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± 5 s/year: The Challenge to Mechanical Prestige
In the shadow of mechanical complications adored by purists, a silent revolution is underway. Watches that deviate by only a few seconds a year are redefining our relationship with precision and shaking the very foundations of traditional watchmaking prestige. Welcome to the discreet yet fascinating world of HAQ (High Accuracy Quartz).
Imagine wearing a timepiece so precise it only strays by 5 seconds per year. Now, consider that your prestigious Swiss mechanical watch, the one costing as much as a small car, drifts by 5 seconds… per day. Disturbing, isn’t it?
The uncomfortable truth the traditional watch industry prefers to keep quiet: quartz technology has reached a level of precision that mechanics will never be able to match. From the revolutionary 1969 Seiko Astron to the breathtaking Citizen Caliber 0100, accurate to ±1 second per year, an elite group of electronic timepieces has silently perfected the art of timekeeping.
These engineering marvels require no daily winding or expensive overhauls, all while displaying precision up to 3650 times greater than their mechanical cousins. And contrary to popular belief, some boast finishes worthy of the greatest manufactures: zaratsu polishing, washi dials, grade 5 titanium cases…
The most surprising part? While we venerate obsolete mechanical complications, these high-tech masterpieces remain largely unknown to the general public. Yet, an elite group of insiders has already understood: the future of watchmaking precision lies not in heritage, but in innovation.
Genesis and Rise of HAQ (1969–2025)
The quest for the ultra-precise watch began in the late 1960s when Seiko unveiled the Quartz Astron in 1969, the world’s first quartz watch. This golden, futuristic Astron, sold at the price of an average car, already boasted an accuracy of about ± 1 min/year – an absolute revolution compared to the mechanical watches of the time (a few seconds of error per day!). Quartz had just thrown down an unprecedented technological gauntlet to Swiss watchmaking prestige. In response, a Swiss consortium (CEH) retaliated in 1970 with the Beta-21 caliber, used notably by Omega and Patek Philippe: these Swiss quartz watches achieved ~± 5 s/month. Admittedly, the casing remained luxurious, but the electronic heart overturned established traditions – much to the chagrin of purists. The 1970s thus saw an explosion of increasingly accessible quartz models, provoking the famous « quartz crisis » that shook the mechanical industry.
The Seiko Quartz Astron (1969) – the first commercial quartz watch, with an accuracy of about ± 1 min per year. This high-precision quartz debut revolutionized traditional watchmaking (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)During the following decades, quartz became commonplace in the entry-level market, but a few manufacturers continued to aim for high accuracy quartz (HAQ). In 1975, Omega presented the Constellation Marine Chronometer equipped with a 2.4 MHz caliber (cal. 1511) – an enormous frequency for the time – guaranteeing ± 12 s/year, certified « marine chronometer ». These rare pieces, with their complex and expensive copper caliber, showed that quartz could rival or even surpass the precision of the most prestigious mechanical chronometers. In the 1980s–90s, Citizen and Seiko, far from abandoning quartz, refined their HAQ calibers: Citizen launched Chronomaster watches as early as 1995 with an accuracy of ± 5 s/year, while Seiko developed the 9F caliber for Grand Seiko (1993), with ± 10 s/year and innovations such as the twin-pulse seconds hand and a backlash auto-adjust mechanism to prevent any gear play. These 9F movements, assembled by hand and lubricated to last for decades, proved that « quartz » can rhyme with high horology.
Discover the Citizen Chronomaster on Catawiki (a wide choice of models and auction opportunities)
Explore offers for the Grand Seiko 9F on Catawiki (many models and exciting auctions)
Meanwhile, Bulova explored another path in 2010 with the Precisionist, featuring a three-pronged crystal vibrating at 262 kHz (8 times faster than an ordinary quartz). The Precisionist offers a smooth sweeping seconds hand (almost continuous second) and an accuracy of about ± 10 s/year. Admittedly, it is less refined than Japanese HAQ watches, but it democratized the idea of a very precise quartz watch and attracted attention with its technical aesthetics.
The Bulova Precisionist awaits you on Catawiki (discover unique models and participate in auctions)
In the 2010s, the popularity of HAQ also rose thanks to significant releases: Longines relaunched its Conquest V.H.P. (Very High Precision) in 2017, powered by a thermo-compensated ETA L288 caliber displaying ± 5 s/year and equipped with a perpetual calendar and an automatic hand readjustment system after an impact (GPD technology).
Grand Seiko enriched its quartz range with special ± 5 s/year editions and a new 9F85 caliber (2020) with an independently adjustable hour hand for easy time zone changes without stopping the seconds hand.
Find the Grand Seiko 9F85 on Catawiki (often rare pieces and interesting auctions)
Citizen, for its part, pushed the limits to ± 1 s/year in 2019 with the Caliber 0100 Eco-Drive, a limited series that claimed the title of the most accurate watch ever produced.
Discover the Citizen Caliber 0100 on Catawiki (a wide choice of models and auction opportunities)
Finally, Bulova revived the legendary name Accutron in 2020 with the Spaceview 2020, an electrostatic movement watch whose two generating turbines and electrostatic motor-driven hand renewed the approach to quartz (accuracy ± 5 s/month).
Explore offers for the Accutron Spaceview 2020 on Catawiki (many models and exciting auctions)
Who would have thought, a few decades earlier, that the elite watches of 2025 would not be solely mechanical?
Now, an elite of ultra-precise quartz watches – with Japanese models leading the way – stands up to tourbillons and manufacture movements in terms of pure precision, while cultivating high-end finishing. The tone was set in 1969, and more than half a century later, the HAQ challenge is more alive than ever.
Omega Electroquartz (1970) with Beta-21 caliber – the first Swiss quartz watch, accuracy ~± 5 s/month. Produced in ~1000 examples, it foreshadowed the HAQ era while sporting a solid gold case typical of 1970s style (Credit: Omega via Wikimedia Commons)The Omega Electroquartz awaits you on Catawiki (discover unique models and participate in auctions)
Precision Technology: Thermo-compensation, AT-cut Oscillators, Trimmer, Auto-recalibration, Dry Lubrication
How do you achieve ± 5 seconds per year when a standard quartz watch varies by ±15 seconds per month? HAQ performance relies on a range of technological refinements. Firstly, most of these movements use thermo-compensation: a temperature sensor (thermistor) continuously measures the crystal’s environment, and the electronic circuit adjusts the frequency or inhibits pulses to counteract deviations due to thermal variations. This technique, introduced as early as the 1970s (Girard-Perregaux quartz chronometer, Omega Megaquartz 2.4 MHz, etc.), is essential because a bare quartz crystal’s rate drifts by about 0.034 s/day per °C of variation. HAQ movements therefore incorporate a true electronic thermostat for their oscillator.
Secondly, some high-end calibers adopt differently cut crystals. The traditional watchmaking quartz is XY-cut (tuning fork shape at 32 kHz), optimized for consumption. But for greater stability, AT-cut resonators are used (often at higher frequencies, MHz), whose thermal drift curve has a plateau around 25°C. For example, the Omega 1511 caliber at 2.4 MHz from 1974 used an ultra-stable AT-cut quartz coupled with thermo-compensation: ± 1 s/month was achieved under controlled conditions. Nowadays, Citizen Chronomaster and GS 9F use special aged and selected quartz crystals for their intrinsic stability: at Grand Seiko, each crystal is aged for 90 days and then paired with its integrated circuit with its own compensation curve. This is a far cry from basic mass-produced quartz crystals.
Omega 1510 “Megaquartz” caliber (1974) – a high-frequency quartz (2.4 MHz) mounted on a thermo-compensated module. You can see the large orange quartz disc and, at the top, the integrated circuit on its support. With this caliber, Omega guaranteed ± 12 s/year, a record at the time (Credit: Omega Collector)To make the most of the crystal, an HAQ movement must also be finely adjusted. Historically, calibers incorporated a variable capacitor (trimmer) that the watchmaker adjusted using an oscilloscope or a reference watch to set the frequency precisely to 32,768 Hz. Recent models instead use digital calibration: in the factory, the crystal’s own drift is measured, and a correction value is programmed into the circuit’s memory. This value compensates for tiny manufacturing tolerances. For example, Citizen’s A060 caliber has an EEPROM adjustment register, eliminating the need for a mechanical trimmer – a guarantee of long-term stability as it prevents a variable component from shifting over time.
In terms of engineering, HAQ robustness is achieved through auto-recalibration devices. What does this mean? Some movements are capable of self-correcting after an impact or magnetic disturbance. The Longines V.H.P., for example, recalculates the position of its hands via sensors (GPD: Gear Position Detection) and resets them if it detects a misalignment. Similarly, some Citizen and Casio radio-controlled watches perform a daily self-adjustment by receiving an external time reference. Without going that far, Grand Seiko has equipped its 9F caliber with an end-of-month sensor to auto-correct the date (no need to adjust from the 30th to the 31st) and a seconds jump system if the hand encounters an obstacle (dust, for example). The goal is absolute reliability: what could be worse for a precision enthusiast than a stopped or desynchronized watch?
This obsession with detail is also seen in dry or durable lubrication. HAQ movements are designed to operate for many years without maintenance: the 9F caliber uses special oil and a sealed case limiting evaporation, Citizen applies its expertise in solid lubrication to certain gears, and Bulova touts the lack of need for lubrication in its Accutron electrostatic mechanism. Less friction, no escapement to grease, no mainspring or gravity-sensitive tourbillon: quartz has undeniable advantages in terms of maintenance. Some Grand Seiko quartz watches have thus operated for over 20 years with almost no noticeable drift – enough to make an expensive mechanical complication requiring regular revisions and care turn pale.
Grand Seiko 9F quartz module – the crystal (metal cylinder) is visible at the bottom, and the black integrated circuit above it. The 9F caliber includes a thermal sensor and memory-based adjustment, ensuring ± 10 s/year as standard (± 5 s/year on special editions). Assembled with 9 jewels and anti-aging materials, it can operate for several decades without maintenance (Credit: Worn&Wound, photo Ilya Ryvin)Find the Grand Seiko 9F on Catawiki (often rare pieces and interesting auctions)
Finally, let’s highlight one last point: energy management. A ± 5 s/year watch often involves additional features (perpetual calendar, shock detection, etc.) that consume power. Manufacturers have therefore optimized circuits to reduce the battery obstacle. Citizen has widely adopted Eco-Drive (solar) technology in its HAQ, eliminating the need for battery replacement. Seiko offers solar (Astron GPS) or hybrid versions (regular GPS synchronization, thus low demand on the internal quartz). Longines has equipped its V.H.P. with a long-life battery (over 4 years) thanks to the efficiency of its caliber. The less the watch is opened, the less risk there is of disturbing its original setting: a real plus for maintaining precision over time.
In summary, HAQ combines cutting-edge electronics with ingenious watchmaking solutions. Thermo-compensation, high-end quartz, fine calibration, auto-correction, and durable materials – every detail aims to shave off the slightest second of deviation. We are in the realm of embedded microcomputing, far from the traditional lever escapement. And it is precisely this technical excellence that fascinates a growing niche of enthusiasts, captivated by high horology quartz.
2025 Flagship Model Comparison
Which watches best embody this ± 5 s/year challenge today? Here is a comparative table of some current flagship references (announced precision, caliber used, and average price in USD, JPY, and SGD):
Model (brand & ref) Caliber (type) Precision Price USD Price JPY Price SGD **Citizen The Citizen Chronomaster** (AQ4020-54Y) A060 (Eco-Drive) ± 5 s/year ~ $2,400 ~ ¥300,000 ~ S$3,300 **Citizen The Citizen Chronomaster** (AQ4091-56M) A060 (Eco-Drive) ± 5 s/year ~ $3,000 ~ ¥350,000 ~ S$4,000 **Grand Seiko Heritage** 9F85 (SBGPxxx) 9F85 (Quartz) ± 10 s/year
(± 5 s/year on special editions) ~ $3,200 ~ ¥420,000 ~ S$4,500 **Longines Conquest V.H.P.** 41 mm L288.2 (Thermo-quartz) ± 5 s/year ~ $1,200 ~ ¥150,000 ~ S$1,600 **Bulova Precisionist X** Chronograph 262 kHz High-Perf. Quartz ± 10 s/year ~ $800 ~ ¥110,000 ~ S$1,000 **Accutron Spaceview 2020** 2ES6A NS30 (Electrostatic) ± 5 s/month
(~± 60 s/year) $3,650 ~ ¥500,000 ~ S$4,900 **Seiko Astron GPS 5X53** Dual-Time 5X53 (GPS solar) Auto-synchro GPS
(± 15 s/month without synchro) ~ $2,000 ~ ¥220,000 ~ S$2,700
As we can see, Citizen and Grand Seiko dominate the HAQ segment with Japanese-manufactured calibers, offering ± 5 or ± 10 seconds per year accuracy out of the box. The Citizen Chronomaster uses the A060 caliber, a thermo-compensated quartz movement powered by solar energy (Eco-Drive), with a low-charge indicator and perpetual calendar – a true “Grand Seiko” Citizen version, sold for around $3,000 USD. Grand Seiko offers several models equipped with the 9F85 caliber (3 hands, date) or 9F86 (GMT): these watches combine high-end finishing (Zaratsu polishing, elaborate dials) and precision: ± 10 s/year guaranteed, or even ± 5 s/year on “Special” editions. Prices are in the $3,000–$4,000 USD range, reflecting the manufacturing quality (high-definition steel or titanium cases, assembly by master watchmakers).
Discover The Citizen Chronomaster on Catawiki (a wide choice of models and auction opportunities)
Explore offers for the Grand Seiko 9F85 on Catawiki (many models and exciting auctions)
Alongside them, Longines offers a more affordable Swiss alternative with the Conquest V.H.P.: ~$1,200 USD for a 41mm steel sports watch equipped with an exclusive ETA caliber boasting a formidable accuracy of ± 5 s/year, without requiring solar power. Its plus? An intelligent system that realigns the hands if necessary and a perpetual calendar programmed until the year 2399.
In a more massive style, the Bulova Precisionist X celebrates the 10th anniversary of the original Precisionist model: contemporary cases (43–45 mm) often skeletonized or carbon, 262 kHz frequency ensuring a smooth sweeping seconds hand and an accuracy of about ± 10 s/year – all for under $1,000 USD, proof that HAQ can remain accessible.
Finally, two outliers complete the lineup: the Accutron Spaceview 2020, which revives the « open dial » aesthetic of the 1960 Bulova Accutron by relying on an innovative electrostatic movement (one admires its two turbines and emerald green circuit through the dial!); and the Seiko Astron GPS Solar, heir to the 1969 model but transformed into a hyper-connected watch linked to the GPS network. The Astron automatically synchronizes to atomic time via satellite once a day: its user never needs to set the time or time zone again – an unbeatable advantage when traveling.
Find the Accutron Spaceview 2020 on Catawiki (often rare pieces and interesting auctions)
Discover the Seiko Astron GPS Solar on Catawiki (a wide choice of models and auction opportunities)
Its 5X53 caliber also ensures ± 15 s/month in total autonomy, in case the GPS function is deactivated, and it adjusts the perpetual calendar and local time across 39 time zones in a few seconds at the push of a button. Offered around $2,000 USD, the Seiko Astron shows that it is possible to combine ultra-precision and high technology (and solar power) without breaking the bank.
Explore offers for the Seiko Astron on Catawiki (many models and exciting auctions)
In 2025, the enthusiast has a choice: from classic and refined timepieces (Chronomaster or Grand Seiko quartz) to high-tech sports watches (Longines VHP, Bulova Precisionist) and futuristic concepts (Accutron and Astron). And all these watches share that grail once reserved for observatories: an annual drift so small it’s measured in seconds. Mechanical prestige better watch out: to-the-second precision is no longer its monopoly!
Citizen “The Citizen” Chronomaster – a modern example (AQ4091-56M, indigo washi dial). These watches, reserved for Japan, offer ± 5 seconds per year thanks to the Eco-Drive A060 caliber. Finishing and performance place them on par with the best Swiss mechanicals.The Citizen Chronomaster awaits you on Catawiki (discover unique models and participate in auctions)
« Usage & Culture » Insights
Business flyer: multi-time zone reliability – Does a consultant cross ten time zones a week? HAQ watches are their silent allies. No need to resynchronize a mechanical watch at each landing or fear drift during a long flight: a Grand Seiko 9F85 allows instant adjustment of local time without stopping the seconds hand (and thus without losing the exact second), while a Seiko Astron GPS automatically sets itself to the correct time as soon as the plane touches the tarmac. For a professional always between international meetings, the gain in comfort is appreciable. Multi-time zone reliability also means that a ± 5 s/year watch will remain accurate for the entire duration of a multi-month mission abroad – when managing multi-million dollar contracts, one appreciates a watch that isn’t a source of worry. Some business flyers even adopt two HAQs: one set to UTC, the other to local time, to juggle global schedules. High precision then offers peace of mind: « Is my watch showing the correct minute? » – this question no longer arises, one can focus on what’s essential.
Find the Seiko Astron GPS on Catawiki (often rare pieces and interesting auctions)
Time zone map – constantly on the move, the business traveler appreciates HAQ watches capable of changing time quickly (GMT with independent hand, radio/GPS synchronization) while remaining ultra-precise. Goodbye to the stress of poorly converted time differences!Heritage collector: renaissance of Japanese quartz – « Quartz » was long an almost taboo word among collectors, synonymous with cheap, soulless watches. However, a small cultural revolution is taking place: more and more enthusiasts understand the historical importance and technical beauty of HAQ, particularly from Japan. Seiko relaunched the original Quartz Astron in 2019 as a limited 50th-anniversary edition (3X22 GPS caliber, gold case, five-figure price) – a tribute that found buyers instantly. Grand Seiko, for its part, has released several anniversary editions of its quartz models (special dials, blue seconds hand, etc.) that were quickly snapped up in boutiques. Japanese collectors speak of a true renaissance of high-end quartz: they hunt for Citizen Chronomasters from the 1990s, the first Grand Seiko 9Fs from the 90s (now rare in good condition), or even fascinating prototypes like the Omega Megaquartz 2.4 MHz from 1970. Beyond the hunt for vintage pieces, this « heritage » trend also translates into a transmission of knowledge: a collector, once a fanatic of mechanical chronographs, now explains thermal compensation and the number of jewels in a 9F on forums. We are witnessing a rehabilitation of quartz: major Swiss manufactures remain hesitant, but in Japan, prestige quartz is embraced and celebrated. The « Grand Seiko Society » proudly includes owners of SBGP and SBGN (quartz and GMT), and Citizen published a white paper on 100 years of quartz in 2023. For the heritage collector, owning an Astron from 1969 or a Chronomaster « The Citizen » is no longer heretical: it’s paying homage to watchmaking ingenuity in all its forms. And with the performance achieved, these HAQ pieces become the chronometers of our time – worthy of appearing alongside marine chronometers and tourbillons in a serious collection.
Discover the Seiko Quartz Astron on Catawiki (a wide choice of models and auction opportunities)
Explore offers for the Citizen Chronomaster on Catawiki (many models and exciting auctions)
The Grand Seiko 9F awaits you on Catawiki (discover unique models and participate in auctions)
Tech geek: Accutron/NASA heritage – Gadget and space exploration enthusiasts have found their grail: HAQ watches embody the link between watchmaking and science fiction made real. Did you know that the first watch worn on the Moon was not only the mechanical Omega Speedmaster but also (during Apollo 15) a modified Bulova Accutron? Accutron tuning fork movements also equipped the dashboards of capsules and satellites in the 60s: NASA trusted Bulova’s electronic precision for countdowns and instruments. Today, the heritage continues with the Accutron Spaceview 2020 – it looks like a piece of laboratory equipment with its visible electrodes and coils. For the geek, it’s a joy to contemplate on the wrist the result of decades of R&D: a thermo-compensated 32,768 Hz oscillator is, in a way, a microcomputer working to give us the perfect time. Wearing a Bulova Precisionist with its ultra-smooth seconds hand is like having a piece of a particle accelerator on your arm (and the satisfaction of explaining to incredulous friends how the 262 kHz crystal works). Moreover, the contribution of space is omnipresent: the Seiko Astron picks up GPS signals from 20,000 km away – isn’t that worthy of Star Trek? Watch geeks like to recall that without quartz watches, space exploration and modern navigation would not have experienced the same boom (GPS, onboard computers, etc., rely on quartz time bases). Wearing an HAQ today is a nod to history: from NASA’s cleanroom in 1965 to your satellite-connected wrist, the loop is closed for the pocket atomic clock.
Find the Bulova Accutron on Catawiki (often rare pieces and interesting auctions)
Discover the Accutron Spaceview 2020 on Catawiki (a wide choice of models and auction opportunities)
Explore offers for the Bulova Precisionist on Catawiki (many models and exciting auctions)
The Seiko Astron awaits you on Catawiki (discover unique models and participate in auctions)
Bulova Accutron “Spaceview” (1960) – a transparent dial revealing the famous 360 Hz vibrating tuning fork. This futuristic watch, adopted by NASA for its reliability, is the spiritual ancestor of all HAQs. Geeks salute the return of this design with the modern Accutron Spaceview 2020 (Credit: TCM aviatormark, Wikimedia Commons)Price/Value Trend Analysis 2010–2025
From an economic perspective, the HAQ sector has experienced a gradual increase in value since 2010. In the early 2010s, high-precision quartz watches were few and often confined to the Japanese market. Their value remained relatively low on the second-hand market: one could find a used Grand Seiko 9F for less than $1,500 USD, as traditional collectors shunned these « mere quartz » watches. But as the reputation of these pieces spread (dedicated articles, online communities, etc.), demand climbed. Between 2010 and 2020, the list price of new HAQs increased by about +20%, reflecting both inflation and improved specifications (new calibers, materials like Grade 5 titanium, enhanced finishes). For example, the Citizen Chronomaster cost ~$2,000 USD in 2010, compared to ~$3,000 USD in 2025 for the latest versions. Grand Seiko also slightly repositioned its quartz models higher in the range (a side effect of creating the independent GS brand in 2017).
In parallel, the exchange rate played an interesting role: the depreciation of the Japanese yen after 2013 made Citizen and Seiko watches much cheaper for foreign buyers (USD or EUR). As a result, a collector based in Singapore or California could import a Japanese HAQ at a very competitive price in the mid-2010s. This window boosted popularity: more units sold, more online reviews, thus more confidence and desire for these watches. In Singapore, particularly, specialized Grand Seiko and Citizen HAQ resellers appeared around 2018–2020, riding the local demand for these ultra-technical products.
Regarding collector value, a clear increase has been observed since ~2015. The first Astrons from 1969 now sell at auction for over $50,000 USD (limited editions, solid gold). A Grand Seiko 95GS from the 1980s (« Twin Quartz » ± 10 s/year) that was worth almost nothing 15 years ago can reach several thousand dollars if complete with certificates. The best example is undoubtedly the Citizen Caliber 0100 from 2019: offered at ~$7,000 USD new, limited edition of 500 examples, it now trades for double on the grey market, so coveted is it by international collectors seeking the most accurate watch without external synchronization. We are witnessing the creation of a true collector’s segment, with its « cult » pieces and grails: the first version Longines VHP (1980s, very rare), the Seiko Astron 50th Anniversary platinum edition (2019), or the vintage Bulova Accutron « Alpha » in its period box.
Find the Citizen Caliber 0100 on Catawiki (often rare pieces and interesting auctions)
Discover the Longines VHP on Catawiki (a wide choice of models and auction opportunities)
Explore offers for the Seiko Astron 50th Anniversary on Catawiki (many models and exciting auctions)
In terms of global popularity, HAQ watches have gained visibility. Internet searches related to terms like “High Accuracy Quartz” or “± 5 s/year quartz watch” exploded between 2010 and 2025, as shown in the graph below. This niche has emerged from the shadows to become a small, dynamic market, where precision enthusiasts, engineers captivated by the technical aspect, and ordinary consumers delighted to set the time only once a decade coexist. Brands have understood this well: Grand Seiko openly communicates about the quality of its quartz (and not just its mechanicals), Citizen multiplies HAQ limited editions, and even Swiss independents are getting involved (think of the Reservoir brand, which announced a ± 5 s/year quartz series).
HAQ watch popularity index over the period 2010–2025 (illustrative synthetic data) – the general trend is upward, with a marked enthusiasm after 2017. Specialized forums, social media, and the "geek" effect have contributed to bringing high-precision quartz out of oblivion (Graph: prepared by the author).Regarding price trends, it can reasonably be anticipated that the value of HAQs will continue to climb moderately. On one hand, because these watches remain produced in small quantities (manufacturing an HAQ movement is more complex and costly than a standard quartz, so brands limit volumes). On the other hand, because the customer base is expanding, particularly in Asia and Europe, where mentalities are evolving in favor of quality quartz. Nevertheless, prices remain well below luxury mechanical watches: spending $3,000 for a new GS 9F is almost reasonable compared to the $10,000 often required for a GS Spring Drive mechanical. This price difference favors HAQ among a rational audience who thinks: « Why not pay less for much more precision? ».
In conclusion, the period 2010–2025 saw HAQ evolve from a curiosity to a recognized and appreciated segment. Rising value, growing popularity, and regained cultural legitimacy: admittedly, precision quartz will not dethrone Rolex and Patek at auctions, but it has earned a prime spot on the wrists of discerning connoisseurs.
Purchase/Maintenance Checklist (HAQ)
Ready to acquire your first HAQ or pamper yours? Here are some key points to check to maximize your satisfaction:
- Annual drift: Perform a simple test after purchase: synchronize your watch with an online atomic clock, and note the deviation after, for example, 1 month of normal use. You can then extrapolate the annual drift. If it exceeds the announced specification (e.g., > ± 10 s/year for a standard GS 9F), and the watch is new, consider a warranty service for adjustment. However, keep in mind that a ± 5 s/year watch often requires regular wear to remain in stable temperature conditions – if you leave it in a freezing drawer then in the sun, it will drift a bit more (but will remain within excellent margins).
- Battery change / recharge: Find out about the power source. Traditional battery: most battery-powered HAQs offer 3 to 5 years of autonomy. Replace the battery without waiting for it to be completely depleted – a very worn battery can leak and damage the movement (rare, but better safe than sorry). Have the battery changed by a professional with the tools to open the case without scratching (and who will check/renew the water-resistance gasket at the same time). Solar (Eco-Drive, etc.): make sure to expose the watch to light regularly. The rechargeable battery’s capacity may weaken after 10–15 years: brands then offer an accumulator exchange (generally inexpensive service, compared to a mechanical overhaul). Avoid storing a solar watch in complete darkness for months – this can fully discharge it and reduce the accumulator’s lifespan.
- Failure risks: Good news, an HAQ caliber does not have a fragile escapement or a breakable spring. The main causes of failure are: 1) battery depletion (easy to solve), 2) water or dust ingress due to a worn gasket (hence the importance of checking water resistance every 5 years, even on a « non-diver » watch), 3) an extreme shock that displaced a component (very rare thanks to self-correcting systems, but a fall on a hard floor could dislodge a hand from its pinion), 4) a defective electronic component (oscillator or circuit; this is extremely rare as long as the watch is not exposed to ionizing radiation or other abnormal conditions). In normal use, a high-end quartz movement can easily operate for several decades without a hitch.
- Parts availability: this is a point to consider when buying a vintage HAQ. For example, obtaining an integrated circuit for an Omega Megaquartz from 1974 will be practically impossible if the original one fails, as Omega no longer stocks these parts. On the other hand, Citizen and Seiko generally commit to stocking spare parts for at least 20 to 30 years for their calibers – and often much longer. Grand Seiko can, if necessary, replace the entire 9F module as a block during a service (for a cost, of course). Inquire with the brand’s customer service about the planned support duration. For current models, the risk is low: buying a new Longines V.H.P. in 2025 ensures parts availability (ETA Thermoline movement) until the 2040s. Same for Bulova: the Precisionist caliber (even renewed) will certainly be available for a long time as it equips many models of the brand.
- Routine maintenance: No oil change every 5 years as with a mechanical, that’s the advantage. However, a small water-resistance check and case cleaning/dusting are recommended every 5 to 10 years. Take advantage of the battery change to ask the watchmaker to take a look inside: if they see deposits or condensation, a more thorough service may be necessary (disassembly and ultrasonic cleaning, then recalibration if needed). On models with a GMT hand or perpetual calendar, the lubrication of these complications may require adjustment after 20–30 years. In short, HAQ maintenance is light, but don’t neglect it completely – it’s often when they are forgotten that they remind us of their presence (a leaked battery, a cracked gasket…).
By following this checklist, you should be able to enjoy your high-precision quartz watch with peace of mind. These timepieces are designed to simplify your life: a minimum of care will allow them to maintain exceptional performance over the long term. After all, what’s more satisfying than noticing, year after year, that your watch hasn’t deviated by a second?
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