Quartz Watches

[Khandro]

The cost of overhauling my mechanical watch was so expensive that I decided to buy a new quartz driven one, (a Rotary Aquaspeed Chronograph). Never having had a quartz watch before, I'm wondering how long I can expect the battery to last, and when it dies, will it stop abruptly or slow down on the timekeeping as it fades?

[bazwillrun]

I've had watches where the battery lasts around 5 years.
With mine the time and readouts started to "play" up

[SlackAlice]

About five years on battery life, most of mine just stop when they run out.

[Khandro]

Thanks, that's re-assuring. I've invested in a tool to unscrew the back- perhaps a bit premature!

[Clanad]

Good luck with the tool... however, what I've found, at least here in the U.S. is that we have shops that sell only batteries... and they gladly replace the battery when you purchase it. You'd have to go to them or a watch purveyor to buy the battery anyway.

BTW... mine is an ancient Citizen Quartz that I've had for probably 15 to 20 years... can remember only about twice that the battery ever "died"... Good luck!

[gingejbee]

If only you'd bought a solar-powered watch (eg Citizen Eco-Drive) you'd NEVER need any batteries. I have several of them, some radio-controlled, and they are fantastic watches.

[Khandro]

clanad; I've checked on battery availability here online and there are plenty of suppliers, for example; http://www.duracell.de/de-DE/series/uhren-batterien.jspx There are lots of demonstrations on youtube on how to remove the back, mostly by people not wanting to be ripped off by watch suppliers. One guy in Australia said he was quoted more for the replacement of a watch battery than the cost of a new watch.

[Scylax]

After using a mechanical watch. you'll be staggered at the accuracy of your new quartz watch. Only a radio-controlled watch will beat it, but then you'll need to live for 10,000 years to see the difference in seconds of accuracy.

Poundland sells multipacks of watch batteries for £1. Check that the pack includes the correct battery for your type of watch. Almost any jeweller will replace your battery for a small fee. I wouldn't personally attempt the job myself; it's a fiddly job, even with the 3 or 4 special tools required.

[stewey]

I much prefer older mechanical watches, either automatic (self-wound), or stem-wound, because of the craftsmanship that was involved in their making. The movements are not as accurate as the quartz ones; however, who really needs to know the exact time right down to the second, or even the minute for that matter? As I type this, I am wearing a Seiko automatic made in 1989, and as my computer clock just turns to 11:46 my watch is reading 11:45...Not bad!

[stewey]

By the way, Khandro, did you take your watch to a qualified watch-maker or just to a local jeweler? The great majority of jewelers do not repair watches; they send them on to a watch-maker and tack on their own mark-up; therefore, the repair job is much more expensive.

[ossian]

I have had a Seiko watch for over 20 years now and, on average, the battery has life has been more than five years. Time keeping was and is excellent until the battery is near exhaustion and then within a day or so it stops.

Ossian

[stewey]

Seiko watches, prior to the quartz invasion, are quite collectable these days, especially if the movement is marked "Seikosh". The company has been making watches since the late 1800's.