Quartz Watch
A quartz watch tells the time using a quartz crystal that a battery makes vibrate. It is far more accurate than a mechanical watch and needs next to no maintenance, drifting only about fifteen seconds a month and running for years on a battery, or on light.
The heart of a quartz watch is a single, unwavering vibration: a small battery feeds current to a quartz crystal, and the crystal oscillates exactly 32,768 times a second. Because that beat is so steady, quartz keeps time with an accuracy no mechanical watch can match.
How it differs from mechanical
The clearest giveaway is the seconds hand. Rather than the smooth, gliding sweep of an automatic watch, a quartz seconds hand ticks once a second, the visible pulse of the electronics beneath the dial.
Types, by how they are powered
- Battery quartz: the classic arrangement, with a battery swapped every few years
- Light-powered: solar systems such as Citizen Eco-Drive turn light into energy, so there is no battery change at all
- Shared trait: ordinary quartz drifts only about fifteen seconds a month, and high-accuracy quartz can reach a few seconds a year, needing next to no upkeep either way
For most people who want accuracy and no fuss, quartz is the sensible, dependable choice. See how it compares with other systems in the Movement category, and for real-world examples have a look at our Best Japanese Watches guide.
Related terms
Watches that show this
Frequently asked questions
Is a quartz watch more accurate than a mechanical one
Yes, noticeably so. The quartz crystal vibrates 32,768 times a second, an extremely steady beat, so an ordinary quartz watch drifts only about fifteen seconds a month, whereas a typical mechanical watch can drift ten or more seconds a day.
How often does a quartz watch battery need changing
On a battery quartz watch, the battery is usually swapped every few years. On light-powered models such as the Citizen Eco-Drive there is no battery change at all, as the watch generates its own power from light.
Why does a quartz seconds hand tick rather than sweep
That tick is normal for quartz. Rather than the smooth sweep of a mechanical movement, a quartz seconds hand advances once a second, making each electronic pulse visible.