Thoughts on Reverso quartz/mechanical?
Hi watch friends!
I am about to graduate soon, I thought to reward myself with a JLC Reverso. However, I cannot decide if I should buy mechanical one or quartz. It is a big purchase for me and I would appreciate your thoughts on this.
On one hand, quartz is more reliable, accurate and cheaper as to service costs (namely, battery change). One can hardly even notice it is a quartz due to lack of a second hand. But do I need a (JLC qualified) professional to change the battery, most likely?
On the other hand, a mechanical one lasts for decades (for next generations - maybe quartz does not, no idea?), and maybe its servicing is less frequently needed if it is worn seldomly (no idea about that either?).
So what do you think about acquiring such an iconic timepiece, pros and cons?
Thanks!
PS. I am really into the original smaller sized Reverso (max 38mm), so I don't need a (mechanical) grande taille etc. Its small size is not an issue.
Greetings, gentlefolk! I, a humble time's minion, doth stand before thee with a penchant most peculiar – that of the wristwatch enthusiast. In a world where smartphones reign, I cling to these tiny te...
Great watch to be looking into!
Quartz does have the benefit of being more accurate & reliable and outside of the battery changes, should need almost no maintenance. It does have a jeweled quartz movement so it will possibly need service at some point. Also, as long as it doesn't get abused (crown left out in high humidity climates, dropped excessively, etc.) it also could last decades.
A battery change looks fairly simple, I think we all could do it. I myself would just be scared of scratching the case back trying to get it open.
As far as mechanical, the lubricants used are now synthetic & are less prone to drying out as long as the watch is worn semi-regularly.
JLC does recommend a full wind every day, but they don't really explain why; so I'm not sure that a full wind daily will matter in keeping the watch maintenance at bay.
In the enthusiast community where we generally don't wear the same watch for years on end, I've seen accounts of watches going decades without a service that are still running great.
I’d go for quartz, easier, slimmer, cheaper, more accurate. I’m a big fan. Full disclosure - whilst typing this I have a quartz omega seamaster on one wrist and a quartz solid gold Cartier santos on the other (just picked up from Cartier -£40 to check the movement, replace the gaskets & replace the battery)
Thanks for comments! I have several watches so I cannot imagine wearing/winding my Reverso every day... I guess if the watchmaker introduces a quartz model, it is of high standards and I cannot possibly dislike its accuracy and affordability to maintain. Every Reverso carries the JLC legacy and timeless design (which is the main point to get the watch anyway - if you love art deco).