What is Swiss Quartz movement?

Question

I just bought a very expensive 1,500$ watch from Fuel. And its movement is Swiss Quartz. I was wondering what that is it. Does it requiere a battery?

Answer 1

It may or may not require a battery. Probably does. Some have mechanisms that self-wind by gently shaking' the watch.

The 'Swiss Movement' isn't anything special, it's just a very precisely cut and shaped piece of quartz. Nothing unusual about it at all. Any quartz watch has it in it, but the quality of the quarts probably is not as good. The Swiss have been making these for years. They have it down, but is it worth it.....in my opinion.....not really. There are time pieces everywhere. To spend big dollars on a watch that is accurate to thousandths of a second per year isn't really necessary...in my eyes anyway. But this is what your paying for mostly....the expertise, the 'technology (harvesting, cutting, machining of high-grade quartz), and of course, the name of the watch...hugo, tag, rolex, movado...blah blah blah.

Answer 2

A watch with a quartz movement uses a tiny sliver of the mineral quartz which vibrates at a precise frequency when electricity is passed across it. This device is called a crystal oscillator. Further circuitry inside the watch processes this vibration into a consistent time signal, which is used to keep time, be it on a digital display, or by driving an analogue mechanism in time with it. This means that the watch needs a source of electrical power, which is usually a battery, but some watches get their power by other means, such as through the movement of your arm while the watch is being worn (a so-called "self-winding rotor"). Unless you specifically bought a self-powered watch, it will need the battery replacing every few years. Check the manual that came with your watch if you are not sure.