Do analog quartz watches (the kind with hands) ever need more than a battery change to keep them going?
Yes! Quartz watches, like their mechanical counterparts, require an overhaul every four to five years. Once the oil dries out in a quartz watch, it should be cleaned out and re-oiled. Since the power supply is so light in a quartz watch, most exhibit problems as soon as the oil dries out. A mechanical watch will quite often run with no oil, until its parts are worn out, and then it will require more than an overhaul. (Like a car, if you run it without oil, you will have to get the motor rebuilt or replaced.) Every overhaul on a quartz watch includes complete disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, oiling & lubricating, reassembly, resetting the circuitry and supplying a new power cell. The public is always welcomed at our repairshop where they can see firsthand the intricasies of watchmaking.
