The quartz movement came into fashion in the early 70s after what appeared to be one of the worst times for mechanical watch movements – they were being overtaken by these cheaper movements and to be frankly honest, more accurate movements. It was hard for these expensive automatic/ mechanical movements to compete with the quartz movement – it had taken the watch world by a storm.
You’re just like us at Lux Horology, always looking for answers and wanting to find out more. Well, we’re here to answer your question surrounding the longevity of the quartz movement… let’s dive right in.
HOW LONG DO QUARTZ MOVEMENTS LAST FOR?
Obviously, there’s no way you can tell how long a quartz movement is going to last, but what we can do is look at the various movements out there and come up with conclusions from their individual performances.
Quartz movements can last decades – which is a true statement, but at what cost. A quartz movement will often need replacing, or servicing, and this can be expensive sometimes, especially if it’s a full service – you’ll be looking at a few hundred quid. With this being said, it does vary, as to what issues your quartz movement will come across. A lot of the time, it’s just a dead battery which will cost you a tenner to replace, or if you’re watch savvy, you can replace yourself and save yourself the tenner – because as we know, battery replacements are way too overpriced… even if it is only a tenner.
Your quartz watch will last decades, if it’s treated properly and has service’s and battery replacements throughout the years, but is the minute degree of accuracy worth the extra running costs it comes equipped with? Well that’s up to you to decide.
HOW CAN QUARTZ WATCHES LAST SO LONG?
You might be asking yourself, how come quartz watches actually last for years or even decades? Well, the answer is simple, they don’t. I mean, they do but you’re going to have to cough up some extra money for those services and battery replacements that’s for sure.
The thing is, most materials found within a quartz watch can be made using plastic, which in theory doesn’t sound too good, but for the price you’re paying, you’re not going to expect 100 plus metal or stainless steel components are you? So, in that sense, a quartz watch has longevity at the forefront of it all. The only thing stopping it from continuously ticking forever is the battery, as well as the wearer.
Yes, the wearer does come into this “will the quartz watch last?” argument as it can be a very dependant failing factor. It’s like anything, if you treat it well it’ll stick around and it will last, however if you don’t treat it well it’s obviously not going to last as long. If you apply this theory to the question of “how long will my quartz watch last?”, I mean…there’s your answer pretty much, we can’t give you an exact number of years and days because that’s simply impossible.
Reasons why your quartz watch will last for a long time:
– Treating your watch well
– Regularly replace battery
– Service the quartz movement if needed
SHOULD YOU BUY A QUARTZ OR MECHANICAL WATCH?
Now this question is all dependant on your budget, your style and taste, as well as many other factors which come into play – which we will discuss in just a moment. Should you buy a quartz or mechanical watch?
Well, as we previously mentioned above, quartz watches are more accurate, and they stay more accurate for as long as the battery is working, which is what makes them so special. Unlike the mechanical watches, you can be confident in your watches ability to keep precision time, at all times.
However, mechanical watches tend to have seriously less running costs e.g. services and battery replacements etc. which can be a nightmare, when you just want a reliable and durable watch. Not to say quartz watches aren’t reliable and durable, but come on they’re made of plastic, of course they’re not going to be as reliable or durable.
I’s hard to sit here and go through each of the comparisons, when it would be much clearer for you as the reader to be able to look at the pros and cons, versus just reading them in a paragraph style of writing. So, here we go, the pros and cons of quartz and mechanical watches.
Advantages of quartz watches: – Accurate timekeeping
– Affordable
– Doesn’t need to be wound up
– Less complications to cause error within the watch
Disadvantages of quartz watches:
– Not as luxurious as mechanical movements (aesthetically)
– Shorter life than mechanical watches
Advantages of mechanical watches:
– Luxurious
– Will last for decades and decades to come
– Hold much more value
– Have been created by a watchmaker (tells a story)
Disadvantages of mechanical watches:
– Wearing of the components over time
– Can be expensive
– Will most likely need a service at some point
