Quartz Watch

How Quartz Keeps Time

Inside a quartz movement, a battery sends a small current through a tiny piece of quartz crystal cut into a tuning fork shape. The crystal vibrates at a steady 32,768 times a second, a circuit counts those vibrations, and once a second it sends a pulse to a small motor that steps the seconds hand forward. Because the crystal's rate barely changes, a quartz watch keeps far closer time than a mechanical one, typically drifting by seconds a month rather than seconds a day.

• A crystal that vibrates. Quartz oscillates at a fixed, very high rate.
• A circuit that counts. Every 32,768 vibrations make one second.
• Seconds a month. Quartz drifts far less than a mechanical watch.

Why a Mainstream Movement Helps

Most quartz watches run on movements from a small number of large makers in Japan and Switzerland, built by the million and fitted by a wide range of watch brands. For an owner that matters in practical ways: the movement is a common, well understood design, batteries and parts are easy to find, and any watch repair shop will recognize it. It also means a battery change is a routine counter job rather than a specialist repair, done in minutes while you wait.

• Made by the million. Large movement makers supply many brands.
• A common design. Parts and batteries are easy to source.
• Any shop can service it. A battery swap is a routine job.

Battery Changes and Storage

A quartz watch runs until its battery is spent, and the sign is simple: the watch stops or starts losing time. Have the battery replaced by a watch shop without delay, since an exhausted battery left in place can leak onto the movement, and on a steel model the shop can check the case seal at the same time. If a watch is going into a drawer for a season, pull the crown out to the time setting position. That stops the hands and the motor, and the battery lasts longer while the watch is not worn.

• Stopped means spent. A quartz watch signals a flat battery by stopping.
• Replace, do not wait. An exhausted battery can leak onto the movement.
• Crown out for storage. Stopping the hands saves the battery in a drawer.

Setting the Time and Date

Setting a quartz watch takes seconds once you know the crown positions. Pulled out one step, the crown usually changes the date, and pulled out fully, it moves the hands. Set the date first, then the time, and push the crown back in firmly so the case seals. After a month with fewer than 31 days, advance the date by hand, since the date wheel counts to 31 on its own. For the steel case that keeps these movements sealed, see the stainless steel watch page, and for fitting the watch to your wrist, see mens watches.

• Date first, then time. The order that avoids going round twice.
• Crown fully home. Pushing it in seals the case.
• Short months need a hand. The date counts to 31 unless you correct it.