What is the difference between a quartz and a mechanical watch?

Both quartz and mechanical watches are accurate approaches to telling the time. However, mechanical watches were the original technology used in watchmaking, dating back to the 18th century.

Mechanical movements are intricate pieces of machinery that use the energy from a slowly unwinding spring to accurately tell the time. They are prized for their artistry, beauty and heritage and often command high prices today through luxury brands such as Rolex, Patek Phillipe and many others.

Quartz watches, by comparison, send an electrical current through a quartz crystal, which causes regular vibrations that can be used to tell the time. This is why quartz watches require a battery. They are significantly less expensive that mechanical watches, and significantly more accurate due to the regularity of the vibration in the quartz crystal. Quartz watches are also distinguished at a glance by their ticking seconds hands, whereas mechanical watches have a smooth sweeping seconds hand.