Rock crystal quartz and quartz watches

Rock crystal quartz is the most common mineral on earth after feldspar and can be found in metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks.

The Greeks said that quartz was crystallized water, a gift from the gods, with vast powers to communicate with other worlds. So much so that many rulers had quartz crystals embedded in their command sticks. Also in other civilizations they claimed that the quartz found were dragons' teeth.

The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder believed that quartz was water ice, permanently frozen after a long time. The word “crystal” comes from the Greek word “ice”.

Quartz possesses piezoelectric properties. Piezoelectricity is a phenomenon that occurs in certain crystals that, when subjected to mechanical stress, acquire an electrical polarization in their mass, appearing a potential difference and electrical charges on their surface. It is the ability of certain materials to generate an electrical charge in response to an applied mechanical stress.

Quartz has had a significant impact on the watch industry since the introduction of quartz watches in the 1960s. In quartz watches, a quartz crystal is used as an oscillator to maintain accurate time.

The operation of a quartz watch is based on the piezoelectric effect of quartz. Quartz is a piezoelectric material, which means that it can generate an electrical charge when mechanical pressure is applied to it. On the other hand, it can also vibrate when an electric current is applied through it. This piezoelectric property is essential in quartz watches.

In a quartz watch, a synthetic quartz crystal is used in the form of a thin sheet, known as a quartz resonator. This resonator is cut into a specific shape, such as a round disk, and placed in the clock circuit. When an electrical current is applied to the quartz resonator, it begins to vibrate at a precise, constant frequency. These vibrations are extremely stable and consistent compared to other methods of measuring time, such as mechanical watches.

The quartz resonator acts as a time regulator in a quartz watch. The frequency at which quartz vibrates (usually in the range of several kilohertz) is used as the time base to measure time intervals. The electronic circuit of the quartz watch counts the vibrations of the quartz and converts them into regular pulses to control the movement of the watch.

One of the main advantages of quartz watches is their high precision. Quartz watches can be incredibly accurate, drifting by just a few seconds a month. Also, they are more affordable and require less maintenance compared to mechanical watches.

Today, most of the watches used on a daily basis are quartz, as they offer excellent precision, durability, and ease of use. However, it is important to note that mechanical watches are still appreciated for their craftsmanship and additional complications, making them high-end and collectible pieces for watch lovers.