zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

: I want to get a Seamaster Aqua Terra but can
: only afford a quartz one just now. I had
: hoped that the watch would live longer than
: me (and I'm only 32) but now I am becoming
: doubtful. Is it possible to know/guess how
: long these quartz watches can last? Would it
: be best to wait til I can get an automatic?

How long any watch 'lives' also depends a lot on how much you use it. Occasional wear watches can run and look good for a very long time.

But a watch worn as a daily wearer will likely have a battered case and worn out bracelet after 15-25 years. So at that point, it doesn't matter how much longer the movement would hold up. The watch as a whole will likely be in only fair to poor shape, so would need a pricey restoration to continue to be useful or valuable.

So while you can appreciate the somewhat greater longevity of a mechanical watch, don't overthink that aspect without regard to what shape the rest of the watch might be after several decades of your use.

The majority of luxury watch owners simply wear their watch out over a couple of decades, then retire it. The bulk of great looking 40+ year old watches you see at the vintage watch dealers are ones that the owners pulled out only for special occasions and/or spent a fair bit of money restoring.