Mechanical watches were born of the need to replace the cumbersome pocket watches of the 1800's for trench-use during the First World War. Quartz watches, on the other hand, only started making their appearances in the 1960's. It was discovered that that a quartz crystal could regulate the inflow of electricity (energy) more accurately than the power generated by the mainspring of a mechanical watch. Thus, there has been a need to improve, over the years, on the quality, as well as the purposes, of watches. Over time I will explain how such purposes and qualities are continually changing, but for this entry I simply wish to show how the differences between a mechanical and quartz movement can be noted at face value. Let's take a look at the quartz movement.
You will notice the movement of the second-hand. It is regulated to "jump" at one-second intervals. It is for this reason that the quartz watch is more accurate over a longer period of time than its mechanical counterpart. And now notice the difference between the above movement and that of the following mechanical movement.
Notice how the second-hand glides across the face of the watch. This is known as a "smooth sweep," and a good indicator that batteries and quartz are not involved.
What is important to know for now is that battery-operated watches are cheaper, while mechanical watches are more expensive, because a lot more work goes into mechanical watches, and mechanical watches are designed for the aesthetically-inclined.
