How does a digital watch work? A digital watch has no hands and no gears. If you are asking how does a digital watch work, the animated model above shows it: a quartz crystal beats 32,768 times a second, a microchip counts those beats, and an LCD turns the result into digits.
How does a digital watch work? The main parts
- Quartz crystal: the steady beat that keeps time.
- Microchip: divides the beat down to one pulse per second and runs every function.
- LCD: liquid crystal segments that darken to form digits.
- Battery: a coin cell that often lasts several years.
- Buttons: contacts that tell the chip what to do.
Why digital watches are so durable
With no moving gears, there is little to wear out or knock out of alignment. That is why rugged sport models such as the G-Shock DW6900 are built around digital movements. It is a close cousin of the technology in our quartz watch guide.
Digital vs analog
Digital watches are easy to read in the dark and add stopwatch, alarm and timers cheaply. Analog watches look more classic. If you prefer a mechanical feel, see how an automatic watch works.
Now that you know how does a digital watch work, you can shop with confidence. For more background, see the Wikipedia article.
How does a digital watch work: FAQ
Is a digital watch quartz?
Yes. Nearly all digital watches use a quartz crystal for timekeeping.
How long does the battery last?
Usually two to ten years, depending on how often you use the backlight and alarm.
Are digital watches waterproof?
For example, many are, but check the water resistance rating on the case back.
