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48
UNIQUENESS
EVOLUTION
Crystal
Clear
While some quartz watches can be
bought for ten dollars at the drug-
store counter, these have the dubi-
ous distinction of never having had
a hand laid on them. They are made
by the thousands per day. They can
almost be considered disposable.
However, there are quartz move-
ments which are of very high
quality, with high jewel counts,
thermo-compensation and even
sophisticated complications that
rival
comparable
mechanical
watches. Also, extraordinary care
and skill may be put into its exte-
rior casing, face and back. There is
an artisan’s blood, sweat and tears
which goes into them. They are not
to be ignored.
The fact that quartz watches are
driven by piezoelectric properties
which oscillate at a predictable
frequency is no reason to discount
them. Just as photography didn’t
obviate painting. There is room for
both, and each has its qualities.
The first quartz clock was deve-
lopped in 1927 at the Bell Telephone
Laboratories, but it wasn’t until
the availability of solid state digital
electronics that they could bemade
compact enough for portability.
It’s frequency depends on its
shape and size. The placement of
electrodes can alter the tuning as
well. In the case of watches, that
frequency is generally 32,768 Hz
and the crystal is shaped like a tiny
tuning fork. The frequency is too
high for most people to hear, yet
low enough for digital counters to
derive a 1-second pulse.
Industry-leading brands such as
Omega, Jaeger-LeCoultre and
Audemars Piguet offer top of the
line quartz watches worthy of
any collection, as you can see for
yourself on these pages.
David Yurman
Classic Stainless
Steel Quartz
Chanel
Première
Rock Metal
Breitling
Cockpit B50
Night Mission
Audemars Piguet
Ladies Royal Oak
Collection
Chopard
Happy Sport
Bespoke