A quartz watch is accurate to seconds a month, runs for years on a battery, and does not care if you drop it. That is why every military, dive and field watch that has to work is quartz, and why the interesting question is not quartz versus automatic but which quartz. This guide covers the best quartz watches we stock by what you need them for, from a $110 G-Shock to an $800 Swiss Luminox.
For the dark: Luminox
Swiss quartz with tritium tubes that glow for 25 years without charging. The Navy SEAL 3500 Arctic ($595.99) is the dive watch; the Atacama ($545.99) is the field watch with a Ronda 515 and sapphire; the Mil-Spec 46mm ($799.99) has an ETA F06.412 and 300 meters. See our Luminox guides linked below.
For abuse: G-Shock
Casio's shock-resistant quartz. The Rangeman GW9400 ($329.99) adds altimeter, barometer and compass; the GA100MB-1A ($110) is the popular analog-digital; the GD100-1B ($110) is the bright-backlight digital.
For style at $150 to $425: Dango
Japanese Miyota 2315 quartz in a 45 mm 316L case with domed mineral crystal, 50 meters, and lume: the Spec-Ops with a Cerakote head and nylon strap ($149), the R-Spec with a carbon fiber dial ($149), the Dapper on Italian leather ($149). Swiss Ronda movements and sapphire on the TK-01 Trek ($225) and the CR-01 Chrono ($425).
How to choose
Need to read it at 3 a.m. without a button: Luminox. Need it to survive a fall: G-Shock. Want a watch that looks like a watch for under $500: Dango.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best quartz watch?
For the dark, a Luminox; for abuse, a G-Shock; for style, a Dango.
Is quartz better than automatic?
More accurate and tougher; less romantic.
What is a Swiss quartz movement?
A battery movement made in Switzerland, like Ronda and ETA in Luminox.
How long does a quartz battery last?
Two to five years, depending on the watch.
Are G-Shocks quartz?
Yes.
The bottom line
A Luminox Navy SEAL if you need the glow, a Rangeman if you need sensors, a Dango Spec-Ops if you need it to look right.
Related reading
Best Luminox watches, ranked
Best G-Shock for EDC
Dango watches review
