# What the heck is Quartz Accuracy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 1, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-quartz-accuracy/231972 "2004-03-01T21:06:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ElectroSunDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@ElectroSunDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElectroSunDog)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-quartz-accuracy/231972/1 "2004-03-01T21:06:35Z")
What does “Quartz Accuracy” mean? Is it a catch-all term when it comes to timepeices, or does it actually mean something? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-quartz-accuracy/231972/2 "2004-03-01T21:11:26Z")
I think all it means is that the watch uses a quartz crystal in its motion, as opposed to a spring. As for the `accuracy’ part, I’m betting that’s marketing fluff, like “Berkeley Quality Software” or “Microsoft Works”. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-quartz-accuracy/231972/3 "2004-03-01T21:25:02Z")
Yeah, but compared to a spring, the resonance of a piece of quartz is much much much better. A quartz crystal should be able to hold a frequency to within one ppm or so, so if it’s set correctly initially, they are very good. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-quartz-accuracy/231972/4 "2004-03-01T23:22:10Z")
“Quartz accuracy” is accuracy that far surpasses mechanical accuracy in timepieces. It’s not marketing fluff. From here: [http://www.bidtheewell.com/whatsnew/quartz.html](http://www.bidtheewell.com/whatsnew/quartz.html) “…quartz watches are much more accurate than mechanical ones.” ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-quartz-accuracy/231972/5 "2004-03-02T00:20:20Z")
I do know that quartz motions are better than any mechanical ones, but I decided to be somewhat jocular without using a smilie. (Jeez, didn’t you guys read my other two examples? Did you miss the play on “Microsoft Works” I carefully worked in? Bah, I’m casting faux pearls before genuine swine. ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-quartz-accuracy/231972/6 "2004-03-02T00:42:48Z")
From [here](http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/quartz-watch.htm): > [@](#): > > Modern quartz watches now use a low-frequency bar or tuning-fork-shaped crystal. Often, these crystals are made from thin sheets of quartz plated like an integrated circuit and etched chemically to shape. The major difference between good and indifferent time keeping is the initial frequency accuracy and the precision of the angle of cut of the quartz sheet with respect to the crystalline axis. The amount of contamination that is allowed to get through the encapsulation to the crystal surface inside the watch can also affect the accuracy. > > The electronics of the watch initially amplifies noise at the crystal frequency. This builds or regenerates into oscillation – it starts the crystal ringing. The output of the watch crystal oscillator is then converted to pulses suitable for the digital circuits. These divide the crystal’s frequency down and then translate it into the proper format for the display. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-quartz-accuracy/231972/7 "2004-03-02T02:36:55Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > I do know that quartz motions are better than any mechanical ones, but I decided to be somewhat jocular without using a smilie. (Jeez, didn’t you guys read my other two examples? Did you miss the play on “Microsoft Works” I carefully worked in? Bah, I’m casting faux pearls before genuine swine. ;)) I realize Microsoft often doesn’t work, and inferred that Berkeley Software didn’t have quality, but since quartz actually does provide accuracy, I didn’t perceive a joke. Am I still missing the point? At least you recognize that I’m genuine swine, that counts for something. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-quartz-accuracy/231972/8 "2004-03-02T03:45:32Z")
The “Quartz Accuracy” phrase comes from the early days (late '70s), when a non-mechanical movement was a rare thing, and yes, it was significantly more accurate than conventional mechanical movements.