A lot of people including enthusiasts don’t know this, but Omega also produced a few quartz models. The Seamaster, Aqua Terra, Speedmaster, and De Ville are some of the collections that had their own quartz counterpart. However, these models are not as common as they were during the Quartz Crisis. Some people even treat these editions as collectibles due to their limited availability.
It is difficult to give a straight answer to the question “which Omega movement is better”. Of course, each has its own sets of pros and cons, and it’s up to the lifestyle of the wearer to decide which one is more suitable to them. Hardcore enthusiasts, for instance, are inclined to go for the mechanical movement as it is more traditional. Meanwhile, it would make more sense for people who value convenience to get a quartz watch instead. For those who are first-time watch owners, this topic can be a bit daunting. So how do you tell if your Omega watch runs on a quartz or mechanical movement, and what are the advantages of each? Read on to find out.
Omega Mechanical Watches
A mechanical watch is powered by a mainspring, which must be manually wound by hand or automatically by the wearer’s hand movement. To some people, watchmaking is an art and they value high-quality craftsmanship in a timepiece. These are the same people who are fascinated with how the gears move inside a case. You can say that watches are a great feat in engineering and wearing one on your wrist can give some people a sense of pride.
Another advantage of mechanical watches is that they last longer than battery-powered watches. In fact, they can continue ticking for decades as long as you bring them to the service centre every now and then. That being said, mechanical watches are something you can pass on as an heirloom to future generations.
Despite all the praise that they get, mechanical watches aren’t perfect and they still have a few drawbacks. For one, they are less accurate than quartz watches albeit only by a small margin. Apart from that, mechanicals are also more expensive to acquire and maintain. Like cars, mechanical watches need their periodic maintenance sessions to ensure they stay in tip-top shape. And these services don’t come cheap.
Omega Quartz Watches
Mechanicals are great but don’t write off quartz watches just yet. Quartz watches are powered by an electronic current from a battery that runs through a quartz crystal. This allows the crystal to vibrate at a constant frequency, making the watch tick. They are not as complicated as mechanicals but this can be turned into an advantage. To demonstrate, having fewer moving parts means that they are not as susceptible to shock. In addition, this also means less labour and cheaper costs.
Quartz watches also use batteries and run continuously even if they’re not worn for a while. This saves the wearer from adjusting the time every now and then. However, watch batteries typically last up to a couple of years so you’d have to buy a new one when the current battery stops working. Thankfully, it is significantly cheaper to change batteries of a quartz timepiece compared to servicing a mechanical watch.
One disadvantage of quartz watches is that it lacks the smooth movement of a mechanical calibre. If you would observe, the seconds hand of a mech watch will sweep through the dial. On the other hand, a quartz watch’s hand will jump from one second to the next. This may irk purists but if you’re not too meticulous, you may let it slide as it does not affect the functionality of the watch.