In many sectors, technical objects age quickly.
A smartphone can become obsolete because its system is no longer updated.
An electronic device can be difficult to repair due to lack of parts.
A smartwatch can lose its appeal when its battery, software, or components can no longer keep up.
A mechanical watch operates on a different logic.
It is not dependent on software.
It does not need updates.
It does not rely on a rechargeable battery or complex electronic components.
A well-designed, well-maintained mechanical watch with a serviced movement can function for several decades.
This is what makes it one of the rare manufactured everyday objects that can be worn for a long time, repaired, serviced, and passed down.
This durability is not automatic.
It depends on the choice of movement, the quality of assembly, the availability of parts, the regularity of servicing, and the competence of the workshop providing the maintenance.
But when these conditions are met, a mechanical watch can endure through time in a way that is quite rare in contemporary industry.
Why a mechanical watch can last so long
The first reason is simple: a mechanical watch is composed of mechanical parts.
Spring, gears, balance wheel, escapement, jewels, screws, bridges, main plate: each element has a physical, identifiable, and repairable function.
These parts wear out, of course.
But mechanical wear can be corrected.
A part can be cleaned, oiled, adjusted, replaced, or remade if necessary.
This is very different from an electronic object, some of whose components become impossible to replace after a few years.
In a mechanical watch, there is no operating system to update.
No screen to make compatible.
No integrated lithium battery to replace in a proprietary format.
The function remains the same: to measure time.
It is this stability of function that largely explains its longevity.
No electronics, less obsolescence
A mechanical watch is not invincible.
It can suffer from humidity.
It can take a shock.
Its oils can dry out.
Its gaskets can lose their effectiveness.
Its movement can become fouled.
But it does not become obsolete because software is no longer compatible.
This is an important difference.
An electronic object often depends on an ecosystem: operating system, battery, connectivity, software, component availability, compatibility with other devices.
A mechanical watch primarily depends on its physical condition and the possibility of maintaining it.
This is why an old mechanical watch can still be worn today after servicing.
A 1960s Omega Speedmaster, a vintage Rolex Submariner, or a well-preserved pocket watch can still function if properly maintained.
Watchmaking mechanics have this advantage: they can be understood, dismantled, and restored by a competent watchmaker.
Servicing: the key to longevity
A durable mechanical watch is not one that is never touched.
It is a watch that is maintained.
Like a vintage car, a quality bicycle, or a musical instrument, it requires regular maintenance.
Servicing involves disassembling the movement, cleaning the components, replacing worn parts, changing gaskets, lubricating friction points, and re-regulating accuracy.
This operation is essential.
Over time, oils dry up.
Friction increases.
Amplitude can decrease.
Accuracy can degrade.
Water resistance may no longer be guaranteed.
Having a mechanical watch serviced every 5 to 6 years, depending on use, helps limit wear and significantly extend its lifespan.
Servicing is therefore not a weakness.
It is what allows the watch to last.
To learn more about this topic, you can read our guide on automatic watch maintenance.
Spare parts: the true criterion of durability
Not all mechanical watches are equal in terms of longevity.
The real issue is not just the beauty of the movement or its origin.
It is also the availability of spare parts.
A widely distributed and well-documented caliber will be easier to maintain over time.
This is one of the advantages of movements like Sellita, Soprod, Miyota, ETA, or certain French calibers like France Ébauches when properly supported.
Watchmakers know them.
Parts exist.
Procedures are mastered.
Conversely, a very confidential caliber, produced in low volume by a brand that disappears, can become difficult to repair.
This point is sometimes underestimated.
An exclusive movement can be appealing on paper.
But for a watch one wants to keep for 30 or 50 years, reparability matters as much as rarity.
This is also one of the topics discussed in our article on Swiss movements and alternatives to ETA.
Mechanical watch, quartz, and smartwatch: three different logics
One should not too brutally oppose mechanical, quartz, and smartwatches.
These three families meet different needs.
A smartwatch is practical, rich in functions, and suitable for certain daily uses: notifications, sports, health, activity tracking, connectivity.
But it depends on a battery, software, a system, and a digital ecosystem.
Its useful life is therefore limited by factors beyond mere manufacturing quality.
A classic quartz watch is different.
It can be very reliable, very accurate, economical, and function for many years with simple battery changes.
Some quartz movements are robust and durable.
However, quartz still relies on electronic components.
Its complete repair does not follow the same logic as that of a mechanical movement.
The mechanical watch, on the other hand, is less precise than a good quartz and requires more maintenance.
But it offers something else: a repairable architecture, technical continuity, and a stronger capacity for transmission.
This is what we also detail in our article on the differences between mechanical, automatic, or quartz watches.
Mechanical watch vs. modern objects
The longevity of a mechanical watch becomes particularly evident when compared to other modern objects.
A ten- or fifteen-year-old smartphone may still turn on, but it is often limited by its system, battery, or applications.
An old digital camera may work, but it sometimes depends on specific batteries, memory cards, or less compatible software.
An old car can be maintained, but its use may be limited by regulations, environmental standards, or the availability of certain parts.
A mechanical watch largely escapes these constraints.
It does not depend on a network, software, homologation, or digital compatibility.
If it is serviced, waterproof, adjusted, and maintained, it can be worn as it was on the first day.
This is a rare form of freedom.
Can a watch truly last for several generations?
Yes, provided it is maintained.
Many old mechanical watches are still worn today.
Some belonged to a parent, a grandparent, or a loved one.
Others were bought second-hand and then restored.
This transmission is not just sentimental.
It is based on a technical reality: a mechanical watch can be restored.
This is also why it often retains a special value.
It is not just a functional object.
It becomes an object of use, memory, and sometimes heritage.
A transmitted watch does not need to be a very luxurious piece to have meaning.
What matters is that it can continue to function, be maintained, and accompany a new person.
The real cost of a mechanical watch over time
A mechanical watch often costs more to purchase than a simple quartz watch or an entry-level connected object.
But its cost must be considered over time.
Over 20 or 30 years, a quality mechanical watch will require several services.
These operations have a cost, but they extend the object's lifespan.
Conversely, some electronic devices must be replaced entirely when the battery, software, or parts can no longer keep up.
The comparison obviously depends on the initial price, usage, brand, and type of watch.
But one thing is clear: a durable mechanical watch is not judged solely by its purchase price.
It is judged by its cost of use over several decades.
It is an object that is maintained rather than an object that is replaced.
Criteria for a truly durable watch
A durable mechanical watch relies on several criteria.
First, a reliable and well-supported caliber.
The movement must be able to be serviced, adjusted, and repaired over time.
Then, a solid case, resistant to corrosion and suitable for the intended use.
Stainless steel, titanium, or certain surface treatments can play an important role.
Water resistance is also essential.
Gaskets age and must be replaced.
A watch that is waterproof today will not remain so indefinitely without checks.
Legibility also matters.
A watch that one wants to wear for a long time must remain legible, balanced, comfortable, and coherent.
A design too strongly marked by a fashion trend can age faster than a sober and well-constructed design.
Finally, access to after-sales service is crucial.
A durable watch must be able to be serviced by a competent workshop, with available parts and clear procedures.
Without after-sales service, durability remains theoretical.
What Akrone does to extend the lifespan of its watches
At Akrone, durability is based on concrete choices.
Watches are designed with robust materials: stainless steel, titanium depending on the collections, sapphire crystal, adapted gaskets, crowns, and case backs designed for the intended use.
The movements used are chosen for their reliability, availability, and their ability to be maintained over time: Sellita, Soprod, Miyota, or France Ébauches depending on the models and specifications.
Each watch is assembled, checked, and adjusted in the workshop.
Adjustment in several positions, movement control, water resistance control, and attention to casing directly contribute to the longevity of the watch.
A durable watch does not depend solely on its movement.
It also depends on how that movement is integrated, protected, adjusted, and maintained.
This is why after-sales service plays an essential role in the lifespan of a watch.
For Akrone watches, service requests go through the after-sales service page.
The role of after-sales service in durability
A mechanical watch is only durable if it can be maintained.
After-sales service allows for checking the condition of the movement, replacing gaskets, verifying water resistance, correcting a deviation, dealing with a shock, or performing a complete service.
At Akrone, maintenance is carried out by the workshop, with direct knowledge of the collections, the components used, and the adjustments applied.
This proximity is important.
A workshop that knows its watches can intervene more effectively, diagnose an anomaly more quickly, and maintain technical consistency over time.
Durability is therefore not just a promise made at the time of purchase.
It is built afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a mechanical watch be serviced?
For a watch worn regularly, a service every 5 to 6 years is generally recommended.
This frequency can vary depending on usage, exposure to water, shocks, temperature variations, and the overall condition of the watch.
Significant deviation, a decreasing power reserve, or a watch that stops abnormally may indicate that a service is necessary.
Is an old mechanical watch worth servicing?
Often, yes.
If the movement's parts are available and if the watch has sentimental, patrimonial, or horological value, a service can give it many more years of use.
However, a watchmaker's diagnosis is essential before undertaking any major restoration.
Can a mechanical watch really last 50 years?
Yes, if it is well-designed, well-maintained, and equipped with a repairable movement.
Many old mechanical watches are still working today after servicing.
The lifespan primarily depends on maintenance, part availability, and the quality of servicing.
Is a quartz watch less durable than a mechanical watch?
Not always.
A simple quartz watch can function for many years with regular battery changes.
It often offers excellent accuracy and requires little maintenance.
However, its repair logic is not the same.
A mechanical movement can be disassembled, serviced, and restored more easily in the very long term, provided parts are available.
Can a smartwatch last as long?
A smartwatch depends on a battery, an operating system, electronic components, and a software ecosystem.
Even if it is well-made, its useful life is generally limited by these elements.
It therefore follows a different logic than that of a mechanical watch.
Why is after-sales service so important?
Because a durable mechanical watch must be able to be maintained over time.
After-sales service allows for replacing gaskets, cleaning the movement, checking water resistance, correcting accuracy, changing a worn part, and extending the watch's lifespan.
Without maintenance, even a good mechanical watch can be prematurely damaged.
What to remember
A quality mechanical watch can last a very long time.
Not because it is indestructible, but because it is repairable.
It can be disassembled, cleaned, adjusted, maintained, and passed down.
It is not dependent on software, an integrated battery, or a digital ecosystem.
This durability, however, relies on specific conditions: a reliable caliber, available parts, good design, controlled water resistance, and competent after-sales service.
This is what distinguishes a durable mechanical watch from a mere consumer object.
It does not escape time.
It is made to accompany it.
