Best Quartz Watches in Australia 2026 — The Complete Buying Guide

Watch Direct stocks some of the best quartz watches available in Australia. We pride ourselves on a marvellous selection, ranging from everyday pieces costing less than $300 to Swiss-made sport and dress options priced above $2,000. Browse the full range across quartz movement watches at Watch Direct.

If you are wondering what a quartz watch is, it is a type of watch that operates by sending a small electrical current through a tiny piece of quartz crystal, causing it to vibrate exactly 32,768 times per second. This frequency drives the second hand and allows quartz watches to keep time with almost-perfect accuracy (within 15 seconds per month).

For buyers who want reliable, low-maintenance, precise timekeeping without paying a premium for a mechanical movement, quartz is the most obvious choice.

Full Comparison Table

All 10 best quartz watches in this guide, side-by-side at a glance, sorted by price low to high.

Decision Matrix: How to Choose

Use this matrix to match your needs to the right quartz watch.

Quartz vs. Mechanical Watches: What Is the Difference?

Quartz watches use quartz technology rather than a traditional mechanical movement to measure time. Inside the case there is a battery, a quartz crystal oscillator, and an integrated circuit powered by the battery. The circuit excites the quartz crystal, the crystal oscillates at a fixed frequency, and that quartz movement regulates timekeeping.

In a mechanical watch, time is measured using a mechanical movement driven by a wound mainspring, unwinding through gears and an escapement. Mechanical watches are an impressive feat of engineering, but they run less accurately — averaging ±10 to ±30 seconds per day, versus ±15 seconds per month for a standard quartz. For everyday reliability, quartz wins on both accuracy and running costs.

Quartz watches became dominant after Seiko released the Astron in 1969, triggering what the industry calls the Quartz Crisis. Brands built on mechanical watchmaking had to adapt fast. Today, quartz spans every price tier from fashion watches under $200 to high-end Swiss pieces like Grand Seiko's 9F series, accurate to ±10 seconds per year. If accurate timekeeping, low maintenance, and value for money are your priorities, quartz-powered watches are the rational pick.

10 of the Best Quartz-Movement Watches Worth a Closer Look

Watch Direct carries an authorised selection of quartz movement watches from brands trusted by watch enthusiasts worldwide. These top 10 picks range from $229 to $2,395 across dress, sports, dive and field styles. Whether you need a slim daily-wear watch or a 300-metre dive tool, there's a recommendation here for you.

1. Bering Classic Brushed Gold 31mm Watch — $255

The Bering Classic Brushed Gold 31mm is a slim, minimalist dress watch built for everyday wear. The brushed gold case pairs with a clean dial and sapphire crystal glass with scratch-resistant hardness you'd normally pay two to three times the price for. At 31mm, it suits smaller wrists and sits among the stronger options for women.

2. Victorinox Inox 43 Chrono Black Dial Rubber Strap Watch — $1,239.76

Built to MIL-STD-810G military standards, the Victorinox Inox 43 Chrono is tested against 130 specific conditions including shock, altitude and temperature extremes. Full chronograph functions, water resistance to 200 metres and a stainless steel caseback sit in a 43mm case on a black rubber strap. This is the sporty chronograph in the Victorinox lineup.

3. G-Shock Analog Digital Mid-DUO Virtual World Resin Band Watch — $229

At $229, the G-Shock GMAS110VW-4A is the entry point of this list and arguably the best value for buyers who prioritise protection over polish. The Mid-DUO Virtual World combines analogue and digital displays on a resin case with 200-metre water resistance. G-Shock's shock-absorbing construction has set the benchmark for durable quartz watches since 1983.

4. Festina Green Dial Stainless Steel Men's Watch — $405

The Festina F20562/3 is a Spanish-made sports watch with a bold green dial, stainless steel bracelet, and 50-metre water resistance suited to light swimming and daily wear. Festina has supplied official timing for the La Vuelta cycling race since 1983, with genuine sports credibility, not borrowed aesthetics. A strong choice for buyers wanting a distinctive quartz watch without climbing past $500.

5. Alpina Alpiner Blue Dial Stainless Steel Watch — $2,395

The Alpina Alpiner AL-220TB2AE6B is one of a few models here that qualify as a true Swiss watch. Alpina has been producing field and sports watches in Geneva since 1883. The blue dial sits in a 42mm stainless steel case with 100-metre water resistance and a date display. For buyers who want Swiss heritage in a quartz case, this is the pick.

6. Victorinox Journey 1884 43mm Black Rubber Strap Watch — $1,147.93

The Victorinox Journey 1884 takes its name from the year Victorinox was founded. The 43mm black-dialled case on a rubber strap handles daily versatility well — smart enough for business and rugged enough for the weekend, with 100-metre water resistance as standard. It sits in the Victorinox sweet spot between accessibility and build quality.

7. Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive Black Leather Strap Green Dial Watch — $895

The Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive JY8147-01X runs on a solar-powered movement. Citizen's Eco-Drive technology converts any light source into stored energy, eliminating battery changes entirely. Unlike a standard battery-powered watch, it adds GPS signal synchronisation for accurate timekeeping across any time zone. The Promaster is Citizen's professional-grade sport line.

8. Timex Marlin Chronograph Two-Tone 40mm Stainless Steel Watch — $399

The Timex Marlin Chronograph TW2W60200 revives the original Marlin case from the 1960s in a two-tone stainless steel finish with modern chronograph functions. At 40mm, it wears closer to vintage proportions than most contemporary sports watches. Timex built its name on reliable, affordable quartz, and the Marlin Chrono delivers exactly that.

9. Victorinox Dive Pro 43mm Black Paracord Strap Watch — $2,015.76

The Victorinox Dive Pro 241993.1 meets ISO 6425 dive watch standards and is rated for 300 metres. The paracord strap can be unwound in an emergency — a functional feature, not a styling choice. Unidirectional dive bezel, high-visibility dial and screw-down crown are all purpose-driven. This is a professional tool watch.

10. Diesel Mega Chief Chronograph Watch with Brown Leather Strap — $329

The Diesel Mega Chief DZ4290 is the style-first option in this guide. The oversized case, brown leather strap and bold chronograph layout are Diesel's signature. The quartz movement keeps maintenance low while the case handles daily wear without complaint. The visual impact-to-price ratio is impossible to argue with.

Browse the full range of quartz movement watches and quality watches online across men's watches and watches for women at Watch Direct.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a quartz watch?

A quartz watch is a battery-powered watch that uses a small quartz crystal oscillator to regulate timekeeping. An electrical current from the battery causes the crystal to vibrate 32,768 times per second, and the watch's circuit counts those vibrations into precise one-second increments. This is why quartz movements are far more accurate than their mechanical counterparts.

What is special about quartz watches?

Quartz watches deliver precise timekeeping, low maintenance and strong value across a wide price range. Unlike mechanical watches, they need no regular winding or servicing; most only require a battery change every 1–3 years. Quartz technology has also expanded into solar-powered variants like Citizen's Eco-Drive, which eliminates battery changes entirely.

Which is better, quartz or an automatic watch?

It depends. A quartz watch offers accuracy, low maintenance and performance, while an automatic (mechanical) watch wins on craft, heritage and the appeal of a self-winding movement that needs no battery. Many watch enthusiasts own both.

How long does a battery last in a quartz watch?

Most quartz watch batteries last two to five years, depending on the movement and complications. A standard three-hand quartz watch with no extras typically lasts three to five years on a single cell. Add chronograph functions, backlighting or alarms and that drops to one to two years. A solar-powered movement like Citizen's Eco-Drive sidesteps battery changes altogether.

How do I know if my quartz watch battery is dying?

The clearest sign is the second hand jumping in two-second intervals instead of one-second intervals. Many quartz watches include a built-in low-battery indicator that intentionally triggers this behaviour. Digital watches may show a dimming display. If your watch has stopped working, the battery is the first thing to check.