Crystals

• For centuries, the process of manufacturing watches has required mechanical skill and attention to detail. While technology has helped make watches more accurate, the manufacture of timepieces, called "horology," still requires many technical aspects.
  
  The horological manufacturing process begins with a small piece of quartz. While quartz crystal is found naturally, special laboratories are able to produce it in very pure forms. These artificial quartz crystals are produced and cut specifically for use in timepieces.
  
  Once a small quartz crystal has been installed into the watch case, a battery is supplied. When electricity from this battery is applied to the crystal, the quartz vibrates, or oscillates, at a frequency of 100,000 times per second. This constant, accurate oscillation allows precise time to be kept.
  
  

Circuitry

• With the quartz and battery installed in the watch case, additional circuitry is added. This circuitry provides a wire connection to a small integrated circuit, or microchip. This microchip receives the constant oscillations from the quartz, and uses them to keep track of the time.
  
  Because the quartz is oscillating at precisely 100,000 times every second, the microchip can count these pulses to determine seconds. This means that the microchip will change the minute readout after 6 million oscillations. This high rate of pulsation makes quartz watches very accurate.
  
  

Components

• Once the quartz crystal used for timing has been combined with the watch circuitry, the pieces are ready to be assembled. During assembly, components are placed into a two-part case. The front of this case includes the digital readout, which indicates the time on a liquid-crystal display. A small battery is also included to power all the necessary circuits.
  
  With all components connected and placed, the back portion of the watch case is closed. This protects the electronics from damage. On watches that are waterproof, an o-ring gasket prevents moisture from entering even when the wearer is underwater. The watch will function and stay accurate for as long its battery lasts, providing the user with years of reliable timekeeping.