When we think of a good quality mechanical watch, we know they can last a lifetime, but when it comes to quartz watches we can be a little unsure how long they last. Most people would suggest they should last around 20-25 years, but they could possibly last much longer.
Quartz Is Still Relatively New
The main issue with quartz is that it is still pretty new. Well, it’s from the 70s, which is still a long time ago, but in the grand scheme of things it isn’t really.
This basically means we haven’t really had long enough to see exactly how long they can actually last.
However, they are old enough that we can start to see some results and some rough trends. There are plenty of watches that are getting quite old now and still running just fine.
Even the digital quartz watches seem to be lasting quite well. There are people who still have the original G-shock from 1983 and it’s still running just fine.
At the moment it is very common for watches to reach 20-25years and many people own working quartz watches that are over 30 years old.
The Technology Is Only Getting Better
When we look at these 20-30 year old watches, the technology has changed a lot since they were made. If a G-shock made in 1983 is still holding up for this long, I can only imagine how long my newer model is going to last. While my G-shock and the original may look very similar on the outside, they are certainly a lot different on the inside.
I strongly believe that the quartz watches made today are going to last far longer than the previous versions made 30 years ago.
If we look at Grand Seiko they have suggested that their 9F quartz movement could theoretically go 50 years in between servicing. While this is a bold claim and it hasn’t been tested (since the movement isn’t 50 years old yet) It still shows that it is very likely that quartz movements will last just as long as a mechanical.
Quartz and Mechanical Watches Are Pretty Similar
Although there are a lot of differences between the two watches, there are also a lot of similarities which can make us conclude that a quartz could easily last as long as a mechanical.
The reason mechanical watches can last so long is due to their excellent design and engineering coupled with good quality materials and an excellent build quality. If you can get all these things right, there is no reason why a watch will not last a life time.
The exact same applies to quartz watches. If they can tick all these boxes, there is no reason why they cannot last as long.
(You can read more about – Should You Buy A Quartz or Mechanical Watch)
Servicing Is Important
Servicing a quartz watch is just as important as servicing a mechanical. A service is going to spot any issues and prevent them from getting any worse.
The issue with quartz watches is that the production of the movements can be short lived, making it hard to find parts or replacement movements after a number of years.
This is made even harder by people believing they are cheap and disposable items, so they will bin the watch when it stops working, meaning there are fewer models available to take parts form.
If you can’t find parts, you can’t service or repair the watch, which is of course going to shorten its lifespan.
There is also a chance that your local watch maker may not be able to service your quartz watch. They may only deal with mechanical watches, so if you can’t find anyone to fix the watch and keep it in a good working order, it’s going to a bit of an issue.
Batteries
We need to remember that battery life isn’t important. A battery will probably last 2-3 years before needing replaced and this can be easily done.
However, batteries can be the downfall of a watch. If you leave a battery in a watch after it has died there is a risk it will eventually leak and damage the inside of the watch. This is the downfall of many watches.
You also need to know that some batteries are not made any more. Watches that where produced in the 70s took batteries that have a different wattage than the batteries that are produced now, meaning even if you had a watch of that age in a good condition, you might not be able to find a battery in today’s world that will be compatible with it. I’m sure there will be ways around this, but it’s still not an ideal situation.
Conclusion
In theory, there is no reason why a well built and well cared for quartz watch can not last long after the suggested 25 year average mark. They can and will last much longer than this and I believe the watches made today will certainly last as long as a good mechanical watch and potentially last a life time.
(You can read more about – What Is The Lifespan Of A Budget Watch?)
Ian is the main writer at Horology Dream and is a lover all things watch related.
He has been a watch collector for over a decade and brings his knowledge and experience to this site to help you on your own watch collecting journey.
You can connect with him on Social media and talk anything watches or read more about him on his Author Page.
