Let me use an example to explain my view of not using the "Q" word:
As we all know there is a huge stigma on mental illness. Time and time again, family members, patients, and even some clinicians use euphemisms or minimize symptoms, but this only results in avoidance of the topic. In the end, the issue may never be addressed and the stigma is ultimately reinforced, often with the patient feeling shame or guilt.
Relevant to us is the fact that the Spring Drive incorporates a quartz oscillator. There is no denying this as it is fact. I can guarantee that at some point in the discussion between potential Seiko client and employee the word "quartz" will be mentioned. And rightfully so, as it is the quartz oscillator that makes the Spring Drive so damn accurate!
My opinion is that the word "Quartz" should not be shied away from but rather embraced in a positive light; it should be coveted. By avoiding the word "quartz" I feel that it actually maintains the stigma that the use of quartz is reserved for "cheap" watches and implies that quartz is a "dirty" word in the industry.
Hence I feel that my 3rd attempt: "A Spring Drive watch is...a hybrid quartz-mechanical watch that is regulated by feedback on a glide wheel connected to the gear train" can be used to introduce all the positives of a Seiko quartz crystal i.e. the stringent pass conditions for the quartz crystals, in-house manufacture of the crystals, etc. By actually discussing the role of quartz and how amazing it is, I think that barriers will be broken.