Quartz watch

What is a quartz watch?

A quartz watch uses a quartz crystal and an electronic circuit as its timing reference. The electronics count and divide the oscillations. In an analogue quartz watch, a stepper motor can drive the hands. A common crystal frequency is 32,768 Hz, but this figure must not be treated as universal for historical quartz movements.

Power source is not the same as regulation

Conventional quartz watches use a battery replaced when necessary. Light-powered quartz watches also exist. Citizen describes Eco-Drive, for example, as a system that converts light into energy and stores it for continued operation. Solar charging therefore does not make a watch mechanical or give it automatic mainspring winding.

Seiko launched the Quartz Astron wristwatch in 1969. This is a historical reference point, not the date of every watch bearing a quartz label. Hands or a digital display alone should not be used to identify the entire movement with certainty.

Assessing an older example

Record the brand, model, calibre, power source and demonstrated function. Do not sell a stopped watch as “just needs a battery” without investigating the cause. Request checks for leakage, corrosion and other faults, and establish the correct battery or charging system before intervention.

A recently restarted watch has not automatically been checked for accuracy or water resistance. Browse our wristwatches.

Sources

Epson on quartz technology, Citizen on Eco-Drive and Seiko's history.