Quartz, Automatic or Hand-Wind? How to Choose a Men's Watch
Posted on October 09 2026
The movement inside a watch decides how it keeps time, how much care it needs and what it costs. This guide explains the three types you will meet when shopping for a men's watch, and which of our watches use each one. Every spec below comes from the product listings.
Men's watch movements at a glance
| Watch | Movement | Water resistance | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOBOBIRD Men's Wooden Watch | Japanese quartz | 3ATM | $89.99 |
| LONGLUX Skeleton Automatic | Mechanical, hand-wind and automatic | 3Bar | $89.99 |
| RED STAR Pilot Airforce | Seagull ST1901 hand-wind chronograph | 50m | $249.99 |
| BERNY 20ATM Diver | NH35 automatic | 20ATM (200m) | $269.99 |
| FARASUTE Luxury Automatic | Self-winding mechanical | 3ATM | $398.99 |
| Seagull 1963 Aviation Watch | ST1901 mechanical chronograph | See listing | $429.99 |
Quartz: simple, accurate and low maintenance
A quartz watch runs on a battery and an electronic oscillator, so it keeps accurate time with almost no attention. It is the easiest type to live with. The BOBOBIRD Men's Wooden Watch uses a Japanese quartz movement with luminous hands and a calendar display, and it is rated 3ATM, which covers sweat, splashes and rain.
Automatic: no battery, powered by your wrist
An automatic watch winds itself as you move, so it never needs a battery. The LONGLUX Skeleton Automatic adds a skeleton dial that shows the movement working and can also be hand-wound. For a step up in materials, the FARASUTE Luxury Automatic has a self-winding movement, sapphire crystal and a stainless steel case.
Automatic divers: built for water
If you swim or snorkel, water resistance matters more than anything. The BERNY 20ATM Diver pairs an NH35 automatic movement with a 44mm stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal and a screw-down crown, and it is rated to 200 metres.
Hand-wind chronographs: for the mechanical purist
A hand-wind watch has no battery and no rotor: you wind the crown yourself. The RED STAR Pilot Airforce watch uses the original Seagull ST1901 1963 chronograph movement with a sapphire crystal and luminous markings, in 38mm or 40mm cases. The Seagull 1963 Aviation Watch uses the same movement in a vintage pilot style.
How to choose
- Want zero maintenance? Choose quartz.
- Want a watch without a battery? Choose an automatic.
- Will it get wet? Check the water resistance rating. 3ATM handles splashes and rain; the diver is rated to 200m.
- Like to see the mechanism? Choose a skeleton dial.
- Want a vintage chronograph? Choose a hand-wind ST1901 model.
Frequently asked questions
Does an automatic watch need a battery?
No. It winds from wrist movement, and can also be hand-wound if it has been off your wrist.
Is 3ATM waterproof enough for swimming?
No. It covers splashes and rain. Use a diver rated 20ATM for swimming.
Browse the full range in our men's watches collection or read our BOBO BIRD watches review.
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