If not Auto or Mechanical then Which?

[HogwldFLTR]

A friend I work with is anxious to buy a nice watch but he doesn't believe he wants to bother with a self winding or mechanical watch for multiple reason. First he doesn't want to fuss with the watch with resetting if not worn. Also he doesn't want to deal with the lack of accuracy. Finally I think he just doesn't want to spend the money for a Rolex. As the title says, if not auto or mech then what would be your choice. He's thinking of a Tag Heuer. I'd think something iconic if going quartz. I would have though an Omega or perhaps a Breitling. Curious as to what others think? Of course I thought of the OQ but he wants a new watch.

[SPMN]

I would just be sure to let him know he’s limiting himself in the watch world by insisting on quartz. Grand Seiko makes nice quartz watches, although GS may be hard to sell to a non-wis as a “nice watch.” I thought Omega made the Seamaster in quartz, but I couldn’t find anything modern in a full-sized watch. I think the Seiko Astron GPS is a really cool watch for a traveler, but he may not see it that way.

[Laszlo]

I'd say Grand or Tag?

Funny, I was talking to my Scrum Master today and he said, does your watch need a new battery? The reserve was dead when I put the watch on this morning and it was like on Hawaii time, not PST.

I was like, it's an automatic. And his expression was; what the hell is that?

[Old Expat Beast]

Patek Philippe offers the Aquanaut and the Nautilus with a quartz movement . . .

https://www.patek.com/en/collection/...23-250%20S%20C

. . . and AP does the Royal Oak in in quartz, too . . .

https://www.audemarspiguet.com/en/wa....OO.1261ST.01/

. . . but Grand Seiko offers the best value in high-end quartz, IMO. . .

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/se...ith-caliber-9f

A likely half-century without need for a service, and it’s pretty much paid for itself after 25 years. Sure, you need a battery change after a few years, but that’s a good time to change the gaskets anyway. Even without a screwdown crown, they're generally rated 10 bar/100m, which is the same as a Rolex Explorer, GMT-Master, etc.

[ttomczak]

Maybe a Citizen eco-drive. No muss or fuss, and they make some nice ones.

[andromeda160]

I bought a Breitling Callisto Quartz for a summer beater this year. Was going to go with a tag 2000 like I’ve had in the past, picked the Callisto with B&P up for $450 though and couldn’t resist. A colt quartz is slightly larger for around a grand

[Widows Son]

Quartz Omega Seamaster or Aqua Terra. Omega will hold their value better than Breitling or Tag.

[codecow]

Quartz Seamaster is a good choice but I think I'd get a Breitling Aerospace, try to get it with a crazy dial like yellow. I'd get it on bracelet but then also pick up the rubber and military straps for it.

You get a minute repeater complication with it, man now I'm thinking about buying one for myself haha.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Patek Philippe offers the Aquanaut and the Nautilus with a quartz movement . . .

https://www.patek.com/en/collection/...23-250%20S%20C

. . . and AP does the Royal Oak in in quartz, too . . .

https://www.audemarspiguet.com/en/wa....OO.1261ST.01/

. . . but Grand Seiko offers the best value in high-end quartz, IMO. . .

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/se...ith-caliber-9f

A likely half-century without need for a service, and it’s pretty much paid for itself after 25 years. Sure, you need a battery change after a few years, but that’s a good time to change the gaskets anyway. Even without a screwdown crown, they're generally rated 10 bar/100m, which is the same as a Rolex Explorer, GMT-Master, etc.

End of thread

[superdog]

I really like Tag watches.

But Adams post is very compelling.

[mannyv11]

If he is not looking to spend a lot of money, citizen eco drive makes very nice watches in my opinion. I have owned a few over the years and all were great watches.

[Blansky]

Personally I find my quartz watches more of a pain than any of my automatics.

I have maybe 6 quartz’s including some g shocks and Suuntos and finding them dead in the watch box with their tongues hanging out, and having to change batteries is a real pain.

Automatics are far more convenient.

[codecow]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Personally I find my quartz watches more of a pain than any of my automatics.

I agree, I have a ~1996 Seamaster with the electric blue dial. Every time it dies it's a pain in the ass. It's a nice enough watch that I'm not going to take it to the mall or whatever so it ends up costing more than I want to change the gaskets and replace the battery.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Personally I find my quartz watches more of a pain than any of my automatics.

I have maybe 6 quartz’s including some g shocks and Suuntos and finding them dead in the watch box with their tongues hanging out, and having to change batteries is a real pain.

Automatics are far more convenient.

I 100% agree but I'm not the one buying. Battery replacement is a PITA. All of my quartz watch are dead as door nails and I can't see giving them the AED to bring them back to life. Truthfully with the +/- 2 secs. performance that Rolex is providing that amounts to a minute per month which is accurate enough for me. Then again their is a difference in cost and the friend isn't willing to ante up.

[breitlings]

breitling quartz is super accurate. they are cosc and thermo compensated many report accuracy of 1 to 3 seconds per year.

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by codecow

I agree, I have a ~1996 Seamaster with the electric blue dial. Every time it dies it's a pain in the ass. It's a nice enough watch that I'm not going to take it to the mall or whatever so it ends up costing more than I want to change the gaskets and replace the battery.

I change the batteries myself.

[SearChart]

I'd go Breitling, they are built like a tank and even the quartz ones are very nice.