A Quartz is a Quartz, Of Course, Of Course
The mechanical cuckoo clock was perfected centuries ago, in the Black Forest region of Germany. Makers today have added size, color, and imaginative moving elements as well.
There is a more recent alternative to the mechanical, weight driven design : the battery operated model.
The Engstler Clock Company of the Black Forest, developed the first quartz movement for cuckoo clocks and were, for many years, their only manufacturer.
Quartz movements eliminate the need for clock winding and are designed to run for the duration of the battery.
There are some key differences between quartz and mechanical movements, beyond the different power methods.
The weights of a quartz model are ornamental, without a functional purpose, and so they are lighter than the weights of a mechanical model.
Because quartz models are not wound, they also do not have “one” or “eight” day delineations.
Unlike the sound made by bellows, quartz movements feature the recording of an actual cuckoo bird as its chime. Additionally they have an “echo” effect, which is actually the sound of another, far off cuckoo bird, returning the call.
Most quartz models, no matter the appearance of them, will optionally feature music, typically with twelve melodies.
The cuckoo door of the quartz model is also visibly and functionally different. It is a plastic door that opens from both sides, to allow the cuckoo bird to slide out.
Quartz models have automatic night shut off switches, in the form of light sensors, that turn the sound and / or music of the clock off, when it is dark. Additionally music can be turned on and off at will.
The cases of traditional and chalet house style cuckoo clocks are similar to those of mechanical clocks, with all the many types and styles. Additionally quartz manufacturers tend to use quartz models to experiment with more “modern” styles.
Like any other aspect of opinion, the choice of a quartz or mechanical cuckoo clock is entirely up to the buyer. It would be ridiculous to claim that one is the same as the other, but both offer unique experiences to the clock owner.