Expertise

Quartz watches are timepieces that run with extreme accuracy. They can have either digital or analogue displays. Their time measurement is governed by a quartz crystal. Inside a quartz watch a specially created synthetic quartz crystal is made to vibrate using an electrical impulse, which induces a piezo-electronic effect. The quartz used in most watches has a frequency of 32,768 Hz. This very high oscillation speed is reduced through divisional steps until a value of 1 Hz (for watches with a second hand) or less is achieved. The resulting regular impulse activates a switching system that controls the rotor of an electric motor. This motor drives the gear train of the watch. In the case of a digital display, the impulse regulates the LCD display.