For the purposes of this article, we are comparing only the automatic mechanical watch with the quartz watch. Naturally, there are pros and cons to each type depending on your viewpoint.
SETTING AND RESETTING THE TIME
Some people prefer the idea of owning a watch that has hundreds of tiny mechanical parts inside that work together to track time. They aren’t bothered by the fact that if they put the watch down for a few days or a week, they have to re-set the time before wearing the watch again. For many, that is part of the allure of a mechanical watch. Conversely, others may prefer a quartz watch that they set only once. They can leave it off their wrist for a week or even a month without having to re-set the time the next time they need to wear it.
LONGEVITY
A high-quality mechanical watch will have a lifespan of more than 100 years, if it is serviced regularly. The heritage workshop of Longines is capable of repairing virtually every mechanical watch that left the factory, even it is more than 100 years old. Quartz watches are younger in the history of watch making, but they can last very long. If necessary, they can be repaired as long the built-in integrated circuits and the required batteries are available.
ACCURACY
A quartz watch has a higher accuracy than a mechanical watch, due to the much higher frequency of its oscillator.
SERVICING AND BATTERY REPLACEMENT
One of the important aspects of an automatic watch is that, like a car, it will need to be serviced. Inside that movement are oils and lubricants that can dry up over time. There are also gaskets that could need replacing. Although servicing intervals may vary, Longines suggests for automatic watches to be serviced about every three to five years. This will keep the watch running properly so that it can last a lifetime and even on into the next generations.
With a quartz watch, there is a battery that eventually needs to be replaced. Depending on the watch, the life span of the battery inside can be anywhere from one year to five years.
