Since the invention of the quartz watch in the 1970s, almost all watches on the market have been powered by quartz batteries. Over 90% of all watches made today, including Gucci watches, are quartz watches. So why did the watchmaking industry turn to quartz and largely stop making mechanical watches? Quartz watches have several advantages over mechanical watches. Although it doesn’t look like it, quartz watches are a lot cheaper than mechanical watches. In addition to being cheaper to buy, the parts are a lot cheaper, and the watch is more reliable overall. Therefore, quartz watches require less maintenance than mechanical watches. You will find that with a quartz watch you lose or gain an average of one second per week. Compare that to a mechanical watch that might lose or gain a minute a week. Needless to say, quartz watches are far more accurate and reliable than mechanical watches.