Do You Really Know How to Use Quartz Watches? What Are the Different Types?

In an era where we keep our phones with us all the time, watches have become an essential accessory. For example, the "street watch" that has become popular on social media emphasizes its style and versatility. If you pay attention, you'll see that the watches you see most on your daily commute are the same few styles.

Many people know the terms mechanical watch, quartz watch, and digital watch. Mechanical and quartz watches are easy to distinguish, but it's not so easy to explain the relationship and differences between quartz and digital watches.

We often fall into the misconception that digital and quartz watches are the same because they're both powered by batteries. This idea is mistaken; there are significant differences between digital and quartz watches, including calendar quartz watch. So, what are the different types of quartz watches?

They can be divided into the following four types:

Digital quartz watch

A watch in which the functionality is completely provided by electronic components that combine the piezoelectric effect of a quartz crystal with diode-based liquid crystal display. They are often stylish and affordable.

Analogue quartz watch

Analog quartz watches, also known as analog-style quartz watches, have a mechanical watch's analog dial. They can be equipped with three or two hands, and can have a single or double calendar among other functions. The energy for these watches comes from a silver oxide button battery.

Solar-powered quartz watch

These watches provided by quartz watches factory use a solar panel to convert light energy into electrical energy, which is then stored in a lithium-ion rechargeable battery. The battery then produces a pulse signal to the coil through the integrated circuit, generating kinetic energy to move the gears and indicate the time. They can run for 40-180 days in the dark when fully charged, and have a battery life of 10 years.

Kinetic quartz watch

Also known as a self-winding quartz watch, this is a pointer-type watch equipped with an automatic power generation system. It combines the advantages of an automatic mechanical watch's self-charging system with the precision of a quartz watch.

The second hand of a quartz watch moves one tick at a time, making it highly accurate. Generally, a monthly variation of up to 15 seconds is considered normal. The movement uses an integrated circuit board, making assembly straightforward. These watches don't need to be wound; one battery typically lasts 2-3 years.

However, some quartz watches use lithium batteries, which have a longer lifespan of around 5-6 years. Quartz watches are generally cheaper than mechanical watches, but some high-end brands charge exorbitant prices due to their focus on appearance and materials. Some quartz watches are worth much more than ordinary mechanical watches, thanks to their use of 18K gold, diamonds, or other precious metals.