Quartz Movement
A quartz movement uses an electronically-pulsed quartz crystal to keep time. It's powered by a battery and is far more accurate than mechanical watches.
A quartz movement keeps time by running a small electric current through a precisely cut piece of quartz crystal, causing it to oscillate at exactly 32,768 Hz. The integrated circuit counts those oscillations, divides them down to one pulse per second, and steps a motor that drives the hands.
Quartz watches are powered by a small disposable battery (typical life 18-36 months) or, in solar/eco-drive variants, a photovoltaic cell that charges an onboard capacitor. They're typically accurate to ±15 seconds per month — roughly ten to thirty times better than a standard mechanical movement.
Quartz was introduced in consumer watches by Seiko in 1969 (the Astron) and triggered the so-called "Quartz Crisis" that nearly destroyed the Swiss mechanical industry through the 1970s and early 1980s. Today quartz movements dominate the sub-$300 market and remain dominant in tool watches and field watches where accuracy and low maintenance matter more than the romance of mechanical complexity.
Common questions
How accurate is a quartz watch?
A standard quartz watch is typically accurate to ±15 seconds per month, far more accurate than a mechanical watch (usually ±5-30 seconds per day).
Do quartz watches need to be wound?
No. Quartz watches run on a battery (or a solar-charged capacitor) and have no mainspring to wind.