Is it worth buying a quartz watch?
Andrew Mclaughlin
Updated on January 07, 2026
Are quartz watches better?
A great benefit of quartz is also the accuracy. Even the cheapest quartz movements are incredibly accurate and often only lose a few seconds over the course of a year, compared to mechanical watches, which can lose that in a day.Should I buy quartz or mechanical watch?
Quartz watches are still good but durability-wise, the automatic ones have got it all. Given all these complexities, automatic watches are able to maintain its durable image through the years. High-caliber materials are also one of the main reasons why automatic timepieces are considered better than quartz.Do quartz watches last forever?
Longevity: A quartz watch can last the user for 20 – 30 years, as the electronic components of the watch will eventually wear out. A well-maintained mechanical watch will outlive the original purchaser. High-end mechanical watches can be heirloom pieces, passed down from generation to generation.What is the benefit of a quartz watch?
Benefits of a quartz watch movementThis natural rhythm is much more reliable than the physical movements of a mechanical watch, and results in exceptional accuracy. Quartz watches are battery powered and therefore require less parts and haute watchmaking craftsmanship than their intricate mechanical counterparts.
5 Reasons To Choose A Quartz Watch
How long will quartz battery last?
Quartz watch batteries are designed to last about two years but can sometimes keep your watch running for even longer.Did Rolex ever make quartz watches?
Yes, Rolex did make quartz watches – but not many of them. They're quirky, stylish and can be bought for less than £3,000. Collectors take note! In the 1960s, the race was on to produce the first commercial quartz wristwatch.Do quartz watches need servicing?
Quartz watch does needs a service but it's interval is long at 10-years or so. It also needs regular battery change around 1-2 years depending on the make. As it has much lesser moving parts, quartz watch does not require more frequent servicing like the automatic watch.How much does it cost to replace a quartz battery?
Quartz movements stop working when the battery dies, and you'll just need a new one. Pricing on a battery change ranges from as low as about $15 to upwards of $45 to $60 to reseal and pressure test a water resistant timepiece after switching out the battery.Are Rolex watches quartz or mechanical?
There was a time long ago when Rolex produced the Rolex Oyster Quartz which had a battery but they have almost immediately stopped producing this watch. Nowadays, all Rolex watches are mechanical and use either automatic (self-winding) movements or in some cases, a manual wind movement.Why is mechanical better than quartz?
In terms of accuracy, it doesn't get much better than a quartz watch. That's not to say that mechanical watches aren't accurate. To add some context to our first statement, a mechanical watch will lose between 5 and 10 seconds per day, while a quartz watch will lose around 4 seconds per month.Which type of watch movement is best?
A mechanical watch is the ultimate classic movement. This watch functions with traditional wheels and cogs. Favoured by watch designers who hand-make their watches from start to finish.Does a quartz watch need a battery?
Quartz movements are powered by batteries, no winding required. Batteries inside the case send electric signals to a quartz crystal, causing it to vibrate 32,768 times per second. Those vibrations are then measured by a circuit and converted into a single electric pulse once a second.Do quartz watches hold value?
The stand of quartzFrom a collector's standpoint, there are only a few quartz watches fit to be appreciated for their value. Needless to say, most do not have it to become a collectible. But some quartz watches have managed to become collectibles.
How accurate is a quartz watch?
Quartz watch accuracy is exceptionalA non-certified modern quartz watch has an accuracy of about 99.9998%. A certified one is 99.9999% accurate. To put this into perspective, a non-certified quartz watch will lose only around a second per day while a certified one generally won't lose any.