Automatic vs Quartz Watches — Which Should You Choose?

Automatic or quartz? It is one of the first decisions any watch buyer faces, and the answer depends entirely on what you value. Neither is objectively "better" — they serve different purposes and appeal to different tastes. Here is what you need to know.

How Quartz Watches Work

A quartz watch uses a battery to send an electrical current through a tiny quartz crystal. The crystal vibrates at a precise frequency (32,768 Hz), and a circuit counts those vibrations to keep time. The result is exceptional accuracy — typically within ±15 seconds per month.

Quartz movements are the backbone of the Paul Rich Frosted Star Dust and Signature collections. They are reliable, accurate, and require minimal maintenance beyond an occasional battery change every 2–3 years.

How Automatic Watches Work

An automatic (self-winding) watch is powered by a mainspring that is wound by the natural motion of your wrist. A weighted rotor spins as you move, transferring energy through a series of gears to the mainspring. No battery needed — just regular wear.

The Paul Rich Astro collection uses high-quality automatic movements, including the NH70 movement in our skeleton models. These movements are visible through the open dial, turning the engineering into a visual feature.

Paul Rich Astro Skeleton Abyss Silver with visible NH70 automatic movement

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Quartz	Automatic
Accuracy	±15 sec/month	±20–30 sec/day
Power source	Battery (2–3 years)	Wrist movement
Maintenance	Battery changes	Service every 5–10 years
Thickness	Typically thinner	Often thicker
Second hand	Ticks once per second	Sweeps smoothly
Price	Generally lower	Generally higher

When to Choose Quartz

You want a grab-and-go watch that is always accurate
You rotate between multiple watches and do not want to reset them
You prefer a slimmer profile on the wrist
You want the best value at a given price point

When to Choose Automatic

You appreciate mechanical engineering and craftsmanship
You enjoy the ritual of wearing a watch daily to keep it running
You want a sweeping seconds hand (that smooth, flowing motion)
You like the idea of a watch that does not need batteries

Paul Rich Astro Day and Date Lunar Silver automatic watch

Paul Rich Offers Both

We design watches in both categories because both have their place:

Quartz: Frosted Star Dust, Star Dust, Signature, Frosted Signature
Automatic: Astro (Day & Date, Classic, Skeleton), Motorsport

Some models — like the Moissanite Frosted Star Dust II — are available in both quartz and automatic variants, so you can choose the movement that fits your lifestyle.