Guides · The movement

How a quartz watch works

A quartz watch runs on a small battery. The current makes a tiny quartz crystal vibrate exactly 32.768 times a second, a chip counts the vibrations, and a small motor moves the hands one second at a time — which is why the seconds hand ticks instead of sweeping.

The advantages: it is very accurate (typically within a couple of minutes a year), copes with knocks and magnets better than a mechanical movement, and needs nothing beyond a battery change every 2–5 years. The price is that there is no craftsmanship to look at. Solar is quartz with a solar cell under the dial that charges a small rechargeable battery from light. See quartz watches and solar.

If you have a question about a particular watch, ask Nord, our assistant, at the bottom right — or write to us.

More guides about the movement

The movementHow an automatic watch worksAn automatic watch has no battery. The movementWhy does an automatic watch cost more?An automatic movement is around 150 parts that must be assembled, oiled and adjusted; a quartz movement is a circuit board and a small motor, mass-produced. The movementWhat is power reserve?Power reserve is the time a mechanical watch runs from a fully wound mainspring until it stops — without being touched.