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Choose a conventional battery-powered quartz watch if you mainly want convenient timekeeping, especially when you rotate watches or wear one only occasionally. Choose an automatic because you enjoy its mechanical operation and accept the winding, setting and maintenance that come with it. Automatic is a preference, not a universal upgrade.
Think about the morning after a week off
Picture the watch sitting untouched while you wear something else. When you pick it up, do you want to put it on and leave, or would you enjoy spending time setting it?
Marathon describes quartz as an electrically powered movement using a quartz crystal, while an automatic uses a mechanical movement whose mainspring is wound by a rotor as the watch moves. Its comparison presents quartz as the more accurate general choice and automatic as a mechanical ownership experience. That does not mean every model shares identical accuracy, service needs or features.
| Your routine | Our recommendation | The trade-off to accept |
|---|---|---|
| You want a watch you think about as little as possible | Quartz | Battery replacement remains part of ownership |
| You rotate several watches and dislike resetting them | Quartz | Choose the watch for its actual features, not mechanical appeal |
| The movement itself is part of the attraction | Automatic | Setting and winding may be part of using it |
| You already enjoy a reliable watch | Keep it | A different movement does not create a new need |
Sources 1
“Automatic” does not mean it runs forever
An automatic still has a finite energy reserve. As a concrete example—not a Marathon specification—Seiko's instructions for its 4R57 movement describe approximately 41 hours of operation when fully wound. The manual explains restarting and setting the watch after it stops.
The decision that follows is simple: compare the exact watch's reserve with your habits. If it will often sit unworn longer than that, budget some attention for restarting and setting it. Do not copy the winding instructions or reserve figure from an unrelated movement.
Sources 2
Compare ownership, then compare the watch
Our recommendation is to decide the movement preference before letting a product photograph settle the purchase. Then compare size, legibility, strap and the features you will actually use. Movement type does not answer those questions.
For example, someone buying a watch mainly for occasional dinners may care more about how it wears with clothing than about the mechanism. Someone who enjoys observing and maintaining mechanical objects may consider the setting routine part of the appeal. Neither person needs to borrow the other's priorities.
Ask about servicing and battery work for the exact model before buying, particularly if access to a suitable service provider is inconvenient. Marathon notes ongoing service as a consideration for automatics; do not interpret “no battery” as “no maintenance.”
Is quartz a poor choice for a watch enthusiast?
No. Enjoying watches does not require choosing one movement type. Pick an automatic because you want that experience, or quartz because its convenience suits you. Paying more does not make an unsuitable ownership routine a better fit.
Our Marathon Watch guide is relevant because the brand offers quartz and automatic options. Explore our watch category for other decisions.
Explore Marathon Watch
Marathon offers quartz and automatic watches. Decide which ownership routine suits you before comparing the dimensions and features of individual models.
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This guide draws on published product information, not hands-on testing. Sources and check dates are listed below.
- Marathon's movement comparisonSource checked Sep 21, 2026
- Seiko 4R57 winding instructionsSource checked Sep 21, 2026
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