In an age when gentlemen still measured their worth by the heft of their waistcoats and the purity of their escapements, the quartz watch burst onto the scene like a hooligan with a stopwatch and absolutely no respect for tradition. It was precise, unapologetic, and horrifyingly punctual. To this day, there are collectors who treat quartz as if it were a social disease, best discussed in whispers and never invited to dinner. Which is, of course, utter nonsense. Quartz watches are not the enemy of romance, craft, or heritage. They are the engineering equivalent of a well built sledgehammer brutally effective, endlessly reliable, and faintly smug about it. From battlefield proven tools to design icons that rewrote the rules, the essential quartz watch is not about compromise but confidence. This is the ticking heart of modern horology, where accuracy trumps affectation and brilliance arrives not with a whirr and a wobble, but with a decisive, perfectly timed click.
Working Of A Quartz Movement
A quartz movement works not through romance or ritual, but through cold, magnificent logic. At its heart sits a tiny sliver of quartz crystal, cut with almost absurd precision, which vibrates exactly 32,768 times per second when an electric current from the battery passes through it. This vibration is not a suggestion or a polite oscillation, it is a tyrant, unwavering and immune to mood, temperature tantrums, or ego. An integrated circuit counts these vibrations, divides them down into a single, perfectly disciplined pulse per second, and sends that command to a stepper motor. The motor obediently advances the hands in crisp, confident increments, each tick a declaration of absolute authority over time. No balance wheel wobbling, no lubricated theatrics, no mechanical fretting, just relentless accuracy delivered by physics, electricity, and a crystal that does exactly what it is told, forever unimpressed by tradition.
Audemars Puguet Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold Quartz
Crafted exclusively in 18k white gold, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini reimagines an icon in a refined 23mm diameter, blending high jewellery elegance with unmistakable Royal Oak DNA. The case and integrated bracelet are adorned with the Manufacture’s signature Frosted Gold finish, achieved through a diamond-tipped technique that creates a scintillating, gem-like shimmer. Polished bevels along the octagonal bezel and bracelet links contrast beautifully with satin-brushed flanks, producing a constant play of light. The tone-on-tone Petite Tapisserie dial enhances this luminous effect, punctuated by facetted white-gold hour markers filled with luminescent material. Powered by the quartz Calibre 2730, the watch offers over seven years of battery life, marrying elegance, precision, and modern practicality.
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0
Originally produced between 1976 and 1978 in just 8,200 examples, the Girard-Perregaux Casquette has long been a cult object among collectors and design-led watch enthusiasts. The Casquette 2.0 faithfully revives this radical quartz icon, now reengineered in black ceramic with Grade 5 titanium pushers and caseback, secured by four screws. Measuring 42.4mm, its ergonomic, helmet-like form suits a wide range of wrists. The tubular LED display shows the time on demand to conserve battery life, presenting hours, minutes, seconds, day and date, alongside new functions including month, year, chronograph, second time zone and a discreet secret date for personal milestones. The watch is powered by a quartz movement
Rolex 5100 Texano
Nicknamed ‘The Texan’, the Rolex Ref. 5100 Beta 21 stands as one of the brand’s boldest and rarest quartz experiments from around 1970. Housed in a substantial 36mm 18k yellow gold case with a snap-on back, this pioneering wristwatch embodies the futuristic confidence of the early quartz era. The gilt dial exudes understated opulence, complemented by a discreet date display. Powering the watch is the Rolex Calibre RE10 Beta 21 quartz movement, featuring 13 jewels and marking Rolex’s participation in the revolutionary Centre Électronique Horloger project. Completed with an integrated 18-carat yellow gold Rolex bracelet and folding clasp, with an approximate 180 mm circumference, this fully signed timepiece represents a rare intersection of Rolex gravitas, experimental technology, and unapologetic 1970s luxury.
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x Senna 43mm
This TAG Heuer Formula 1 chronograph delivers high-octane motorsport attitude with modern quartz precision. Housed in a 43mm fine-brushed and polished steel case, it features a fixed black aluminium tachymeter bezel highlighted by a bold yellow SENNA logo. The black sunray-brushed dial is animated by three contrasting chronograph counters, including a vivid 1/10th-second register in blue, green and yellow lacquer at 6 o’clock, paired with a red hand. Black opalin subdials, a yellow lacquered central chronograph hand, and black gold-plated hands with Super-LumiNova® ensure clarity day and night. A discreet angled date sits at 4 o’clock. Water-resistant to 200 metres, the watch is completed by a steel S/EL bracelet with a secure folding clasp and pilot extension.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Quartz 40MM Duotone
This two-tone quartz timepiece blends contemporary sportiness with refined elegance in a 40mm stainless-steel case accented by yellow gold PVD plating. Brushed and polished surfaces give the slim 9mm profile a crisp, architectural presence on the wrist. An eye-catching bezel distinguished by six sculptural claws adds a bold, signature character, while a screw-down crown reinforces everyday robustness. The grey sun-brushed dial provides a restrained backdrop for yellow gold-plated hour markers and hands, all enhanced with white Super-LumiNova for clear legibility in low light. A matching yellow gold-plated seconds hand adds visual continuity, while a discreet date window at 3 o’clock keeps the display clean and practical. Protected by sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating, the watch is powered by a precise quartz movement built for effortless daily wear.
