The Truth About Quartz Watch Longevity

Most watch collectors will wax poetic about mechanical movements: these tiny machines powered entirely by the person wearing them. It’s romantic—the idea that a good mechanical watch, with regular care, could outlive you and still be running on someone else’s wrist 100 years from now.

Quartz, on the other hand, often gets written off as disposable. A battery dies, and the watch ends up in a drawer or the trash. But that perception misses a lot of nuance. Just like mechanical watches, quartz spans a wide range in quality, repairability, and long-term potential. Some are built to last. Others aren’t. And when you start looking more closely, that line between mechanical longevity and quartz disposability starts to blur.

Vintage Quartz Watches

I found a late-‘70s Seiko quartz chronograph (M929-4000) at a vintage shop a few years ago (pictured above). The watch was in great shape for its age. With a simple battery swap, it came to life, kept great time, and had much of the same charm as a vintage mechanical watch, no doubt thanks to its tapered "integrated" bracelet design. It had likely been through countless battery changes and maybe a movement replacement or two, but it was still going strong.

There are plenty of stories like this, especially from the first big wave of quartz in the 1970s and ’80s. Most of those watches weren’t luxury pieces—though there were exceptions like the Rolex Oysterquartz—but they were built well enough that many are still ticking 40 or 50 years later. Sometimes the circuits fail and that’s the end of the line. But other times, a fresh battery is all it takes.

High-End Quartz Movements and Longevity

Image Source: Hairspring

At the other end of the spectrum are watches like the F.P. Journe Élégante. It runs for eight to ten years on a single battery thanks to a mechanical motion sensor that puts the movement to sleep when it’s not being worn. Pick it up again and the hands sweep back into the correct time like nothing ever happened.

Image Source: S.Song Watches

The Élégante’s movement uses a rotor—not to generate power, but to detect motion. If it senses no movement for 30 minutes, the hands stop and the movement enters standby mode, dramatically reducing battery drain. Inside, it uses high-efficiency circuitry, a low-drain stepping motor, and finely tuned components that allow it to stay “alive” for over a decade. Journe designed it to be elegant, but also robust, long-lasting, and worth maintaining. It isn’t meant to be replaced. It’s meant to be worn and serviced like any other Journe.

Serviceable by Design

Image Source: GS9 Club

Grand Seiko’s 9F quartz movements apply that same philosophy to a broader audience. These movements aren’t just accurate to ±10 seconds per year—they’re also physically overbuilt. The date changes instantly thanks to a dedicated spring mechanism. The seconds hand hits every marker precisely, using an auto-adjust system that eliminates the wobble often seen in quartz. The gear train is lubricated with oils and sealed to reduce long-term wear.

Importantly, the 9F is modular. Individual components like the coil block, quartz oscillator, and stepper motor can be replaced without swapping the entire movement. Send it back to Grand Seiko for service, and it’s treated like a mechanical watch. The case gets refinished, the movement is cleaned and regulated, and it returns ready for another decade or more.

Why These Tiers Matter

Not all quartz is built to last. A $20 department store watch probably won’t be serviceable. If the circuit board fails or the movement shorts out, that’s usually the end of the road. Technically, the movement can be replaced, and sometimes it is. But these watches were never bought with longevity in mind, and most people wouldn’t bother replacing a movement in a watch they assumed was disposable.

Step into the mid-range—older Citizens, vintage Seikos, early Swiss quartz—and you start to find watches that last decades with a bit of care. The difference comes down to materials, movement design, and whether the brand supports long-term service. Budget quartz movements are often sealed or glued shut. Higher-end ones are meant to be opened, inspected, and kept going.

Built to Last or Built to Be Replaced?

Image Source: Fratello

Here’s where it gets philosophical. Mechanical movements are generally designed to be repaired—at least in theory. When something wears out, a watchmaker can swap a part or even fabricate one from scratch. It’s a machine, and machines can be restored.

Quartz offers a different kind of longevity. Even at the low end, many quartz watches use fully replaceable movements. In a strange way, that can make them everlasting. As long as you’re willing to keep swapping in a new movement, the case and dial can live on.

At the high end, it’s not just about swapping. Serviceable movements like the 9F are designed for long-term care. Instead of replacing the whole caliber, a technician can replace the failing component. It’s a different kind of romanticism—but no less valid.

Wear What You Love

Image Source: SwissWatches Magazine

The idea that quartz is “less than” mechanical is mostly an enthusiast echo chamber. The truth is, quartz watches can be incredibly compelling, incredibly precise, and surprisingly long-lived. And it’s nice not having to set your watch every time you pick it up.

There’s a quiet beauty in a 40-year-old Seiko that still runs. Or a Journe Élégante that hibernates like a bear and wakes up on time. Or a Grand Seiko quartz that’s built like a vault and regulated like a chronometer. Longevity isn’t just about the movement type. It’s about thoughtful design, durable components, and a willingness—by the owner or the maker—to keep something alive. And that’s something any good watch, quartz or mechanical, can offer.