What's the difference between an automatic and a quartz watch? Which is better?

Automatic/Manual Wind:		Quartz:
An automatic is a testament to the ability of watchmakers to put hundreds of little parts into a watch case and get them to work all together with close tolerances just to tell time. An automatic watch depends upon movement to power it while a quartz watch uses electricity for its power, typically a battery. It's a matter of opinion as to which is better... But all of those little parts mean that there are more things to break. Manual watches do not have a rotor to wind the mechanism, and rely upon the user to wind them. An automatic/manual is usually more expensive to repair than quartz, but if you take care of the watch, you shouldn't have to worry about this. The nice thing about an automatic/manuals is that should water get into your watch, it won't kill it unless you don't have it serviced after the leakage occurs. An automatic/manual watch does not typically keep as accurate time as quartz would, and if you're an accuracy nut, this could get annoying. Another drawback is that you will likely have to reset your watch every now and then, which causes wear on the gaskets and increases the chance of water getting into your watch. Also keep in mind that every time you let the watch run out of power, you will have to reset the time. An automatic can take some beating, but not as much as a quartz. Manual wind watches are usually somewhat tougher than automatics as they don't have the rotor spinning in the case. If you drop an automatic, there is a greater chance that something will be damaged. However, if you take care of an automatic/manual, it will last you a lifetime and you can pass it on to your family. Also, should you decide to sell your watch, an automatic/manual is more likely to fetch more money than quartz will. Also, an automatic's second hand sweeps nicely around the dial in a continuous motion. Some people think that an automatic has more of a "soul" than a quartz watch, as it depends on the motion of your arm to power it.		A quartz watch is a testament to humankind's technological know-how. A quartz watch requires less maintenance than an automatic. The only maintenance that the watch will typically need is a battery change and to have its gaskets changed annually if it's around water. It is very accurate, so this will stop you from having to unscrew the crown and cause wear on the gaskets. The down part to quartz is that if water gets into your watch, it usually means death to the movement. But the plus side to this is that it will be relatively inexpensive to replace a quartz movement than an automatic. The battery inside a quartz watch can leak acid and corrode the movement. This will usually happen if you let an expired battery to sit too long inside a watch after it dies. Thus it is a very good idea to have a quartz watch serviced immediately after its battery goes flat. The great thing about a quartz watch is that it can sustain one heck of a beating and keep on ticking. So if you're rough on your watches, this is a major point that you should take into consideration when choosing which movement is best for you. Another great thing about a quartz watch is that you can take it off and let it sit on your desk for long periods of time and it will still be ticking when you decide to wear it again. Unless the battery dies, that is. A quartz watch should last you all of your life if you take care of it,. Some people argue: why buy an expensive watch and take the risk of your battery no longer being available? This is a valid point, but if the past is any indication of the future, Omega will continue to support your watch for quite some time. The second hand on a quartz watch moves in one-second increments.

There is no "one better watch". One type of watch may better for you than the other. The best person to make that decision is you .