How to Care for a Quartz Watch: Water Resistance, Batteries and Cleaning
Quartz watches are easy to live with. They're accurate, they never need winding, and a battery change every few years keeps them running. But low maintenance isn't no maintenance. A few simple habits protect the movement, the finish and the strap, whether you wear a chronograph every day or save a dress watch for special occasions.
1. Know what your water resistance rating really means
Water resistance is tested in a lab under steady pressure (the ISO 22810 standard) with the watch sitting still. Real life adds movement, temperature changes and aging seals, so the number on the case back is not a depth you can safely dive to. Here's how the common ratings translate:
| Rating | Fine for | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 3 ATM / 30 m | Rain, splashes, washing hands | Swimming, showering |
| 5 ATM / 50 m | Brief surface swimming in cool water | Diving, snorkeling, showering |
| 10 ATM / 100 m | Swimming, snorkeling, surface water sports | Scuba diving |
| 20 ATM / 200 m | Water sports, recreational scuba | Hot tubs, saunas |
A few rules apply to every watch, whatever the rating:
- No rating listed? Keep it dry. Treat any watch without a stated rating as not water resistant. That includes dress watches like our CHRONOS CH30 Classic Quartz Watch, whose care notes say to avoid swimming, showering and prolonged contact with water.
- Skip hot showers, hot tubs and saunas. Heat makes metal, glass and rubber gaskets expand at different rates, and soap and shampoo wear down seals.
- Keep the crown pushed in, and never press chronograph buttons or set the time while the watch is wet.
- Fog under the crystal? That means moisture got inside. Take the watch to a repair shop promptly instead of waiting for it to clear.
The LIGE 8932 Men's Chronograph Watch
2. Change the battery on time
Most quartz watch batteries last roughly two to four years, depending on the movement. Seiko, for example, quotes 2 to 4 years for its quartz watches. The battery installed at the factory is often a test battery, so the first one may run out sooner.
- Replace a dead battery promptly. An exhausted battery left inside can leak and damage the movement.
- Watch for warning signs. On many quartz watches, the seconds hand starts jumping in two-second steps when the battery is nearly done. Others start losing time or simply stop.
- Go easy on the stopwatch. If your watch has a working chronograph, leaving it running for hours drains the battery faster. Seiko, for instance, bases the battery life of some chronographs on about an hour of stopwatch use a day.
- Ask for a seal check. Opening the case back can weaken water resistance. If you swim with your watch, have the gasket checked or pressure-tested when the battery is changed.
3. Clean it by material
Stainless steel cases and bracelets: wipe with a soft microfiber cloth after wearing to remove sweat and skin oils. For a deeper clean on a water-resistant watch, dip a soft toothbrush in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, scrub between the links, then rinse and pat dry. If your watch has no water resistance rating, use a barely damp cloth and never rinse it. The same method works for bracelet styles like our Women's Rectangular Quartz Watch.
The Women's Rectangular Quartz Watch
Leather and leather-look straps: keep them as dry as possible. Wipe with a dry or slightly damp cloth, let them air-dry away from heaters and direct sun, and don't spray perfume or lotion where the strap sits. Rotating between straps or watches gives each one time to dry out between wears.
The crystal: mineral glass is tough but not scratch-proof. Clean it with a microfiber cloth, and take your watch off for the gym, gardening or moving furniture.
4. Everyday habits that make a difference
- Put your watch on after perfume, sunscreen and lotion, not before.
- Take it off before washing dishes, cooking over high heat or working out.
- Keep it away from strong magnets, such as speakers and magnetic phone mounts, and from extreme temperatures, like a car dashboard in summer.
- Set it down crystal-side up on a soft surface instead of a hard countertop.
5. Store and travel with it properly
When it's not on your wrist, keep your watch in a box or soft pouch, away from jewelry with sharp edges that can scratch the crystal and case. If a watch will sit unworn for months, don't forget about it. When the battery dies, have it replaced or removed promptly so it can't leak.
For trips, a padded watch roll stops watches from knocking against each other. Our Compact 2-Watch Travel Roll holds up to two watches, so your everyday watch and your dress watch can travel together. For more travel tips, see our guide to packing a carry-on like a pro.
Find a watch worth looking after
Looking for an everyday quartz watch? Explore the LIGE 8932 Men's Chronograph Watch with its 42 mm dial, the CHRONOS Classic Quartz Watch with a date display and leather strap, or the clean three-hand Women's Minimalist Quartz Watch. Or shop the full watch collection.
Frequently asked questions
Can I shower with a 3 ATM (30 m) watch?
No. A 3 ATM rating covers splashes and rain, not showering or swimming.
Is "water resistant" the same as "waterproof"?
No. Watches are rated as water resistant because no seal stays perfect forever. The rating describes the pressure the watch withstood in testing, and seals age over time.
How often should I change my watch battery?
Typically every two to four years, or right away when the watch stops or the seconds hand starts skipping.
Does a quartz watch need servicing?
Beyond battery changes, very little. For a watch you plan to keep for years, an occasional check-up keeps the seals and movement in good shape. Seiko recommends an overhaul roughly every three years.