.

You appreciate rituals, seek connection with the object? → Manual movement will seduce you through its authenticity.

You want a patrimonial watch without usage constraints? → Automatic perfectly combines tradition and modernity.

Your budget also influences the decision:

• Quartz: excellent quality-price ratio in all ranges
• Manual: reasonable investment, patrimonial value
• Automatic: higher price justified by technical complexity

Maison Tellus Vision: Excellence in Each Movement

At Maison Tellus, we don't hierarchize movements. Each technology responds to legitimate expectations, deserves the same level of requirement in execution.

Our approach: → Rigorous selection of Swiss calibers → Identical finishes regardless of movement → Parentheses® personalization on all our models (except Diamanta) → Personalized advice according to your usage profile

Whether quartz, manual or automatic, each Tellus watch benefits from our Swiss precision assembly, our noble materials (316L steel, sapphire glass), our exceptional bracelets.

We don't seek to convince you of one movement rather than another. We accompany you to identify the one that truly corresponds to you.

In our Parisian showroom, we take time to listen to your expectations, analyze your lifestyle, present the specificities of each technology. Because a watch is for a long time.

Elegance meets real usage. Every detail counts. Every finish is the fruit of artisanal know-how.

• Discover our collections according to the movement that attracts you
• Book an appointment for personalized consultation at the showroom

Express FAQ: Everything to Know About Movements

What are the advantages of quartz watches?

Quartz watches offer exceptional precision (+/- 15 seconds per month), absolute reliability, minimal maintenance, and consistent performance. Battery-powered, they are robust and perfect for daily use. Ideal for an active lifestyle.

How to choose a quartz watch?

Prioritize case quality (stainless steel), glass (sapphire), and bracelet according to your style. At Tellus, our quartz watches benefit from the same premium finishes as our mechanicals, with possible Parentheses® personalization.

What is the difference between quartz and mechanical?

Quartz uses an oscillating crystal powered by battery for absolute precision. Mechanical functions by spring, offers traditional experience but requires more maintenance. Each technology responds to different uses and philosophies

What styles of quartz watches exist?

From casual to elegant, sporty to vintage, modern to mixed: all styles are possible in quartz. At Maison Tellus, our quartz models adopt timeless designs adapted for men and women, with personalization according to your tastes.

Where to buy quality quartz watches?

Prioritize official boutiques that guarantee authenticity and service. Maison Tellus offers a Parisian showroom with personalized selection, expert advice, and careful delivery. Our choice of quartz watches combines accessibility and horological excellence.