Blog — Watch

The history of quartz watches cannot be told without mentioning the quartz crisis. But we don’t necessarily feel that the introduction of the quartz timepiece was a crisis, but rather a way of making high quality watches affordable for everyone. Today we’ll share with you the history of quartz watches and trust us – it’s fascinating!

Exploring the History of Quartz Watches: The Quartz Crisis 

As mentioned in our article on the history of watchmaking, the first commercial quartz wristwatch was released in 1969 by manufacturer Seiko. Named the Astron, it was a limited edition of 100 gold case watches, which cost the equivalent as a Toyota Corolla! With an accuracy of within five seconds a day, this small timepiece made shockwaves around the world.

Having been the most well-regarded watch makers for generations, the Swiss were reluctant to enter the quartz race. With the success of their mechanical watches, embracing another wasn’t high on their priority list. This decision cost them dearly. Plunged into crisis due to its lack of keeping up with technological changes, the Swiss watch industry suffered dreadfully. Jobs in the industry dropped from 90,000 to 28,000 and the Swiss economy entered an economic crisis.

1983 saw the re-entry into the market by the Swiss with the launch of the Swatch. It is this brand which helped raise the Swiss out of their downturn and once again made them a household name. With an automated manufacturing process, the Swatch could be sold at a lower cost than a mechanical watch and in greater numbers.

The Swatch brand quickly became the world’s largest watch manufacturer with its plastic cased watch with only 51 moving parts. Compared with the 91 moving parts of a mechanical watch, the Swatch seemed to have been designed with disposability in mind, not repair and reuse. It was the beginning of a new era for the Swiss.

What Was the Quartz Revolution? 

This same period was not deemed a crisis by the Japanese or American watch industries. Instead, it was named the quartz revolution and businesses thrived as they grew their technological lead over their static Swiss competition. The Seiko and Citizen watch brands become worldwide household names. Often focusing on fashion, these manufacturers designed timepieces which were stylish and modern in appearance. James Bond was even seen wearing a quartz watch!

A collection of famous brands including Rolex, Patek and Omega participated in what was called the Beta 21 movement. These brands worked together to move away from manufacturing mechanical watches to quartz watches. While it was acknowledged that it was an essential move, it came at the cost of reducing the market share of mechanical watches around the world.

Where Is the Future of Quartz Watches Heading? 

It has been asked before if there is any future in the quartz watch. With the widespread use of mobile phones and other digital technologies, do we even need to wear a watch at all? Some would say that the smartwatch is where we are headed, while others see wristwatches quietly becoming a thing of the past.

We beg to differ. There is nothing quite like the feel of a great watch on your wrist and the knowledge that it has a wonderful story behind it. We invite you to learn more about our story and explore our two fine quartz watch collections today!

If you’ve ever been interested in collecting watches, or simply wonder why people do, then you’ve come to the right place! Here at Luxiani, we’re passionate about watches of all shapes and sizes. Our lovingly curated watch collections are stunning, but with the physical impossibility of wearing more than one per wrist, why do people like us collect watches? Let’s find out!

Why Do People Collect Watches?

What makes someone begin collecting watches? Do they simply love being surrounded with timepieces, or is it the history of watchmaking they are interested in? A watch collector is most likely someone who believes that watches tell a story, just like we do. They see the watch as a work of art, something to be enjoyed and a unique window to understanding who a person is, by the type of watch they have worn.

Generally, watch collectors are like other types of collectors. They may not have been present at every important moment in the past, but they feel they are a part of it with their collection.

Top Tips for Collecting Watches

As a beginner watch collector, it’s important to spend time understanding just what it is about watches makes you tick. Are you interested in watches of a specific brand, like the top five most famous watch designers? Or are you a fan of either a mechanical or quartz watch and only want to collect models with a specific movement? Your answers will help you shape the direction you want your collection to take. Here are five additional tips to help you get started.

1. Make your own choices – it’s easy to become influenced by others when starting your watch collection. While it’s perfectly fine to take inspiration from the collections of others, resist buying watches people suggest to you or purchase a specific model simply because someone else has one.

2. Collect what you love – it’s no use collecting watches that you would not like to wear yourself. Make sure that you place it on your wrist and check its appearance before adding it to your collection.

3. Document your collection – it’s well worth keeping a journal to record each new addition to your collection. The purchase price, history and reasons why you selected it are all good points to write down.

4. Enjoy yourself – there’s limited fun in knowing you want a specific watch and then finding it instantly. Rather the fun is in the thrill of the chase and the hunt. All the effort you make to procure your timepiece is what collecting is all about.

5. Don’t rely on your collection as an investment – while it’s true that some watches will rise in value over time, it’s not something you should rely upon. Instead you are best adding watches to your collection which you value on a personal level, not monetary. Hoping you would make a profit selling pieces in the future, is not something to aim for.

To begin your personal watch collection, we invite you to see ours! Our Stone, Virtues and Weekend Collections contain some of the most attractive watches available online. We’re certain you’ll love our collections as much as we do!

For the Dad who has everything, it can be a struggle to choose a Father’s Day gift. But by far, giving him a functional and stylish present is your best option. That’s where giving him a watch is a great choice! We’d like to share a few of our best tips with you, to make selecting his new watch easy.

Top 6 Tips on Choosing a Watch as a Father’s Day Present 

Watches are like jewellery in a way. Everyone has their own personal tastes, some preferring large bold designs, with others choosing simple and discreet models. To select the right watch for your father, here are six pointers to consider:

• Understand the kind of person your father is. A fashion conscious Dad would prefer a modern watch, while a technologically minded Dad would like a watch with all the bells and whistles! However, the type of watch he prefers can vary according to where he wears it too.

• Think about where he wears his watch. Does your father only wear a watch to work? Perhaps only for special occasions? This will help you identify the type of watch he would most prefer. A dress watch fulfils a different purpose to that of a sports watch and as such, you will need to also consider which features he feels are important in his watch.

• Consider his hand and arm proportions. Choosing a watch which has the correct sized face is important. Too big and as well as looking awkward, it can also be uncomfortable to wear. Too small and it looks seriously out of place.

• Know your budget. While you’d love to purchase the most expensive watch you can find for your Dad, set a budget and stick with it. But that doesn’t mean you are limited to only low quality mass produced models. At Luxiani, we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality men’s watches at an affordable price, such as those in our Stone Collection.

• Learn his watch type preferences. Often you are guided as to the best watch type for your father based upon where he primarily wears a watch. For instance, a dress watch is mostly for indoors activities, while a waterproof watch is required should he spend most of his time outdoors. However, it’s also necessary to know if he prefers a digital or analogue model. Then there’s whether you feel he’d prefer a mechanical, automatic or quartz watch. Other than observing the type of watch he currently wears, asking him may be your only option!

• Consider the type of strap he would prefer. Does he like a leather strap or a metal strap? A leather strap is comfortable to wear but can stretch over time. A meta watch strap can capture hairs, so if Dad has a lot of body hair, this is an important consideration. However, a metal strap will often last longer than a leather strap, in terms of durability.

A watch really is the best Father’s Day gift a guy could ever hope for. If you’d like some more assistance in selecting the right one for your Dad, we can help. Please contact us today and we’ll be more than happy to assist you.

The importance of caring for your watch cannot be overemphasised as far as we are concerned. Often worn and purchased for sentimental reasons, a great watch tells a story and deserves to be looked after. We’ve put together a collection of eight of our best tips to help you care for your watch and keep it in prime condition.

Caring for Your Watch Made Easy 

Regardless of how much your watch cost to buy, you like it and find it useful. You want to ensure it remains in the best condition possible and prolong its lifespan. As owners of the luxury watch brand Luxiani, we’re passionate not only about providing you with the best watches, but also caring for them too. Here are our top eight tips on watch care:

1. Read your watch manual first – it is here that you will see clear instructions on how to care for your watch. The dos and don’ts are important to follow, as not doing so can void any warranty it may come with.

2. Clean your watch often – like everything, a watch can get dirty. If dust and dirt manage to get inside the watch case, they can cause serious damage. Wipe gently with a soft cloth to remove any dirt from both the strap and the watch case itself. Watches with leather straps can produce an odour over time. Check with the watch manufacturer first, but it may be possible to use a small amount of warm water and soap to clean the strap once it has been removed from the watch case.

3. Avoid getting it wet – unless your watch specifically says it is waterproof, keep it out of the water! This means take it off when showering, swimming or even washing the dishes.

4. Stay away from magnets – magnets can play havoc with the time keeping mechanisms of your watch, so are best avoided.

5. Keep your watch out of the sun – extreme heat (and cold) can negatively affect the mechanisms of your watch, including the gears, hands and battery.

6. Store it safely – it’s best to place your watch into it’s original case when not being worn. Leaving it on a table top or dresser can lead it to be accidently scratched or broken.

7. Have it serviced regularly – as a general guideline, a mechanical watch should be checked every two to three years by a watchmaker. For a quartz watch, you can stretch that to every three to four years. A service will involve a professional clean and lubrication to keep the mechanisms dirt, dust and moisture free.

8. Beware of shock damage – while a watch can absorb the small daily shocks it is exposed to safely, large ones can significantly damage its mechanism and casing. For extreme sports or leisure activities, you are best to remove it until you have finished.

Caring for your watch is not a strenuous job, but one which pay dividends for you in the future. If you’d like more information on how to care for your Luxiani watch, we’re here to help. Please contact us today and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.

Have you ever found yourself wondering what’s the difference between a mechanical and a quartz watch? With a similar appearance to the watch face, you’d be forgiven for thinking they were the same thing. The answer though, lies in the type of movement the watch has, and today we’re going to discuss the specific differences between them and how to pick the right one for you.

What is a Mechanical Watch?

A mechanical watch has a smooth sweeping seconds motion, a result of the second hand ticking multiple times per second. Because of this, mechanical watches also tend to have a higher level of quality and craftsmanship, compared with quartz watches.  It is this reason that many luxury watch designers only craft watches with this movement type.

Consisting of many very small moving parts, mechanical watches must be wound up to work. Instead of using a battery to power itself, a mechanical watch uses the energy from a small spring. When wound up, the spring uses its stored energy, passing current through the gears and springs to power the watch. Due to the amount of labour required, they also come with a higher price tag. But they are also built to last, with many wonderful watch masterpieces being passed down between generations due to their longevity.

Many mechanical timepieces can last for 30-40 hours on a single wind. With no batteries required, they are also an eco-friendlier option. The downside is, they do require winding and if you forget to do this, your watch stops!

What is a Quartz Watch?

A quartz watch has a second hand which moves only once per second. Instead of a smooth movement like on a mechanical watch, the second hand does look like it is jumping and often will have an audible tick.

Keeping very accurate time, a quartz watch requires minimal maintenance and is battery operated. The battery sends an electrical current through a small quartz crystal, which then creates vibrations. These vibrations keep the movement going and makes the motor move the watch hand.

Quartz watches are generally preferred over mechanical watches for their accuracy and reliability. Even though it has a shorter lifespan than its mechanical counterpart, a quartz watch does have the advantage of being cheaper to manufacture and consequently purchase. Other than a battery change around every 12 months, a quartz watch requires little maintenance.

Choosing Between Watch Movements