Digital Watch
A digital watch shows the time as numerals on an LCD screen rather than with hands. It is quartz powered and usually adds a stopwatch, alarm, backlight and sometimes world time. Digitals are extremely accurate, inexpensive and tough, and the Casio F-91W and G-Shock are icons of the type.
At a glance
- Display
- Numerals on an LCD screen
- Movement
- Quartz, battery powered
- Typical functions
- Stopwatch, alarm, backlight
On a digital watch the time appears directly as numbers on the display, rather than from rotating hands. The drive is quartz: the same quartz accuracy is paired with an electronic readout that updates the figures.
What it offers
The flexibility of a screen makes functions easy that are awkward on a traditional dial:
- Stopwatch and alarm: timing and reminders started with a button
- Backlight: a display you can read in the dark at a single touch
- World time: a second zone to follow on some models
At heart it belongs to the quartz watch family, but it presents the time as figures rather than on an analogue dial.
Who it suits
Digital watches are extremely accurate, inexpensive and tough, which makes them easy to live with for daily and active wear. The Casio F-91W and G-Shock are the best known examples of the type. You can browse the whole family in the Styles category, and if you are choosing a first watch, read our best watches for beginners guide.
Examples
The Casio F-91W is the digital watch boiled down to essentials: quartz accuracy, a stopwatch, an alarm and a backlight in one inexpensive package.
View this watch
Comparison
Digital and analogue watches present the time differently.
| Option A | Option B | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Digital watch | Analogue watch | A digital shows the time as numerals on an LCD screen; an analogue shows the same information with hands on a dial. |
Related terms
Watches that show this
Frequently asked questions
Is a digital watch quartz powered?
Yes. Digital watches are quartz powered, which gives them high accuracy. The difference is the display: the time appears as numerals on an LCD screen rather than through hands, and they usually add functions such as a stopwatch and alarm.
Why are digital watches so inexpensive?
Because the quartz movement and electronic display are simple and cheap to produce. That lets digital watches be both inexpensive and extremely accurate and tough at once. The Casio F-91W and G-Shock are well known examples of that balance of low price and durability.
Is a digital watch more accurate than an analogue one?
If both are quartz, the accuracy is similar, because precision comes from the quartz movement and not from the display. The difference is the reading: a digital gives the time as a clear numeral, while an analogue quartz shows the same accuracy through hands.