Quartz watches contain a quartz crystal. This crystal has a piezoelectric nature that enables it to vibrate and produce an electric charge when pressure is applied to it. Quartz watches use the oscillation of the quartz crystal to drive a motor. The oscillation of the quartz crystal is caused by a small electrical current passed into the crystal by the watch battery. The motor that is driven by the crystal in turn powers a gear train that moves the hands of the quartz watch. A quartz watch’s speed should be between 0.5 and 2 seconds a day. A watch with a speed outside this range needs adjusting. Watch adjustment ensures that your watch can run properly when it is in different positions.
Change your watch battery as this is the main reason why your watch may not be running properly. If the watch still has a problem then you need to use other ways to adjust it.
Place the watch dial up and use a stop watch to time the second hand for 1 minute. Repeat the process with the dial of the watch facing down. Note the difference in rate. Repeat the step two or three times and find the average difference in rate. The difference in rates should not exceed 4 seconds.
Hold the quartz watch in a vertical position. Begin with the crown of the watch facing down. Use a stop watch to take the rate of the watch. Turn the watch so that the crown of the watch is facing left and take the rate. Turn the watch so that the crown of the watch is facing up and take the rate. Compare the rates. The difference in rates should not exceed 10 seconds.
Dismantle, clean and lubricate the watch in accordance to the manufacture’s specifications. These are available in the manufacturer’s manual which can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
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Writer Bio
Based out of Pittsburgh, Gregory Taylor has been writing since 1999. He has written for the "Sentry," RMU Radio and the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette." Taylor holds a Master of Arts in journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Robert Morris University.