quartz movement

American  

[kwawrts moov-muhnt] / ˈkwɔrts ˈmuv mənt /

noun

Horology.

1. an extremely accurate electronic movement utilizing the natural frequency of vibrations of a quartz crystal to regulate the operation of the timepiece quartz clock, or quartz watch.

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Etymology

Origin of quartz movement

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

A brief primer: Since the late nineteen-seventies, most watches have used a quartz movement, which is battery-powered and extremely accurate.

From The New Yorker • Mar. 13, 2017

The quartz movement had been around since the 1920s, but its miniaturisation had only been achieved in prototype by Seiko and Casio in Japan in the late 1960s.

From The Guardian • Oct. 19, 2016