Today, quartz watches are the industry standard for analog time-keeping. Unlike digital watches, which are tuned to an automatically-updating atomic clock, analog watches use technology built into the watch to measure and tell time. They use a series of “hands” that spin around the watch face at varying rates of speed, calculating the exact second, minute, and hour.
These watches are battery-powered and built with a small circuit board that controls the movement of the hands. Unlike mechanical watches, which rely on finely-tuned cogs, wheels, and springs, quartz watches are incredibly simple. Their simple, easy-to-replicate mechanism is what makes them vastly more affordable than their mechanical counterparts.
Unless you look closely, though, there is almost no distinguishable difference between quartz and mechanical watches. The noticeable difference is that you’ll have to replace the battery periodically (once every few years).
In today’s review, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best quartz watches available in 2021. So whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for a friend or you just want to add one of these modern watches to your collection, we’ve got you covered!
But first- here’s a little bit of information on how quartz watches work. It’s quite fascinating.
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How Do Quartz Watches Work?
Before Japanese watchmaker Seiko invented the first quartz watch in 1979, all analog watches were mechanical. These watches were spring-operated and required the wearer to hand-wind them every day or two so that the clock could keep ticking.
Although mechanical watches are still around today, most of them feature an automatic winding ability, which automatically winds the watch as the wearer moves their arm. They’re more of a luxury item for those who appreciate fine-tuned machinery.
The main drawback of mechanical watches is that they have to be worn every day, or else they’ll become unwound and will need to be reset. The main advantage of them is that they last forever and don’t require batteries (as Canadian singer Drake alluded to when he said, “this a Rollie, not a stopwatch, [it] don’t ever stop.”).
Quartz watches, on the other hand, operate quite differently. Instead of relying on a spring to move the watch hands, they rely on a small quartz crystal and an electrical current provided by the battery.
The quartz and a small lithium-ion battery are connected through a basic silicon circuit board. The battery sends a light electrical pulse through the board and into the crystal, causing it to vibrate at a consistent, measurable rate (precisely 32,768 times/second).
The circuit board then uses this precise number to calculate exactly how long a second is and moves the hands of the quartz watch in accordance. As the battery gets depleted, the pulse it sends through the quartz crystal is weaker, causing the circuit board’s calculations to fluctuate. This is why quartz watches begin to “slow down” as the battery nears the end of its life. If you notice that your quartz watch is running behind, then you probably just need to replace the battery!
Best Quartz Watches | Our Top Picks
Hopefully, we’ve been able to give you a newfound appreciation for these incredible watches. Who would have thought that a crystal, of all things, could power a watch? Perhaps we really are approaching the sci-fi future that Star Wars alluded to with their crystal-powered lightsabers.
While you might have to wait a little bit longer for energy swords, quartz watches are widely available at an affordable price.
Below are some of 2021’s best quartz watches.
1. Citizen Eco-Drive Watch with Date (BM7251-53L)
Citizen was the first watch company to innovate the original quartz watch design. Seiko’s quartz watch had one flaw- the battery needed to be replaced periodically. Citizen’s revolutionary Eco-Drive technology is able to absorb energy from light particles (sunlight or artificial) and use it to recharge the watch battery. This means that it can keep on ticking forever, like a mechanical watch.
Apart from Citizen’s advanced solar cell technology, the Eco-Drive features a simple, high-quality design. It’s water-resistant but should not be submerged. The Eco-Drive is the perfect choice to accompany a subtle business-casual look.
The band and 40-millimeter casing are made from high-quality stainless steel that features a beautiful natural brushing and link pattern. The face is a dark smoky blue hue with large, easy-to-read icons to tell the time.
- Movement : Japanese Quartz (Eco-Drive Technology)
- Case Diameter : 41 mm
- Case Thickness : 10 mm
- Case Material : Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band Width : 20 mm
- Water Resistance : 100m
2. Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph Watch (96B251)
Watchmaker Bulova made history in 1971 when Commander David R. Scott of the Apollo 15 mission landed on the moon with his Bulova wristwatch (while others wore official NASA-issued watches). Bulova created their men’s Lunar Pilot watch to commemorate the 45th anniversary of this historic event.
What makes this watch so incredible is its high-performance quartz. Unlike standard quartz watches, the Lunar Pilot watch features a three-pronged quartz crystal that vibrates at a far higher frequency. The result is that its time-telling abilities are accurate to the nanosecond.
This watch comes with two straps- a black leather strap and a classic-style nylon strap emblazoned with the commemorative mission data of Apollo 15. In addition to basic time-telling, the Lunar Pilot watch has three sub dials that can be used as stopwatches and features ultra-luminous watch hands.
- Movement : Quartz Movement with a Frequency of 262 kHz
- Case Diameter : 45 mm
- Case Thickness : 13.5 mm
- Case Material : Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Leather
- Band Width : 22 mm
- Water Resistance : 50m
3. Junghans Form C Chronoscope Quartz Watch
Junghans is a German watch company that has been making high-quality timepieces since the early-1900s. They focus on creating minimalistic quartz watches that have a simple yet refined style and appearance.
The stainless steel casing is elegant and is accentuated by the cream-colored watch face. It features the minute count in multiples of 5, with numbers colored red to provide contrast and easy reading. The wristband is made from ultra-soft calfskin that provides a smooth, silky texture when worn.
Apart from the main chronograph, the Form C Chronoscope also has a small 30-minute counter and a 60-second stopwatch for easy stopwatch timing.
- Movement : Quartz Movement J645.85
- Case Diameter : 40 mm
- Case Thickness : 10 mm
- Case Material : Polished Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Calf Leather
- Band Width : 20 mm
- Water Resistance : 50m
4. Tag Heuer Aquaracer Watch
Although Tag Heuer may not be as expensive or high-end as a Rolex, they strive to create affordable, high-quality watches that offer similar levels of quality and attention to detail. The Swiss watchmaker has been in business since 1860, and their Aquaracer quartz watch is a heavy-duty stainless steel watch designed to stand up to the rigor of serious watersports.
While it’s not technically a diving watch, it is water-resistant up to 300-meters and has a thick stainless steel casing around the glass face. The added protection makes it a great choice for professional sailors, rowers, or just a day at the beach. The Aquaracer also features a rotating watch bezel to help you keep track of time while swimming or underwater.
- Movement : Quartz
- Case Diameter : 41 mm
- Case Thickness : 14 mm
- Case Material : Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band Width : 20 mm
- Water Resistance : 300m
5. Bulova Precisionist Watch (98B228)
If you’re looking for the best quartz watch to make a statement, then Bulova’s Precisionist watch is hands-down one of the most attractive timepieces on the market. It features a large 47-millimeter face that will catch eyes from across the room. The band and casing are made with fine-brushed stainless steel, featuring gold-anodized stripes around the band and gold-anodized watch buttons.
The Face has a black background with red and white numbering as well as gold-trimmed accents. The design creates contrast at every angle and is incredibly easy-to-read for the on-the-go businessman or athlete.
What makes the Precisionist watch so special, though, isn’t just its bold craftsmanship. This quartz watch can tell time down to 1/1,000 of a second- that’s a nanosecond. It’s also water-resistant up to 300 feet, so you can swim in the water all day without worrying.
- Movement : Japanese Quartz (Vibration Frequency – 262.144 kHz)
- Case Diameter : 47 mm
- Case Thickness : 18 mm
- Case Material : Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Curved Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band Width : 24 mm
- Water Resistance : 300m
6. Citizen Promaster Diver Watch (BN0150-28E)
The next Citizen Eco-Drive on our list is the Promaster Diver watch. Like Citizen’s other models, the aesthetic is designed to create a simple yet refined appearance. The Promaster is a lightweight diving watch designed for swimmers, scuba divers, and water enthusiasts.
It features a durable, black adjustable polymer wristband. The watch face is black with a stainless steel casing, a rotating bezel for easy time-keeping while you dive, and extra-large luminous numbers and arms.
As with the other Eco-Drive quartz watches, the Promaster recharges its battery with a built-in solar cell.
- Movement : Japanese Quartz (Eco-Drive Technology)
- Case Diameter : 44 mm
- Case Thickness : 12 mm
- Case Material : Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Anti-Reflective Mineral Crystal
- Band Material : Polyurethane
- Band Width : 20 mm
- Water Resistance : 200m
7. Marathon Tsar Watch (WW194006NGM)
Marathon’s Tsar Military Diving Watch is a heavy-duty stainless steel diving watch designed for search and rescue missions and scuba diving. It’s water-resistant, down to 300-meters. The band and face are made from thick stainless, and the face features a fully-rotating bezel.
The rotating bezel is extra-large and grooved to make it easily adjustable, even if you’re wearing cumbersome diving gloves. Like most diving watches, the watch face is black, and the hands are infused with tritium gas cells which release radio luminescent light designed to shine bright in even the darkest environments.
- Movement : Swiss Made ETA F06 (3 Jewels) High-Torque Quartz
- Case Diameter : 41 mm
- Case Thickness : 14 mm
- Case Material : 316L Surgical Grade Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Rubber
- Band Width : 20 mm
- Water Resistance : 300m
8. Seiko Prospex Watch (SSC017)
As Seiko invented the world’s first quartz watch, it wouldn’t be right to exclude them from our list. The Seiko Prospex is a traditional stainless steel diving watch with a thick band, a large rotating bezel, and luminous hands.
Unlike the Marathon and Citizen Promaster, however, the Prospex also features a triple chronograph for more accurate timing. It also recharges with solar light, using the same solar cell technology that Eco-Drive watches use.
- Movement : Japanese Quartz
- Case Diameter : 44 mm
- Case Thickness : 14 mm
- Case Material : Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Hardlex
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band Width : 20 mm
- Water Resistance : 200m
9. Citizen Promaster Skyhawk Watch (JY8078-01L)
Citizen’s Promaster Skyhawk A-T is an Eco-Drive stainless steel quartz watch designed for professional aircraft pilots. It features triple analog chronographs, a small digital display that displays a secondary time zone, and a pilot’s slide rule bezel designed to help pilots complete in-depth logarithmic equations with a quick glance.
The Skyhawk A-T was made in honor of the Blue Angels- the U.S. Navy’s premier fighter pilot squadron. It features a replica of their insignia on the blue-black watch face. For the daily watch wearer, the watch may seem a bit cluttered. However, for the experienced pilot, this watch could be potentially life-saving.
- Movement : Japanese Quartz (Eco-Drive Technology)
- Case Diameter : 45 mm
- Case Thickness : 15 mm
- Case Material : Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band Width : 22 mm
- Water Resistance : 200m
10. Alpina Alpiner Swiss Quartz Watch
If you’re looking for a simple, sleek, and incredibly elegant quartz watch, then Alpina’s Alpiner is the perfect accent to complete your business-professional attire. It features a subtle 42-millimeter face with a silver/white coloring, a simple time-telling chronograph, and a small date box pre-programmed with a perpetual calendar.
- Movement : Swiss Quartz
- Case Diameter : 42 mm
- Case Thickness : 9.95 mm
- Case Material : Stainless Steel
- Dial Window : Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal
- Band Material : Stainless Steel
- Band Width : 21 mm
- Water Resistance : 100m
