The Causes and Solutions for Quartz Watch Deviations
Quartz Watch Deviation Range
Quartz watches, irrespective of their model, have a momentary deviation range as follows: Premium models show a 24-hour deviation of -0.5 to +0.5 seconds; first-class models, -1.0 to +1.0 seconds; and standard models, -1.5 to +1.5 seconds.
This standard illustrates the high precision of quartz watches due to electronic control, compared to mechanical watches which are more prone to deviations due to their mechanical oscillation principle. Moreover, the larger the mechanical watch, the higher its precision and vice versa.
Factors Leading to Major Deviations in Quartz Watches
The main reasons for inaccuracies in quartz watch timings include quality issues of the watch itself, such as malfunctioning automatic winding or pendulum issues, and consumer usage.
If it’s a quality issue, conclusions can be drawn through national inspection departments; if it’s a consumer usage issue, it depends on the wearer’s activities and environment.
Consumer-related causes include insufficient activity by the wearer, leading to incomplete winding of automatic watches; exposure to magnetic fields from TVs, cell phones, etc.; and the wearer’s own strong magnetic field.
How to Address Significant Deviations in Quartz Watches?
Quartz watches use an internal quartz oscillator to generate precise electrical pulses that drive the stepping motor. The inherent deviation of a quartz watch (e.g., a monthly difference of 1 second) remains constant. Major deviations are often caused by battery voltage changes, external magnetic fields, and severe shocks. Avoiding strong magnetic fields and shocks, and timely battery checks and replacements are essential. Also, avoid extreme cold and heat exposures.
Adjusting Major Deviations:
For quartz watches with significant deviations beyond the micro-adjustment capacitor range, adjustments to both fixed and micro-adjustment capacitors may be necessary. For slow-running quartz watches, gradually reduce the capacitance until the desired speed is achieved, which can speed up the watch by about 20 seconds in 24 hours. Alternatively, a small capacitor of 5-40 pF can be added to speed up the watch. If a quartz watch runs too fast, it could be due to the detachment or failure of capacitors. Soldering a small capacitor of 5-50 pF, determined through trials, can correct this. High-quality, low-volume ceramic capacitors are recommended for this purpose.
.
.