Every watch is powered by one of two kinds of movement: automatic or quartz. Here's the difference, and how to choose.
Quartz: simple and accurate
- Runs on a small battery that usually lasts 1–3 years.
- Very accurate and needs almost no attention.
- The seconds hand ticks once per second.
- Usually lighter and less expensive.
Automatic: mechanical and alive
- No battery. A weighted rotor winds the watch as your wrist moves.
- The seconds hand sweeps smoothly instead of ticking.
- Skeleton and open-heart dials let you watch the gears work.
- It may stop if you don't wear it for a day or two. A few turns of the crown start it again.
- Accuracy is within a few seconds a day, which is normal for a mechanical watch.
Which should you choose?
- Choose quartz if you want grab-and-go, set-and-forget simplicity.
- Choose automatic if you love craftsmanship and want a watch people ask about.
Shop by style
- Automatic: Meridian Automatic, self-winding with no battery.
- See-through dials: Rosé Skeleton and Heartbeat Open-Heart.
- Everyday picks: Kingston Chronograph, Aurelia Mesh, Slim Classic.
Each product page lists that watch's movement.
More care tips are in our size and care guide.