Guide
Quartz or Automatic?
Two ways of powering a watch, and which one suits you. Here is the difference in plain terms, with examples from the watches we have in stock.
Quartz: a battery and very little care
A quartz watch runs on a battery and an electronic oscillator. It generally keeps more accurate time than a mechanical watch and needs very little care beyond a battery change every few years. Examples: the Tissot PRX and the Seiko SQ100.
Automatic: wound by your wrist
An automatic watch winds itself from the motion of your wrist, so there is no battery. If you do not wear it for a while it stops, and a few turns of the crown or some time on the wrist starts it again. Mechanical watches can gain or lose a few seconds a day and benefit from a service every few years.
Power reserve is how long a fully wound watch runs off the wrist. Our listings state it where known: about 40 to 42 hours on the Seiko Presage Style60's GMT and the Citizen Tsuyosa, and 80 hours on the Hamilton Khaki Field.
Solar: quartz that runs on light
Some quartz watches charge from light instead of using a replaceable battery in the usual way. The Citizen Eco-Drive Chrono Racing and the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar are examples.
Which should you choose?
If you want a watch you can put on and forget, choose quartz or solar. If you enjoy the mechanics and wear one watch most days, choose an automatic, such as the Orient Bambino. Both appear at every price: our Under AED 500 page has quartz and automatic watches side by side.
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Sold out · Like New
Citizen TSUYOSA 37mm Automatic - Gradient Black Dial, Like New with Original Box AEDÂ 650.00AEDÂ 1,000.00 -
Like New · Box & Papers
Seiko Presage Style60's GMT Automatic - SSK013J1 AEDÂ 1,350.00AEDÂ 2,150.00 -
Excellent · Box & Papers
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Brand New
Orient Bambino Automatic RA-AC0038S - White Arabic Dial AEDÂ 1,100.00AEDÂ 1,800.00 -
Brand New
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Brand New · Last Piece
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph - Beige Dial AEDÂ 1,500.00AEDÂ 2,545.00 -
Brand New · Last Piece
Tissot PRX 40mm Quartz - Gold, Ref. T137.410.33.021.00 AEDÂ 650.00AEDÂ 800.00 -
Collector's Vintage
Seiko SQ100 Quartz - White Roman Dial, Two-Tone AEDÂ 2,000.00
Questions
Quartz and automatic questions
Do automatic watches need a battery?
No. The movement is wound by the motion of your wrist and by the crown. Quartz watches are the ones that use a battery.
Which is more accurate?
A quartz watch generally keeps more accurate time than a mechanical one. A mechanical watch can gain or lose a few seconds a day.
How long does an automatic run if I do not wear it?
As long as its power reserve, which is stated in the listing where known, for example about 40 to 42 hours on several Seiko and Citizen models.
Are your watches genuine?
Yes. If a watch is found not to be authentic, or arrives broken or not working, you get a full refund (see Shipping & Returns). DAR is an independent dealer and is not affiliated with the brands it sells.
What does delivery cost?
We deliver across the UAE: AED 30 to Dubai and AED 50 to the other Emirates, added at checkout. Prices are in dirhams and include VAT.