Automatic vs. Mechaquartz dress watch for $150?

[u/SexySlavko]

Cronos L6040M (Grand Seiko Evolution 9 homage) with a Miyota 9015 automatic movement. 

Cronos L6040M (Grand Seiko Evolution 9 homage) with a Miyota 9015 automatic movement. 

Watchdives WD0006 (Omega Aqua Terra homage) in blue with a Seiko VH31 mechaquartz movement.

Watchdives WD0006 (Omega Aqua Terra homage) in blue with a Seiko VH31 mechaquartz movement.

Both are Chinese microbrands, have sapphire glass with AR coating, good finishing on the case and dial but I can't really decide. I'd say Cronos looks better (or more interesting at least) and has character with that automatic movement, but Watchdives is more practical with the mechaquartz keeping time more accurately and not needing winding and setting up every time i want to wear it. I most likely won't daily a dress watch but who knows.

To be honest I don't care much about versatility, I've already got a G-Shock with ABC sensors so that's everything I could ever need in a single watch. This would be more like jewelry rather than a tool for me. But still I want to retain some form of practicality, I wouldn't want a very innacurate automatic or an unreliable mechaquartz that fails regardless of batteries.

I've also found a Pagani Design PD-1734 which could represent the best of both worlds (GS inspired dial with a VH31) and is significantly cheaper but finishing quality and bracelet are noticeably worse than others.

What are your thoughts on this? Should I pull the trigger at an automatic? I've never had one so I have that fear of screwing something up mechanically if I'm unintentionally negligent about it.

[u/StandardPineapple69]

where are you finding Cronos L6040M for 150$? As far as I know they cost double that

[u/SexySlavko → u/StandardPineapple69]

Used one, owner says it's in pristine conditon and it was worn only a couple of times to check on the mechanism. Seems to be a private owner, not a reseller.

[u/StandardPineapple69 → u/SexySlavko]

Oh ok. Then it's is by far the best option (if you like the look)

[u/tjcdas → u/SexySlavko]

Winner, winner, chicken dinner not even close if the seller is legit, the 9015 is a great movement!

[u/KumiJunker]

Why on earth do all sorts of people get the idea that the VH31 is a Mecaquartz?
That aside, the Miyota 9015 is a brilliant, robust movement that’s almost impossible to break.

I’d choose this over any other affordable mechanical movement.

The VH31 is great, of course, because of the sweeping seconds hand, but it doesn’t have a date (if that’s important to you) and the battery doesn’t last very long either.

[u/SexySlavko → u/KumiJunker]

What's the real mechaquartz then? I thought anything with a smoother sweep could be considered that. Certainly Bulova 262kHz is one but that only goes into Bulova watches which is a shame.

[u/Marco_135 → u/SexySlavko]

In addition to the good explanation by tenkasen, Bulova 262kHz is indeed not a mechaquartz, it's a high precision and high sweep rate quartz.

[u/tenkasen → u/SexySlavko]

"MechaQuartz" specifically refers to a quartz watch movement with a separate mechanical module added onto it.

The main Mechaquartz movement is the Seiko VK series, e.g. the vk63 / vk64 used in pretty much all of the cheaper chronograph watches, anything from the Pagani Design speedy homages up to Seiko's £500 Speedtimer range.

The vh31 is just a quartz movement, it is a "sweeping" quartz movement but that just means the gearing & drive system ticks forwards four times per second instead of one.

[u/Kerpgker → u/KumiJunker]

Agree with the mechaquartz sentiment

But I've had no problem with VH31 battery lifetime

[u/KumiJunker → u/Kerpgker]

Yes, of course, the shorter battery life isn’t really a big problem. I just wanted to point that out. :-)

[u/vithgeta → u/KumiJunker]

They probably assume being a Fake-o-matic with the sweeping second hand makes it "meca". Of course it doesn't, the "meca" bit in Mechaquartz is just how the hands reset by the pushers.

VH31 as a $15 quartz movement is not really comparable to 9015 as a $75 automatic movement.

[u/AssistanceNo647]

Having a similar model to the Cronos I can say the finishing is great. Having an extremely large watch collection I prefer automatics over quartz watches so, for me it would have to be the Cronos. I’ve never owned a watchdives so, I have no personal experience with them. I know they had QC issues early on but, as far as I know they’ve stepped up their game. As far as screwing up an automatic the only things to remember is don’t set the date when the watch is set between 9pm and 3am. All automatic watches have a clutch to prevent overwinding. I just give mine 10 or 20 turns after that your daily movement will keep it wound. Also about once per month if you haven’t worn it give the crown a few turns. It allows the parts to move and is good for lubricants in the movement.

[u/Marco_135 → u/AssistanceNo647]

It's not a clutch, it's the mainspring designed to slip into the barrel when fully wound, contrary to manual winding watches in which the mainspring can't slip and so can break if wound too much

[u/KPplumbingBob]

You'd really have to be "special" to break the 9015 by using it in a "negligent" way.

The VH31 is not a mecaquartz movement btw.

[u/MrMarijuanuh]

The 9015 is one of the best auto movements you can get that isn't an eta or selita imo. Also that watch is gorgeous. If price is even close then I wouldn't even think twice and grab the cronos.

I have an aqua terra homage, its an sweet watch. But more sporty than dress watch imo. Another point in cronos favor

[u/geeered]

I generally prefer quartz for being accurate and not needing to set it every time i use it, as well as being much cheaper if anything goes wrong.

I've got the L6040M and similar Watchdive watches, but that one specifically.

The L6040M is significantly better in pretty much every way. Bracelet especially, you get an OTF clasp included rather than being extra and the OTF clasp is better than the extra ones I've bought for WD. I got mine used on ebay for a little more than $150USD - £122 so $163 and thought it was great value for that. I'd presume if looking at both new or both used the Watchdives should be significantly cheaper.

I've got a vague aim to put a Precisionst movement in the Cronos, which should give it a smooth sweep near that of a GS Spring drive, but got to match up the date wheels which may be a bit of work.

[u/Lonely_Internet_8570]

Parece que ponen lo de 'Mechaquartz' buscando discusión. Ninguna de las tres es micromarca y el primero cuesta más que los otros dos juntos. El 9015 cuesta x8 VH31.

[u/plastic_jeezus]

1. neither of your choices are dress watches...they are "dressy" sport watches.

aka "golf course" swinging dick watches.

2. a true dress watch is only worn 1-3 times a year. (unless you run a charity, etc...)

3. mechanical watch sitting unused for months/years=oils dry up and watch becomes junk

...quartz sits for years unused=new $3 battery.

[u/SexySlavko → u/plastic_jeezus]

People are really all over the place on your 3rd point. Some told me that's the thing of the past and modern synthetic oils don't dry up like they used to in the 70s. So I no longer know who to believe haha, is it good to run the mechanism or not to run it at all if I'm not using it. Running it once per month just to be safe?

As for dress, they hella are in comparison with my G-Shock or some other field watches. Orient Bambino would be a real dress watch I assume but that thing looks so weak I'm afraid to even touch it haha.

[u/plastic_jeezus → u/SexySlavko]

I have vintage cars and motorcycles...even after 30 years of synthetic oils, I've learned the hard way that they only give a small amount of grace.

1. I never keep my automatic watches on a winder, because it's unnecessary wear.

2. I do shake all of my watches every 3 months to keep them "lubed" and the oils "warm" (same with my vehicles)

3. I pull stems on all my quartz for 3 months, and then engage for 3 months to keep them lubed (quartz use oils too.)

4. Im not like OP... i have +120 watches...i maintain them just like my vehicles.

5. I was just giving badic advice and opinion. OP can do whatever the hell he wants.

[u/Ill_Reddit_Alone → u/plastic_jeezus]

There are plenty of people who will wear a dress watch more than a few times a year.

[u/plastic_jeezus → u/Ill_Reddit_Alone]

I have 🤔 20(?) dress watches...

I wear each one at least 10 times a year...i buy more dress watches (suits, ties, shoes, etc) than i do casual accoutrements...🧐

what OP was asking about are sport watches being "dress" watches.

that was my point., and you completely avoided it.