Watches without a battery- Never change a battery again

Battery-free watches are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. They fit into the current retro trend and are a sustainable choice. Moreover, you no longer need to regularly change the battery. That's why a battery-free watch might be just what you're looking for. What types of battery-free watches are there? And what are the advantages and disadvantages compared to a watch with a battery? You can read all about it in this article.

Since when do watches have batteries?

Actually, battery-powered watches haven't been around that long, just over sixty years! The very first electric wristwatch was the Hamilton "Ventura" from 1957. And in 1960, Bulova introduced the "Accutron". Until then, all watch movements were powered by a (manually) wound spring. With the introduction of the much more accurate battery-powered "Astron" quartz watch by Seiko in 1969, followed by the digital "Pulsar" from Hamilton, the electric watch became widely accepted and has been the most widely used movement type since the 1970s. 

All four of these legendary watches still have a contemporary version:

What battery-free watches are there?

Besides electric watches, there are still many battery-free watches on the market. In fact, mechanical watches are growing in popularity. Even Casio recently launched its first-ever mechanical watch!

Mechanical watches come in two types:

• An automatic watch is wound by the movement of your wrist. The watch contains a weight that rotates on an axle, the ‘rotor’. The rotor's axle is connected to a winding mechanism that stores energy in the mainspring, which slowly unwinds and powers the movement.
• A manually wound watch stores energy by turning the crown on the side of the watch. The energy from the mainspring then powers the movement until the mainspring is fully unwound and needs to be rewound.

Besides fully mechanical watches, we also have autoquartz watches and solar watches. 
Autoquartz or kinetic watches are a hybrid between quartz and mechanical. The watch has a rotor, but instead of storing the generated energy in a mechanical spring, it is stored in a battery that in turn powers the quartz movement.

Solar watches contain small solar panels that convert (sun)light into energy, which is then stored in a battery.

Autoquartz and solar watches do indeed have a battery, but it's rechargeable and rarely needs replacing.

Why choose a battery-free watch? 

The biggest advantage of a battery-free watch is that you never have to replace the battery. This saves time and money, and the watch doesn't have to be opened. This guarantees water resistance and reduces the risk of damage to the case. These watches are also more sustainable because they produce less (toxic) waste and, with a little maintenance, last a very long time.
And finally, a watch with a mechanical movement is a special piece of technology and tradition that deserves to be preserved.

The disadvantages of a battery-free watch 

While battery-free watches have many advantages, there are also a few disadvantages. For example, you need to keep the watch charged by regularly moving or winding it, otherwise it may stop. 
An automatic watch can also have a slight deviation, depending on the movement used. You can read more about this in this article. 

For automatic watches, it's worth investing in a watch winder to keep the watch wound, when you don't wear it for a while. 

Finally, these watches can be (slightly) more expensive to purchase than battery-powered quartz watches. On the other hand, you don't have to pay for battery changes and a mechanical watch lasts longer. 

Want to read more about the difference between quartz and automatic watches? You can in this article.

How long does a watch without a battery last?

How long a mechanical watch will run without rewinding depends on the movement and varies from approximately 48 to 72 hours. You can find this in your watch's specifications under "power reserve."

Solar watches can run from 6 months up to 10 (!) years on a single charge. 

And autoquartz watches can run from approximately 2 weeks to 6 months.

Watches without a battery at Reloj.es

If you're looking for a watch that combines durability, convenience, and craftsmanship, a mechanical watch without a battery is an excellent choice! Or choose a modern solar watch or the unique, innovative technology of an autoquartz. Whichever choice you make, you're guaranteed a timeless accessory that will last you for years.