Except the battery on a quartz watch lasts years, and the battery on an Apple Watch lasts 12-18 hours.

Never mind that most mechanical watches are self-winding.

Self winding just means "needs to have the time reset after 2 days unworn". I wonder if an unworn Apple Watch would last longer?

No, my kinetically charged watch can go weeks unworn without exhausting its charge or losing accuracy.

Not that it matters really. I wear it every day.

So wear it every day, get an device that keeps it wound, or just shake it for 30 seconds a day.

Full disclosure, I'm a mechanical watch nerd, to the point that I enjoy repairing them. So I'm a bit biased towards them.

I have a few of them too, but let's be honest when it comes to their limitations. How is a watch winder any better than the Apple Watch's charger?

If you forget the winder you always have a backup winder.

Automechanical watches self charge from wrist movement. Quartz batteries last years. They are not comparable to smart watches, which need to be charged often.

My garmin fenix is a bit more bearable as it lasts about 2.5-3 weeks on a charge.

2-10 years is very different from 1-2 days though!

(Not to mention solar watches)

I have a solarwatch that I can't use in the winter time, after moving up north, not enough sun light to keep it charged =p

You can charge them under a lamp, too! Regular indoor lighting charges them too, but slowly

My Citizen and Seiko solar watches are good for months after getting a full charge... they say ~6 months and that seems about right

I have a citizen eco drive solar watch i got 16 years ago. Never needed to change or recharge the battery.

And I live in Norway just below the arctic circle so artificial light must be enough to charge it.

I'm surprised, my solar G-Shock [GAW-100B-1AER] never dips below "H" charge even on the darkest winter days.