Quartz watches do not require winding. Unlike traditional mechanical timepieces that need manual winding or automatic movement to power them, quartz watches are powered by a battery.
Understanding Your Watch's Power Source
The method for powering a watch depends entirely on its movement type:
- Quartz Movement: These watches use a battery that sends an electrical signal through a piece of vibrating quartz crystal. This precise vibration regulates an electronic circuit, which drives a small motor to move the watch hands. There is no mainspring to wind.
- Mechanical Movement: These watches are powered by a mainspring that stores energy when wound. This energy is released gradually to power the watch's gears and components. Mechanical watches require winding, either manually via the crown or automatically through the wearer's movement.
Winding vs. Setting Time
The crown on a quartz watch is primarily used for setting the time and date, not for adding power. Turning the crown when it's pushed in typically does nothing to the power reserve because there isn't one in the mechanical sense.
How Winding Works (Applicable to Mechanical Watches Only)
The process described in the reference applies specifically to manual mechanical watches:
"You'll feel the resistance. And in the manual while timepiece. There will reach a point where it can no longer be wound. You have fully wound the timepiece. And you're good to go."
When winding a manual mechanical watch, you turn the crown, which tightens the mainspring. As the mainspring coils tighter, you feel increasing resistance until it is fully wound and stops. This action stores the energy needed for the watch to run. This process is not performed on a quartz watch.
Setting the Time on a Quartz Watch
To interact with a quartz watch, you typically use the crown to set the time or date:
- Pull the crown out to the appropriate position (often one click for date adjustment, further out for time adjustment).
- Turn the crown to move the hands to the desired time or change the date.
- Push the crown back in to resume normal operation.
This is how you set a quartz watch, not wind it.
Key Differences: Quartz vs. Mechanical Winding
Understanding the distinction is crucial for proper watch care.
| Feature | Quartz Watch | Mechanical Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Power Source | Battery | Wound Mainspring |
| Requires Winding? | No | Yes (Manual or Automatic Movement) |
| Crown Function | Primarily Setting Time/Date | Winding (Manual), Setting Time/Date |
| Winding Feel | No resistance from power source winding | Resistance increases until fully wound (manual) |
In summary, you do not wind a quartz watch. The concept of feeling resistance and reaching a fully wound state, as mentioned in the reference, applies exclusively to winding a mechanical timepiece.
