What is the difference between an automatic, quartz and solar watch?
Automatic, quartz and solar watches differ mainly in how they are powered.
An automatic watch is a mechanical watch. It winds itself through the movement of your wrist. Inside, a rotor moves and transfers energy to a spring. This stored energy powers the movement. An automatic watch doesn't need a battery, but it should be worn regularly or wound by hand.
A quartz watch is powered by a battery. A quartz crystal ensures that the watch runs very steadily. Quartz watches are especially accurate, straightforward and easy to look after. However, the battery does need to be replaced from time to time.
A solar watch uses light as its energy source. The light charges a rechargeable battery or energy store inside the watch. This makes a solar watch very practical for everyday use, and with regular exposure to light, it doesn't need a classic battery change.
Which watch suits you best depends on your everyday life:
- An automatic watch suits you well if you like mechanical movements and wear your watch regularly.
- A quartz watch is ideal if you want a particularly accurate and straightforward watch.
- A solar watch is a good choice if you're looking for a practical watch that powers itself using light.
All three types of movement have their own advantages. What matters is which style, level of care and technical character suits you best.