A watch’s movement is its heart and soul. The movement – or calibre – is the internal mechanism that drives the hands around the dial, powers the complications, and keeps the timepiece ticking with precision. It’s the intricate innovation that separates masterpieces from mere accessories. Think of it as the drummer in a band, setting the pace and ensuring everyone stays in sync. Movements have advanced and evolved over the millennia, but for the last five decades one in particular has stood out from the pack for its combination of precision, durability, and affordability: the quartz movement.
The crystal engine
Before diving into the world of quartz, it’s essential to understand the multiverse of movements. At its most basic, a watch movement – or ‘calibre’ – is the engine of the watch. While there are many types of movements, they generally fall into two categories: mechanical and quartz.
What is a quartz movement?
While mechanical movements are powered by wound springs and regulated by a balance wheel, at the core of a quartz movement is a tiny piece of quartz crystal. But what makes it so special? It’s a piezoelectric material, which means when a battery passes an electric current through the crystal it vibrates at a precise frequency – 32,768 times per second, to be exact. This high vibration is then translated into a pulse which regulates the timekeeping mechanism at a constant rate, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
The quartz crisis, explained
Quartz movements are a perfect example of how understanding the fundamental properties of a material can lead to innovations that revolutionise entire industries. The 1970s wasn’t just about disco and bell-bottoms. It was the era when quartz powered collections made their grand entrance, sending shockwaves through the watch world. The introduction of quartz to watch movements was one of the most significant breakthroughs in the history of watchmaking, marking a new era in the industry. The technology offered levels of accuracy, affordability and durability that were previously unattainable, challenging the industry dominance of traditional mechanical movements.
Traditional Swiss mechanical watchmakers felt the heat as these new, affordable, and highly accurate quartz watches flooded the market. Many established brands faced tough times, and some even tapped out entirely, while several traditional watchmakers overcame the crisis by joining forces, producing quartz movements together. This period, often referred to as the ‘quartz crisis’ – or ‘quartz revolution’, depending on your perspective – was a game-changer, marking a shift from traditional to modern watchmaking.
Quartz rocks
Since the first quartz wristwatch was introduced in 1969, quartz technology has evolved and improved, becoming more compact, accurate, and efficient, and the benefits keep coming: Due to the nature of its consistently high vibrations, quartz watches are incredibly accurate. They also have fewer moving parts, making them less susceptible to wear and tear. A typical quartz watch battery can keep the party going for years, and they don’t require regular winding or intricate servicing.
Keeping the dream alive
The history of quartz movements in timepieces is the story of a tiny crystal transforming the way we measure time, and transforming an entire industry in the process. They brought accuracy, affordability, and durability to the forefront, making quality timekeeping accessible to all. But like most technologies, quartz watches are designed for planned obsolescence.
And so mechanical timepieces maintain their unique allure as heritage timepieces and keep the centuries-old traditions of watchmaking alive, but wearing a quartz watch is a reminder of the power and beauty of analogue technology.
