Difference Between Quartz and Automatic Watches

Table of Contents

Time is an important part of everybody’s life. Every person gets to live a disciplined and scheduled life if he does a certain thing on time. Time plays an important role in not only human’s life but also many other living being’s lives. Several processes in nature occur at a particular time. However, one of the greater inventions of humanity is the watch.

Watches and clocks tell us time and help us to do a certain task on time. Today there exist several companies that manufacture different types of watches and clocks. There exist several companies that provide us with a variety of options in watches and clocks. There are several types of watches, though two of the main types of watches are 1: quartz watches and 2. Automatic watches.

Quartz vs Automatic Watches

The main difference between quartz watched and automatic watches is the source from which the respective watches gain their energy. The quartz watch gains its energy and power from a battery that is set up in it. On the other hand, the automatic watch gains its energy and power from motion that is caused by the wearer’s wrist.

The watches that use an electronic oscillator that is operated by a quartz crystal is known as quartz watches. A very accurate signal is established with the help of the crystal oscillator. Warren Marrison and J. W. Horton built the world’s first-ever quartz clock in the year 1972. The quartz watches are the world’s most widely used watches, and this technology is one of the most popular technologies.

The watches that use the motion that is provided by the wearer’s wrist as the source of power and energy are known as automatic watches. Other names by which the automatic watches are acknowledged include self-winding watches, simply automatic watches etc. The roots of the earliest usage of automatic watches date back to the end of the year 1773. However, the first successful design of the automatic watch was made by Abraham-Louis Perrelet. He was a Swiss watchmaker.

Comparison Table Between Quartz and Automatic Watches

Parameters of ComparisonQuartz WatchesAutomatic Watches
Meaning/ DefinitionThe watches that use an electronic oscillator that is operated by a quartz crystal is known as quartz watches.The watches that use the motion that is provided by the wearer’s wrist as the source of power and energy are known as automatic watches.
First made in19721777
First made byWarren Marrison and J. W. HortonAbraham-Louis Perrelet
Power sourceBatteryThe motion of the wearer’s wrist
Also known asNo other nameSelf-winding watches, simply automatic watches

What are Quartz Watches?

The watches that use an electronic oscillator that is operated by a quartz crystal is known as quartz watches. A very accurate signal is established with the help of the crystal oscillator. Warren Marrison and J. W. Horton built the world’s first-ever quartz clock in the year 1972.

The quartz crystal that is used in a quartz watch is a chemical compound that is known as silicon dioxide. One of the characteristic features of the quartz crystal is that it is a piezoelectric material. It exhibits electric charges when it is subjected to mechanical stress like bending. This effect can be reversed as well. The exhibition of the charges can be responsible for bending.

The electronic circuit that is present in the quartz watch acts as an oscillator as well as an amplifier. There is a resonator as well. The resonator makes sure that the only frequency of interest is present and filters out the rest of the frequencies. However, the frequency of the oscillation of the crystal is directly proportional to the shape and size of the quartz crystal. It is also dependant on the crystal plane on which the crystal is cut.

The quartz watches and their technology has evolved thoroughly ever since their establishment. Many changes have been introduced to them, and many advanced features and parts have been brought. The quartz watches are the world’s most widely used watches, and this technology is one of the most popular technologies.

What are Automatic Watches?

The watches that use the motion that is provided by the wearer’s wrist as the source of power and energy are known as automatic watches. The mainspring that is present in the automatic watches is used to turn the gears. The natural motions of the wearer are responsible for the winding of the mainspring.

Other names by which the automatic watches are acknowledged include self-winding watches, simply automatic watches etc. The roots of the earliest usage of automatic watches date back to the end of the year 1773. However, the first successful design of the automatic watch was made by Abraham-Louis Perrelet. He was a Swiss watchmaker.

There are several advantages of using automatic watches. No batter is needed, which saves the money of buying a new battery every now and then. These watches are fairly accurate and have smooth movements, even if they are a little expensive, they are low maintenance, no handlining is required if these watches are worn regularly.

The automatic watches and their technology has evolved thoroughly ever since their establishment. Many changes have been introduced to them, and many advanced features and parts have been brought. The automatic watches are the world’s most widely used watches today, and this technology is one of the most popular technologies like the quartz timekeepers.

Main Differences Between Quartz and Automatic Watches

  • The first quartz watch was made in the year 1972. On the other hand, the first automatic watch was made in the year 1777.
  • The first quartz watch was made by Warren Marrison and J. W. Horto. On the other hand, the first automatic watch was made by Abraham-Louis Perrelet.
  • The quartz stone is used in the making of quartz watches. On the other hand, no battery is required for automatic watches.
  • The power source of quartz watches is the battery. On the other hand, the power source of automatic watches is the motion that is provided by the wearer’s wrist.
  • No other names are used to acknowledge quartz watches. On the other hand, automatic watches are also acknowledged by names like self-winding watches and simply automatic watches.
  • Conclusion

    Both types of watches are great at entailing time to the users. An individual may find one of the options slightly better. People buy these watches as per their liking and convenience. Some people like wearing quartz watches, while some like to wear automatic watches.

    Several companies manufacture various types of watches with newer designs and features. They make sure they meet the user’s expectations and try to work hard to introduce new varieties of watches. Many more series and ranges of products are expected to be introduced in the upcoming years.

    References

  • https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=50647
  • https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02513315
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