How do quartz watches work?

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In the vast majority of watches produced today, the passage of time is measured by the vibrations of a tiny quartz crystal. This mineral generates electrical pulses when subjected to physical pressure – and also physically vibrates when an electrical current passes through it. This singular property, called piezoelectric, means that the vibration can be captured by electrodes (metallic conductors of electricity). The watch’s crystal is cut in the shape of a tuning fork to vibrate exactly 32,768 times per second. The pulses are transmitted to an electronic circuit, which relies on them to form the digital display numbers. If the clock is analog, the circuit breaks down the vibration to just one pulse per second. This impulse regulates a small motor that moves the gears of the pointers.

Quartz watches became popular in the 1970s and almost completely replaced mechanical ones, regulated by spring and winding. While the best mechanical devices are out of adjustment by 1 tenth of a second a day, those made of quartz are not more than 1 thousandth of a second wrong.