Quartz vs Automatic Watches: Which Should a Man Buy? (2026)

Same median price, different engine. Here is what you actually get for the money with each movement.

Last updated: October 2026

Buy quartz if you want accuracy and no upkeep, buy automatic if you want a watch that runs on your wrist's motion with no battery. At Adam & Westcott the choice does not cost more: the median quartz and the median automatic both sell for $59.98.

What is the difference between a quartz and an automatic watch?

A quartz watch runs on a battery; an automatic winds itself from wrist motion and needs no battery. Of 103 Adam & Westcott watches, 36 state quartz, 29 state automatic and 38 state neither.

Quartz uses a battery to keep a crystal vibrating at a fixed rate, so the seconds hand ticks once a second and timekeeping is very steady. An automatic uses a weighted rotor that spins as you move and winds a mainspring, which is why the hand sweeps. Leave an automatic off your wrist long enough and it stops until you wind and set it again.

Is an automatic watch more expensive than quartz?

Not here. Both movements share a $59.98 median price, quartz starts at $29.98 and automatic at $39.98, and 15 quartz and 10 automatic watches sell under $50.

The cheapest automatic is the CLASSIC ALLOY WATCH at $39.98, a pilot style with a full calendar date. The top of the automatic range reaches $299.98, while no quartz in the collection passes $69.99. So below $70 you are choosing a movement, not a budget.

Which quartz and automatic watches compare best?

Eight watches, three quartz and five automatic, with the movement, water rating and strap each product page prints.

Watch	Movement	Water rating	Strap	Price
BOLD DIAL SPORT WATCH	Quartz	3 bar	Silicone	$39.99
LEATHER CHRONOGRAPH WATCH	Quartz	Not stated	Genuine leather	$39.98
Ardenfort Classic Timer	Quartz, 41 mm	Not stated	Leather	$59.99
CLASSIC ALLOY WATCH	Automatic	Not stated	Genuine leather	$39.98
REGAL SQUARE LUXURY WATCH	Automatic, NH35, sapphire	3 bar	Steel bracelet	$44.95
AUTOMATIC DRESS WATCH	Automatic	Not stated	Leather	$49.98
LUMINOUS DIAL AUTOMATIC WATCH	Automatic, sapphire	50 m	Steel band	$59.98
LOBINNI PERPETUAL CALENDAR WATCH	Automatic, Seagull 28 jewel, sapphire	5 bar	Steel	$169.98

"Not stated" means the product page does not print a figure, so we do not quote one.

Which is the best-selling quartz watch?

The BOLD DIAL SPORT WATCH at $39.99, with 96 sold in the 30 days to October 8, 2026, more than any other Adam & Westcott watch.

For a dressier quartz, the Ardenfort Classic Timer at $59.99 has a 41 mm dial, a stainless steel case and a leather strap.

Which is the best-selling automatic watch?

The AUTOMATIC DRESS WATCH at $49.98, with 25 sold in the 30 days to October 8, 2026: no battery, a date on the dial and a slim case that sits under a shirt cuff.

Which automatic has the most published spec for the money?

The REGAL SQUARE LUXURY WATCH at $44.95 prints an NH35 movement, sapphire crystal and 3 bar water resistance on a full steel bracelet.

Step up to the LUMINOUS DIAL AUTOMATIC WATCH at $59.98 for 50 m water resistance and sapphire glass. The flagship LOBINNI PERPETUAL CALENDAR WATCH at $169.98 adds a Seagull 28 jewel movement, a 316L stainless steel case and 5 bar water resistance.

Who should buy quartz and who should buy automatic?

• Grab and go, any day: quartz, such as the BOLD DIAL SPORT WATCH
• Smart quartz for work: the Ardenfort Classic Timer
• First automatic under $40: the CLASSIC ALLOY WATCH
• Automatic with sapphire under $50: the REGAL SQUARE LUXURY WATCH
• Wear it rarely: quartz, because an automatic stops when it sits in a drawer

Frequently asked questions

Is quartz or automatic better?

Neither is better outright. Quartz keeps steadier time and needs only a battery; automatic needs no battery. At Adam & Westcott both share a $59.98 median price.

Do automatic watches need a battery?

No. An automatic winds itself from the motion of your wrist. If it sits unworn long enough it stops, and you wind and set it again.

What is the cheapest automatic watch at Adam & Westcott?

The CLASSIC ALLOY WATCH at $39.98, a pilot style automatic with a full calendar date and a genuine leather strap. Ten automatics sell under $50.

Which automatic under $50 has sapphire crystal?

The REGAL SQUARE LUXURY WATCH at $44.95, with an NH35 automatic movement, sapphire crystal, 3 bar water resistance and a full steel bracelet.

Which watch sells the most?

The quartz BOLD DIAL SPORT WATCH at $39.99, with 96 sold in the 30 days to October 8, 2026. The best-selling automatic was the AUTOMATIC DRESS WATCH, 25 sold.

Want the movement split in more depth? Read Quartz or Automatic Watch: Which Should You Buy?, or browse Watch Gifts for Men: What to Buy at Every Price if you are buying for someone else.