Fratello Talks: Quartz Watches

From the ones we love to the ones we'd love to see

June 15, 2023

comments 26

Welcome to this week’s episode of Fratello Talks, where we dive head-first into quartz watches. Lex, Thomas, and Nacho gather in the podcast studio to discuss their love for battery-powered timepieces. There’s a lot to like about them. They’re reliable, accurate, and typically more affordable than their mechanical counterparts. And though quartz watches sometimes can get a bad rap, there are plenty of impressive electronic timekeepers out there worth admiring. While the immediate association of quartz movements with cheaply produced, disposable watches certainly exists for a reason, there are also plenty of high-end options.

But before we get into it, let’s see what’s on the guys’ wrists.

Wrist check!

Today, we start with Thomas, who is wearing his Seiko SKX009. This Pepsi-bezel classic from the Japanese brand is a gateway watch if there ever were one. Slightly modified with a sapphire crystal, it’s a watch that most of us know and appreciate, yet which hides a dark secret (one that Thomas reveals during the episode).

Lex is well into his honeymoon with his latest purchase, the Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow (ref. 3594.50).

And finally, Nacho — representing Team Quartz — is wearing his Citizen Promaster Aqualand JP2000-08E.

Quartz cool — high-end or otherwise

Just as you might imagine, the guys are all fans of quartz watches, whether it’s the affordable reliability of a G-Shock, the under-the-radar classy approach of the Cartier Tank Solarbeat, or the fully specced-out Omega Speedmaster X-33. In fact, they can’t get enough of them. Lex has gone on record singing his praises for the Grand Seiko SBGX341 but is also a fan of the classic G-shock “Square.” Thomas likes the quirky yet cool quartz Marathon Pilot’s Navigator, which just Marathon Pilot’s Navigator, which just so happens to be his most affordable watch. Finally, Nacho is certainly a quartz fan, with plenty of battery-powered watches in his collection. These include his Cartier Tank Solo, Breitling Aerospace, Citizen JP2000 diver, and a couple of G-Shocks. As promised in the episode, here is Lex’s piece with his call for more luxury solar-powered quartz watches.

Tune in next week for another episode of Fratello Talks!

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Fratello Talks: Quartz Watches

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SC
Tam O’ Banter says:

Jun 15, 2023 at 06:33

There are some truly excellent quartz watches out there. And some have literally saved lives.
Glad to see this from Fratello

Reply
Simon Cameron says:

Jun 15, 2023 at 07:42

Funnily enough I am wearing my Oysterquartz Daydate with mahogany dial today.

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1. Ignacio says:
  
  Jun 15, 2023 at 11:52
  
  Sounds like a beauty! I’m still rocking the Citizen 🙂
  
  Reply
  1. MM
    MandoBear says:
    
    Jun 15, 2023 at 13:30
    
    I was going to mention The Citizen – at least some of that range are solar high-end quartz. Casio’s Oceanus range has a roughly similar offering – albeit at a lower price bracket, and with more “industrial” movements.
    
    Reply
    1. MB
      MarkB says:
      
      Jun 15, 2023 at 14:56
      
      I’ve got an Oceanus T200 which I’m using as a daily driver. It costs less than a fifth of an AQ4091, so I basically bought it has a placeholder while I spent some time considering whether I could justify the cost of The Citizen. The Oceanus is doing so well, I may not get The Citizen after all, although I respect it a lot.
      
      Reply
    2. Brian-Waller says:
      
      Jun 15, 2023 at 18:27
      
      Really liking The Citizen Jounetsu. The combination of solar and titanium uses our cloudless over 100 degree days to full advantage. Plus it’s just as nice as a GS, in my opinion, but at a friendlier price.
      
      Reply
Pelandrone says:

Jun 15, 2023 at 07:45

Sbgx341 is great, I considered it myself before I bought Sea of Clouds SBGP017.

Reply
Pelandrone says:

Jun 15, 2023 at 07:54

Citizen AQ4091-56M, happy to own one of these, hardened Titanium, ecodrive, +-5sec/year, handmade paper dial, perpetual calendar, lovely piece.

Reply
1. phillip Hanson says:
  
  Jun 16, 2023 at 23:57
  
  Yeah nice choice i shouted myself an aq4020-54y best watch in the world in my opinion
  
  Reply
DG
GoldenYears says:

Jun 15, 2023 at 08:48

Quartz watches sure have its benefits. I’ve always had one or two quartz watches in my collection but lately I’ve lost my interest in them. Still, I think most every enthusiast should consider having a Casio G-Shock in their collection for those occasions when nothing else will do.

Reply
MB
MarkB says:

Jun 15, 2023 at 10:23

My philosophy is that mechanical watches are great for the interest, but when you really need a watch to do a job, quartz wins.

Reply
TW
Tony Webb says:

Jun 15, 2023 at 10:29

I use my quartz watches as daily tools* which leaves my mechanical ones as hobbies

*1 x Tag Heuer 1000 on my wrist & 1 x Casio Protrek as desk clock

Reply
Enuona says:

Jun 15, 2023 at 13:22

Wouldn’t mind the latest iteration of Longines V.H.P. in a different watch than the Conquest that vanished some months ago…. If Longines was forced to make it available to e.g. Certina replacing Precidrive, it would serve as a serious temptation.

Apparently, Longines is seriously busy with other priorities, thus something had to give way I presume…

Reply
SF
SteveF says:

Jun 15, 2023 at 19:28

I never quite understood the argument that replacing a battery is some sort of demerit in a quartz watch. Even if you don’t swap the whole movement when servicing a mechanical/automatic watch, you’re swapping out the mainspring and other wear parts. That’s basically the same thing!

As for serviceability, the Rolex Oysterquartz can be serviced and will last basically forever as long as you keep water out and battery acid in the battery. There are a lot of other older quartz movements that are similar – particularly Seikos and Citizens from the 70s and into the early 80s. Quartz was high cost, bleeding edge tech in the mid 70s and the movements were built with that budget in mind. I have a Grand Quartz with a 4843 movement in it and it still runs under 5s/month despite never being serviced. Damn impressive. I expect the same from my 9F in a few decades.

Reply
Andy727 says:

Jun 16, 2023 at 02:34

Big quartz fan here.
Still keep my early 90’s Promaster Wingman, a couple of Eco-Drive, a Casio with a baro-altimeter and a Seiko Flightmaster. Bought them back in the day when I was still using slide rules. Love the style but above all, the reliability that quartz provide.
The X-33 and Aerospace are amazing as well and very tempting..

Reply
Andrew says:

Jun 16, 2023 at 08:59

Vintage Quartz can be very interesting to collect. It was absolutely cutting edge at the time, and nearly bankrupted the manufacturers developing quartz movements. Given the cost and expense, these early movements were beautifully made, fully jewelled and are capable of performing as well today as they ever did provided they are properly serviced.
I have a RolexOysterquartz, an Omega with the 1315 movement and an early Seiko King Quartz. The movement technology is different in each one- it’s only the Seiko which has the now universal Lavett stepper motor. But each is interesting in its own way, and all of them function perfectly. A delight to own, and mechanically far more diverse (and interesting) than the almost universal Swiss lever mechanical movement.

Reply
1. Enuona says:
  
  Jun 16, 2023 at 13:32
  
  Hie Andrew,
  
  Curious about your take on Omega 1441 (ETA 255.561)?
  
  Reply
  1. Andrew says:
    
    Jun 17, 2023 at 12:19
    
    So, you are into “conventional” quartz (Lavett stepper motor) and conventional gear train by this time. Still nicely made though, and spare parts are readily available.
    The attraction of the 1315 movement is that it was Omegas first in-house quartz, has an unusual worm-drive movement, and an independently adjustable hour hand for time zone changes. It’s just a bit more “special” for a collector.
    Earlier still is the CEH consortium “beta” movement which was the first ever commercialised Swiss quartz, but these are getting fragile now, and unless they are serviced by someone who really knows what they are doing, the movement is easily wrecked.
    
    Reply
    1. Enuona says:
      
      Jun 17, 2023 at 16:27
      
      Thank you for your kind reply ??
      
      Have minimal knowledge about this, but from what I get, it is interesting that non-thermo compensated 1510 and siblings seems to be more accurate than the thermo compensated 1441 (+/- 10 s/d) although I’m not sure of testing criteria/conditions. Fast forward, and ETA E56.111 (Longines VHP L288.2) is +/- 5 s/d (23 deg C). Would have liked to see the usage expanded within the Swatch Group.
      
      Reply
      1. Andrew says:
        
        Jun 18, 2023 at 08:10
        
        The very early quartz movements nearly all have a rate trimmer- the 3 of mine do. At a service, the rate can be adjusted to compensate for the drift of the crystal as it ages, keeping the watch running to specification.
        The Rolex Oysterquartz is thermocompensated, and mine remains within 50 seconds per year.
        The Seiko is not thermocompensated, but Seiko used pre-aged crystals for their higher end watches, and 40+ years on they will continue to run within a good rate (should be within 20 seconds per month)
        
        Reply
      2. Andrew says:
        
        Jun 18, 2023 at 08:14
        
        In my most recent reply, I should have said that a non-compensated quality quartz movement should keep time within 10 seconds per month
        
        Reply
        
        Enuona says:
        
        Jun 18, 2023 at 12:49
        
        Thanks,
        
        Certainly good enough for me in practical terms.
        
        It is my understanding that the 1441 can be regulated as well, allegedly with a interval of 4 s/y. Compared with the given +/- 10 s/y that may seem like big steps, but I assume that would be the lowest step possible (1 impulse) for the technology chosen.
        
        Are you familiar with any connection between ETA 255.561 and ETA 56.111? Might be that I haven’t researched it well enough, it somehow would make sense that they are connected evolutionary, considering that the first L288 had similar accuracy, both being thermo compensated and from the same manufacturer?
        
        Then again, it might be more likely that 56.111 is the evolution of ETA 255.513 10 years later… Will try to figure that out…
        
        Reply
JH
Conor Whitworth says:

Jun 16, 2023 at 20:00

A firm favourite. The Seiko 7548/9. Fantastic ‘true’ tool watches. A golden tuna is an engineering marvel. Don’t diss quartz!

Reply
Andrew Hennessy says:

Jun 22, 2023 at 17:07

1st luxury watch was quartz SMP300, still have & still love it. Went big into mechanical. Recently serviced 3 mechanical watches for big bucks. Now leaning back into Quartz for the fun, easy and reliable nature. I still have a couple heavy hitting mechanical watches though.

Reply
1. SC
  Tam O' Banter says:
  
  Jun 29, 2023 at 07:26
  
  Yeah, it’s drilled into us that a good quality watch must be mechanical, Swiss and expensive
  Nonsense.
  Anything more than say a grand is NOT for telling the time.
  
  Reply
Larry says:

Oct 21, 2024 at 13:38

Let us not forget that there are also many, many “cheaply produced, disposable” mechanical watch movements being made today. In a way, it is these mechanical watches, sold for multiples of the price of an inexpensive quartz watch, that are the biggest rip off in watches today.

Reply