Features: These Watches Will Change Your Mind About Quartz
Just the mention of quartz is enough to stoke the bile of many watch nerds out there, but we think it’s time to cut these battery-powered watches some slack. For one, they tell the time more accurately than a mechanical watch, plus, many quartz pieces are now old enough to be vintage collectables, especially some Rolex models. So, we’ve rounded up six quartz watches—three dress options, three sport—for you to create your perfect two-watch quartz collection. What’s in your dream team?
The Dress Watches
F.P. Journe Elegante EL TIT 48
Although this Elegante is marketed as a sports watch, it’s so nice to look at that we think it can pass off as a fine dress watch, too. This is one of the most durable pieces in F.P. Journe’s selection, coming on a comfortable rubber strap with a grade-five titanium case. Not only that, it goes into stand-by mode when the watch hasn’t been used for 30 minutes, helping the battery last for up to an impressive eight to ten years with daily use!
Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust 17000
The Datejust was an established member of the Rolex family, before Rolex hopped on the quartz bandwagon and released its Oysterquartz version in 1976 after taking five years to perfect its first quartz movement. This model benefits from a minimalist appearance with a white dial with Roman numerals, as well as a steel case and integrated bracelet, making it an ideal choice for every-day use or a swanky event.
Montblanc Star Classique 108766
Montblanc offers us a pared-down dress watch with this Star Classique, a watch that is so minimalist that it’ll go with pretty much anything. The steel case, hour markers and hands all perfectly suit the crisp white mother-of-pearl dial, while the chic grey leather strap ties the piece together. The date window at 6 o’clock makes a welcome addition to this sophisticated unisex number.
The Sports Watches
Tissot Seastar T120.417.37.051.00
A strong offering from one of the best and most trusted affordable watchmakers out there, Tissot has itself a hardy dive watch in this Seastar. With 300m of water resistance—matching the Omega Seamaster and Rolex’s Submariner—and a sporty black rubber strap with a rose gold-plated case, this is one slick watch. Not only that, it’s packed with chronograph functions, a handy date window and luminous hour markers for legibility under water.
Omega Seamaster 300m 2221.80.00
A classic in Omega’s catalogue, the Seamaster is a watch that has amassed a fleet of fans including none other than onscreen spy James Bond. This model features all the usual hallmarks of any Seamaster 300m including a unidirectional bezel, steel case and bracelet, helium escape valve and easy-to-read dial with phosphorescent hands. This sporty watch makes it a popular choice and something professional divers continue to reach for today.
Longines Conquest V.H.P. L3.716.4.96.6
Longines claims it created a “new achievement with quartz” via its Conquest V.H.P.—Very High Precision—watches, in which it revisited “expert technology” that it originally pioneered, which is, of course, quartz-based watchmaking. The V.H.P. collection offers a high-precision movement developed exclusively for Longines, giving the wearer advanced technology with a sporty look thanks to its steel exterior and navy-blue dial.
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