The Basics of Time
One of the most often asked questions in our store is does a watch that costs thousands of dollars tell time better than a cheap, drug store, throw away watch? The answer is of course no. A $10 quartz movement will keep near perfect time...at least for a few months. Accuracy alone has little effect on the value or desirability of a watch. The truth is, those of us who love fine timepieces don’t share this passion because we like watching the minutes tick by. We love fine watches because we know the time, effort, skill and artistry that goes into the design and production of each masterpiece. In fact, the more mechanical the movement, the more hand built parts it contains, the more it is actually worth. Now lets get into the basic differences between timepieces.

Quartz Technology
Basic quartz technology is, believe it or not, an American invention. In the early 1970's, the Hamilton Watch Company in Lancaster, PA developed both LCD and Quartz time keeping technology. Quartz technology is remarkably simple. By passing a constant electric current through a quartz crystal, it vibrates at a constant frequency. The oscillating quartz crystal then drives the step motor to move the watch's hands at a constant rate. The battery, quartz crystal and step motor replaced the mainspring and gears of the venerable mechanical movement. Ironically, Hamilton chose to produce LCD watches and sold basic analog quartz technology to a little company called Seiko in Japan. Ten years later, Seiko was the largest watch company in the world. Today, however, the finest watches, mechanical and quartz, are built back where almost all early watch technology was born perfected...in Switzerland.

Swiss Quartz
We believe the finest quartz movements are produced in Switzerland. By using traditional mechanical based chassis and real jewels, the Swiss Quartz movements are the most rugged, accurate and reliable movements made. Quartz’s greatest advantage is cost and most watches under $1000 today use quartz movements. When choosing a watch, Swiss quartz is an excellent choice if you want to set it and forget it.

Automatic For the People
The most interesting and desirable watches are called Automatic watches. Automatic watches are mechanical watches that are driven “automatically” by harnessing the kinetic energy produced by simple human movement. Often called “self winding”, automatic watches save energy when a simple oscillating rotor at the base of the movement spins as the arm moves. That rotor winds a simple mainspring, storing up that energy, which is then released at a constant rate, moving the hands of the watch. Today's best automatics are so well built that, with proper maintenance, they will last for generations.

Life’s Great Complications
Complications are mechanical watches, usually automatic, that perform multiple timekeeping tasks. These are the true marvels of horology, some commanding tens of thousands of dollars on the market. Vintage handmade complications routinely sell for more than most automobiles. The most common of all complications is the chronograph. Chronographs are wrist born stop watches that can break down time into hours, minutes, seconds...often to 1/100th of a second. The chronograph's popularity is a function of it’s myriad of applications, from sports and racing to aviation and navigation. Other complications include functions like moon phase, tides, power reserve indicators, and calendars showing day, date, even year. One famous, hand built complication, will actually track the time, day, date and year...accounting for leap years...for over one century!

Our People Know Time
At Marshall’s, our people really know fine timepieces. From weekly meetings to factory lead product training, every Marshall’s professional knows how to help you find just the right watch for yourself or as a gift. Our in-house Swiss watch service center is the finest in Arizona. It is here that our watch maker, Trevor Street cleans, repairs and restores the finest timepieces. Having apprenticed at the crown jewelers, Garrard in London, and then working there for almost 20 years, Trevor has vast experience with every make of Swiss watch. At Marshall's, rest assured your fine timepiece will receive royal treatment. When you buy a fine Swiss timepiece from Marshall’s, know that we will be here to stand behind your purchase, so you will be able to enjoy your fine swiss timepiece for years to come.