The History and Principle of Quartz Watches
The history of quartz watches can be traced back to the early 1920s. At that time, Swiss engineer Joseph Lamy discovered that quartz crystals would produce highly accurate vibration frequencies when stimulated by electric current, and this property could be used to drive and control time. In 1927, Lamy applied for relevant patents and cooperated with the Swiss Les Mills Watch Company to successfully develop the world's first quartz watch prototype.
The working principle of quartz watches is to use the resonance characteristics of quartz crystals. When an electric current is applied to a quartz crystal, it will vibrate mechanically at a highly stable frequency. This vibration frequency can be accurately converted into time units to drive the hands of the watch. Compared with traditional mechanical watches, quartz watches have higher time accuracy, usually with an error of no more than 15 seconds per month.
The development of quartz watches
In 1969, Swiss watch manufacturer Seiko invented the world's first mass-produced quartz watch, which set off a revolution in quartz watches. Subsequently, major watch brands began to develop and produce quartz watches, which quickly replaced mechanical watches and became the mainstream watch type at the time.
From the 1970s to the 1980s, quartz watches experienced a golden age and became widely popular around the world. During this period, major brands launched a large number of novel and fashionable quartz watch styles, and the prices became increasingly affordable, becoming a popular choice for the middle and low-income groups.
But with the revival of mechanical watches in the 1990s, the status of quartz watches has declined. However, with the continuous advancement of technology, quartz watches have continued to improve in terms of accuracy, function and appearance design, and are still the main choice in the watch market today.
Advantages and disadvantages of quartz watches
The advantages of quartz watches mainly include:
1. Extremely high time accuracy: The error of a quartz watch is usually less than 15 seconds per month, which is much higher than that of a mechanical watch.
2. Lower maintenance costs: Compared with mechanical watches, quartz watches are easier and cheaper to repair.
3. Fashionable and diverse appearance: Quartz watches have a variety of styles and designs to meet the preferences of different consumers.
4. Simple operation: Quartz watches usually only need to replace the battery, which is very convenient to maintain.
But quartz watches also have some disadvantages:
1. Lack of mechanical beauty: Quartz watches do not have complex gear mechanical structures inside, so they lack the precision beauty of mechanical watches.
2. Limited battery life: Quartz watches require regular battery replacement, usually every 1-2 years.
3. Sensitive to magnetic fields: Quartz watches are easily affected by strong magnetic fields, causing time errors.
4. Not as durable as mechanical watches: Long-term wear may affect the internal structure and accuracy of quartz watches.
In general, quartz watches are still the mainstream choice in the current watch market due to their excellent performance and fashionable appearance. For consumers who pursue accuracy and convenience, quartz watches are undoubtedly a good choice.
