How Quartz Watches Work

How Quartz Watches Work

If you’ve ever wondered how a quartz watch works, here’s a quick lesson laid out. Quartz watches really came into their own in the 1970’s, and have grown in popularity because of their simplicity and accuracy. A good quartz watch doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either. They are now very affordable, and they actually keep more accurate time than a wind up watch.

The secret of the quartz watch is in the quartz crystal. A crystal is made from an element called silicon dioxide, and its structure can be counted on to retain its shape under virtually any condition. This characteristic is important because the exactness of shape of the crystal is what determines the degree of oscillation.

When the quartz crystal is bent or compressed, it generates and electronic charge on its surface. This electrical field the cause the quartz crystal to oscillate which cause a small electrical current to generate—which is then translated into electrical pulses that are sent to the watch display or a motor to move the seconds hand. The process is self -sustaining and self -generating. The electrical current causes oscillation—and the oscillations in turn cause the electrical current.

There is also a matter of the electrical circuits that divide the electrical signals in a way that induces a required frequency. The frequency is the rate of pulse. You can tell that this rate of pulse is hard at work because of the quartz watches second’s hand—which moves at one second intervals.

The applied theory that makes quartz watches tick is actually white simple. No doubt, it’s this simplicity that makes quartz watches such a popular choice.
 posted by Watches Giant