Basic quartz technology is, believe it or not, an American invention. In the early 1970's, the Hamilton Watch Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania developed both LCD and Quartz movement technology. Quartz technology is remarkably simple.

By passing a constant electric current through a quartz crystal, it vibrates or oscillates at a constant frequency. The vibrating quartz crystal then drives the stepper motor to move the watch's hands at a constant rate. The battery, quartz crystal and stepper motor replaced the mainspring and gears of the venerable mechanical movement. Ironically, Hamilton chose to produce LCD watches and sold basic analog quartz technology to a little company called Seiko in Japan. Ten years later, Seiko became the largest watch company in the world. But today, the finest watches, mechanical and quartz, are built back where almost all early watch technology was born and perfected...in Switzerland.

Swiss Quartz Movement
We believe the finest quartz movements are produced in Switzerland. They have been developing their technology for centuries. By using traditional mechanical based chassis and real jewels, the Swiss Quartz movements are the most rugged, accurate and reliable movements made. Quartz’s greatest advantage is cost and most watches under $1000 today use quartz movements. When choosing a watch, Swiss quartz is an excellent choice if you want to set it and forget it.

Automatic Watches
The most interesting and desirable watches are called Automatic watches. Automatic watches are mechanical watches that are driven “automatically” by harnessing the kinetic energy produced by a simple flick of the wrist. For this reason, they are also called "kinetic" watches.Often called “self winding”, automatic watches save energy when a simple oscillating rotor at the base of the movement spins as the arm moves. That rotor winds a simple mainspring, storing up that energy, which is then released at a constant rate, moving the hands of the watch. The classic automatic movement is really quite a remarkable feat of engineering, requiring almost 200 precisely crafted parts, working in perfect harmony to keep proper time. Today's best automatics are so well built that, with proper maintenance, they will last for generations. However, unlike Quartz watches, they are often expensive, with the high end models selling for over $10,000.
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Buy Quartz and Automatic Seiko Watches at discounted prices. We also carry Mens and Womens Chanel Watches.