Quartz clock

A quartz clock

A quartz clock is a clock that uses an electronic oscillator that is regulated by a quartz crystal to keep time. This crystal oscillator creates a signal with very precise frequency, so that quartz clocks are at least an order of magnitude more accurate than good mechanical clocks. Generally, some form of digital logic counts the cycles of this signal and provides a numeric time display, usually in units of hours, minutes, and seconds. Since the 1970s, they have become the most widely used timekeeping technology.

Quartz clocks work by Piezoelectricity. They apply electricity to a quartz crystal. This causes the crystal to vibrate in a cycle very quickly. A circuit in the clock then counts these cycles, and once it reaches a certain number, it turns on a motor to move the hands or change the display on the clock. In most clocks and watches, the crystal goes through a full cycle 32,768 times every second. This can vary due to parts of the crystal being different, this generally is not intended and causes the clock to drift from the actual time. Another reason that a quartz clock can use a different speed is simply due to differences from one brand of clock to another.