Do quartz watches last a lifetime?

If you buy a watch with a really good quartz movement it can also outlive their owners.
Same thing as with mechanical - if you buy a good GS or Cartier movement for example it will run and run and run :)

They haven't been around long enough to know! The other variable is that (as bad as mechanical owners are with maintenance) almost no quartz watch gets any service beyond battery replacement. 

On an even level of initial quality and following recommended service levels, I suspect they'd at least break even. The parts availability of quartz may be the limiting factor. I know I have a beater Casio quartz that is 25+ years old and has endured untold abuse, runs fine. The throwaway quartz argument is based more on low replacement cost than anything else.

^ This.

I have a 1980's quartz Pulsar that outlived its previous owner (my grandfather). He wore it for 30 years and I have had it for nearly half that long. Survivorship bias will cloud our perception. Sometimes it is just luck as to what lasts and what doesn't.

A quality quartz that's taken care of, serviced, pressure tested like a quality mech can probably last as long as a mech. Never leave it with an empty battery inside, battery acid has killed more quartz watches than anything else I suspect 😊

As far as I know:

Mechanicals require really expensive maintenance to last that long. In my mind if you spend thousands of dollars on replacement parts and service that doesn't really qualify as actually being long lasting. 

Quartz haven't been around long enough to say for sure, and manufacturing tech changes really quickly. So the ones you buy today aren't the same as the ones from even 3 years ago. 

For example the new screens.

The most practical and cost reflective solution is to buy a reliable quartz watch with no moving parts and replace it every few decades if needed. Or use replacement parts if they are available. 

And use the money you saved on your watch purchase to provide some sort of savings account for your grandchildren which they will appreciate more than a century-old watch that they now need to send in for maintenance. 

Just my 2 cents. 🙂

I have two quartz Seikos from the late 70s / early 80s & they still work fine, although this age wouldn't be considered a lifetime. The main killers of a decent quartz movement are probably coil strikes with a screwdriver or a battery leak. It's best not to leave a flat battery in a watch, particularly an alkaline one, they are very prone to leaking apparently 

I’ve got Tag that still accurately after 25 yrs.