Quartz, Sapphire and Ruby: The Gems Inside Your Watch
Your watch is full of gems. A quartz crystal keeps the time, sapphire protects the face, and tiny rubies keep the gears running smoothly.
How a Quartz Crystal Keeps Time
Before quartz, watches drifted and had to be reset often. On Christmas Day 1969, Seiko launched the world’s first quartz wristwatch, the Quartz Astron.
Powered by a battery, a quartz crystal vibrates at a very steady rate, like a metronome for the watch. Most quartz watches today use a crystal that vibrates 32,768 times a second, and they drift by only a few seconds a month.
Quartz shook up the Swiss watch industry, as Japanese brands reshaped the market and accurate watches became affordable for everyone.
Why Fine Watches Have Sapphire Glass
Sapphire is hard-wearing, so a sapphire crystal over the dial protects the face of a fine watch.
Why There Are Rubies Inside a Watch
Tiny rubies sit where the gears turn, to cut friction. That keeps a watch running smoothly for years.
So it’s quartz for accuracy, sapphire for protection and ruby for precision.
Love Sapphires and Rubies?
The same stones make extraordinary jewellery. I hunt the finest sapphires and rubies at the source. See our sapphire engagement rings, or how I help collectors as a jewellery buyer’s agent.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gems in Watches
Why do watches use quartz?
A quartz crystal powered by a battery vibrates at a very steady rate, which keeps the watch accurate to a few seconds a month.
What was the first quartz wristwatch?
The Seiko Quartz Astron, launched on 25 December 1969.
Why do watches have rubies in them?
Tiny rubies sit where the gears turn, to cut friction and keep the watch running smoothly for years.
What is a sapphire crystal on a watch?
A sapphire cover over the dial. Sapphire is hard-wearing, so it protects the watch face.
Got gold sitting in a drawer? Here’s how selling it works in Canberra.
