What brands of this version of quartz watches would you prefer?

Emerson Yao (EY): Most quartz watches are very accurate. There are, however, a few brands that produce chronometer standard “Super Quartz” movements. These movements are further enhanced and not susceptible to extreme temperature changes. Breitling is an example. Longines also launched a watch labelled “VHP - Very High Precision”. As the industry’s chronometer standard for quartz is +/- 25 seconds per year, the Longines VHP can achieve an accuracy of +/- 5 sec per year.

How can we personally take care of our quartz watch?

Emerson Yao (EY): The only maintenance needed for most quartz watches is regular battery replacement. Some watches require an annual change while other batteries may last longer. The problem with keeping your quartz watch in the box or storage is that the watch may go unnoticed when the battery is dead. This could cause the battery to leak acid and damage the movement. When you are travelling, finding a service centre might be a challenge.

Read also: How to Start Watch Collecting: The Dos and Don'ts of Buying a Watch

What is the longevity of a quartz watch?

Emerson Yao (EY): Keep in mind that at some point, quartz watches are regarded as disposables due to limited spare parts. They may last anywhere from 10 to maybe 20 years. A few lucky ones could last up to 30 years, but these are exceptions.

Will quartz watches still exist for another ten years? Will they continue to lose market share?

Emerson Yao (EY): The popularity of smartphones and smart devices is making time telling ubiquitous. As the advent of quartz watches that started in the Seventies almost made the mechanical watch obsolete, the quartz faces its own fight for survival 50 years later.

Indeed, over the past year, there has been a significant increase in demand for smartwatches in the global market. Its stock value's steady rise continues to be a threat to quartz watches. According to Counterpoint Research's Global Smartwatch Model Tracker that was published in August 2021, global smartwatch shipments in the second quarter of 2021 increased 27 per cent compared to the same period last 2020. Among the top five smartwatch brands, Apple dominated this year-on-year growth, with a user base amounting to 100 million. Definitely, brands producing quartz watches must keep up with tech giants like Apple and Samsung. . . the question is how.

This story was originally published in the January 2022 issue of Tatler Philippines. Download it on Magzter for free.