Quartz Clock Movements

Quartz clock movements operate on the basis of piezoelectric properties of quartz crystals. When an electrical current goes to a quartz crystal, it vibrates at a precise frequency. This is typically 32,768 times per second. The vibrations of the quartz crystal serve as the timekeeping element of the clock. The movement regulates these vibrations to maintain accurate timekeeping. Typically using an integrated circuit (IC) chip to divide the crystal’s frequency into seconds, minutes, and hours. Quartz clock movements run by batteries. Usually standard AA or AAA batteries, provide the electrical energy to drive the movement and regulate the timekeeping. They are known for their high accuracy, typically losing or gaining only a few seconds per month.