Mechanical vs Quartz

My first intention when writing this blog was to simply indicate the difference between a Quartz watch and a Mechanical watch. It seemed quite a straightforward project at the time - that is until I started reading through Internet articles and blogs. I started by reading informative articles about the major differences between Quartz and Mechanical watches; I read the simple explanations and then I delved a bit deeper into the not so simple explanations. Everything seemed tranquil and scientific … until I clicked on a thread. I could feel the tension lifting off the WebPages, a kind of harsh grating tension that makes the hairs quiver on the back of ones neck. This came as a surprise – their seemed to be a definite Quartz vs Mechanical Competition going. Almost like color war in camp. Suddenly the Quartz team and the Mechanical team were firing shots at each other. Some threads became quite alarming that I found all too soon my heart hammering in my chest. What was this all about? I kept on reading, my eyes closing, but everyone involved seemed so heated that I wanted to know more. So after a couple of hours and piles of printouts; I felt somehow I was preparing for battle. The quartz vs Mechanical battle. I still have not finished reading my pile of printouts and I am getting more and more anxious about the whole Quartz / Mechanical thing.

In the 1970's Quartz watches almost ground the tradiotional mechanical watch into oblivion, on the other hand Quartz watches lifted mechanical watches from the edge of extintion with the introduction of the hugelyu popular Swatch watch. The Swatch Watch poured enormous wealth into the Swiss Watch Market allowing the older traditional companies like Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin to regain momentum.
There are definite advantages to owning a Quartz Watch:

• Quartz Watches are battery operated and thus need no winding.
  

• Quartz Watches allow for increased functionality based on modern technology such as theTissot SEA-Touch, with incredible cutting edge patented technology which allow divers the knowledge of time in two time zones, the depth of the current dive, digital chronograph, thermometer, alarm, perpetual calender date, compass and divers logbook. All activated by a light touch on the crystal. Even in the dark depths of deep sea diving, divers are still able to consult their Tissot SEA-Touch by extremely luminescent material as well as a strong back light.

• Quartz Watches are more affordable.
  


• Quartz Watches cab be thinner
  

Mechanical Watches ,as I see it, have a slightly different function. Mechanical Watches are part of ones image. I know a young man who came into the real estate business. He was relatively inexperience, but an excellent negotiator. He signed a grand deal much to the amazement of his senior colleagues, and the next day he purchased a Audemars Piaget Millenary. He did not hesitate when upgrading his image. A brand name watch of distinction is a subtle sign of success.

A Mechanical Watch is powered by winding - read this link for full details.

• Mechanical Watches are entrenched in the longstanding tradition of watchmaking, spanning 400 years.


• Mechanical watches are self sufficient; once assembled they never require any additional component. A watch, in good condition, crafted 200 years ago can still run like new. In essence a mechanical watch is timeless, unmarked by the passage of time.


• Mechanical watches is truly "green" never depleting earth's energy resources.
  


• Expert watch designers and watch makers plan every new model
  


• There is an obvious distinction between a replica mechanical watch and a 100% genuine mechanical watch. Replica's have shoddy craftsmanship made from inferior quality metals, and semi precious stones.
• Complicated Mechanical Watches have complications such as a perpetual calender, tourbillon, chronograph, minute repeaters and more. Each complication requires many small specialized components which fit together to perform a function in perfect harmony.
• Finally, fine mechanical watches, like diamond rings, are heirlooms meant to be passed on from generation to generation. A mechanical watch is your messenger into the future.

The Watchery sells Mechanical and Quartz Watches at rock bottom prices. All watches are 100% genuine name brand timepieces with serial numbers.

These are only a few points in regard to quartz and mechanical watches. I would love to hear feedback. Please comment and add a point or two.

The Genius of Gerald Genta: The man and the Company.

Gerald Genta -the man- founded Gerald Genta-the company- in the the late 1980's however, his profound influence on the World of Horology was felt long before that time. Known as one of the most creative watch designers of our time, Gerald Genta is responsible for the exceptional timeless creation of the extremely sought after Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, The Nautillus for Patek Phillip, the IWC Ingenieur, the Omega Constellation & Seamaster and Bulgari Bulgari. Gerald Genta played a major role in the late 1980's by reintroducing the watch world to the magnificence of Mechanical Luxury Watches.

The Luxury Watch magazines of today are thick with glossy watches and hundred of different designs, but when Gerald Genta was working on his visionary Mechanical Watches in the late 1980's the Swiss Watch Companies had just bounced back from what seemed like an inevitable free fall into oblivion. Swiss Watchmakers can still recall the dark days of 1982 when Swiss banks lent more than $400 million to keep the industry afloat. Swiss Watchmakers needed to reclaim their industry from Japan in order to continue their watchmaking legacy. If you remember Japan had flooded the market with their cheap yet accurate quartz watches. Fast Forward to those whimsical colorful plastic Swatch Watches manufactured by SMH Ltd, the worlds largest watchmaker. I had one. It was a notebook watch. We all had one ... and the Swatch Watch got Switzerland factories back on their feet and producing again.

The focus was now back to watchmaking in Switzerland and Swiss Watch Makers were breathing a sigh of relief. They had survived. They had suffered a hard knock. In 1970 there were 1,620 Swiss Watch companies employing 89,000 people; in 1985, the number was down to 600 employing only 32,500. But the little Quartz miracles had lost the novelty and people were looking for a something different, something luxurious, mechanical and with complications.

In 1990 Gerald Genta handcrafted a Timepiece with a perpetual calender, push-button minute repeater and a skeleton tourbillon that sold for $250,000. Gerald Genta help shape the Luxury Mechanical Watch Industry with staggering complications and awe-inspiring creations.


Today Gerald Genta is owned by Bulgari Group. Its creations are galactic and so utterly different. A spectacular and slightly outrageous collection is the deliciously dizzying Octo Jewellery Collection. Entirely hand painted, jumping hours and retrograde minutes; glittering with 177 diamonds or the Gerald Genta Gefica displayed above, hand decorated as well as two rows of titanium beads along the caseband giving the watch a dangerous studded "rough around the edges look" .
Gerald Genta does not mail order bits and pieces for its complications, Gerald Genta is one of the rare watch manufactorers capable of designing and crafting complications like its pulsating Tourbillons, Minute Repeaters and the all alusive yet alluring Grande Sonneries within the confines of its workshop.
The Company ,Gerald Genta, has incorporated the energy and creativity of Gerald Genta -the
man.

The Watchery has a large selection of unique Gerald Genta Watches for vastly reduced prices. Purchase a Gerald Genta watch and you will purchase so much more for your money. Gerald Genta is worth every penny and even more. Besides, having a Gerald Genta on your wrist will speak for itself. Everyone who knows Luxury Watches knows Gerald Genta.

By: R Van Halem