Quartz Crisis: An Era that Shook the Horology Industry

Following the launch of the Seiko Astron, quartz technology advanced rapidly, and the cost of producing quartz watches significantly declined—largely due to progress in mass production led by Japanese and American companies.

Quartz watches offered much higher accuracy and lower maintenance requirements compared to mechanical watches, making them highly attractive to consumers.
Moreover, the emergence of digital quartz watches featuring LED (Light Emitting Diode) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens in the early 1970s further broadened the appeal of quartz technology.

Impact on Traditional Swiss Mechanical Watchmaking

The skyrocketing popularity of quartz watches during the 1970s and early 1980s caused a major decline in the Swiss watch industry, which had long focused on crafting high-end mechanical timepieces.

Many Swiss watchmakers were slow to adopt quartz technology, as they viewed mechanical craftsmanship as a vital part of their national identity and heritage. As a result, Switzerland’s global watch market share plummeted, and many once-profitable and renowned Swiss watch companies went bankrupt or disappeared.

The number of Swiss watchmakers dropped from 1,600 in 1970 to just 600 in 1983, and employment in the sector fell from 90,000 to 28,000 between 1970 and 1988.
This era is often referred to as the “Quartz Crisis” in Switzerland, while in other countries—particularly the United States and Japan—it is known as the “Quartz Revolution.”

Survival and Adaptation of the Swiss Watch Industry

The Swiss watch industry eventually overcame the Quartz Crisis through innovation and strategic adaptation. A key figure in this recovery was Nicolas G. Hayek, who launched Swatch in 1983—a fashionable, colorful, and affordable plastic quartz watch.

Swatch attracted a new generation of consumers and helped restore the image of Swiss watchmaking. At the same time, many Swiss brands strategically shifted toward the high-end luxury mechanical watch market, emphasizing traditional craftsmanship, heritage, and the emotional value associated with mechanical timepieces.

Several Swiss brands also began to adopt quartz technology, blending quartz accuracy with their established reputation for quality and expertise.

Swiss Watch Industry Decline During the Quartz Crisis

Year	Number of Swiss Watchmakers	Industry Workforce	Swiss Global Market Share
1970	1,600	90,000	>50%
1978	Not specified	Not specified	24%
1983	600	28,000	Not specified

Note: Data in this table are gathered from various sources and may include estimates.

High Accuracy Quartz (HAQ) Movements

Since the Quartz Crisis, quartz watch technology has continued to evolve. One key area of innovation is the development of High Accuracy Quartz (HAQ) movements. Improvements in quartz crystal manufacturing and temperature compensation techniques have enabled modern quartz watches to achieve remarkable levels of precision.

HAQ watches can have a deviation of only a few seconds per year, with some models boasting accuracy as precise as ±1 second per year. Notable HAQ models include Grand Seiko’s 9F series, Citizen’s Chronomaster and Caliber 0100, Bulova’s Precisionist, Longines’ VHP, and Breitling’s SuperQuartz.

Solar-Powered Quartz Watches

Another innovation in quartz technology is the integration of solar cells into watches.
Solar-powered quartz watches use photovoltaic cells to convert light into electrical energy, which is stored in a rechargeable battery to power the watch.

This offers a more sustainable and convenient power source by eliminating the need for frequent battery changes. Citizen’s Eco-Drive is a leading example in this field.

Meca-Quartz and Hybrid Technologies

To bridge the gap between quartz accuracy and mechanical appeal, hybrid technologies such as meca-quartz movements have been developed. Meca-quartz combines a quartz oscillator for timekeeping with a mechanical chronograph module, delivering the tactile feel and function of a mechanical chronograph with quartz-level precision. Seiko also developed Spring Drive technology, another hybrid system that integrates a quartz regulator with a mechanically generated power source.

Smartwatch Integration

Quartz technology has also found its way into smartwatches, often in hybrid designs that combine traditional analog hands with digital displays and smart features. This integration allows smartwatches to offer reliable timekeeping along with a variety of modern functionalities.

Examples of High Accuracy Quartz (HAQ) Watches

Brand & Series	Annual Accuracy	Key Technology
Grand Seiko 9F Series	±10 seconds	Specially Processed Quartz Crystal, Temperature Comp.
Citizen Chronomaster	±5 seconds	High-Frequency Oscillator, Radio Sync
Bulova Precisionist	±10 seconds	High-Frequency Quartz (262 kHz)
Longines Conquest V.H.P.	±5 seconds	Gear Position Detection System, Temperature Comp.
Breitling SuperQuartz	±10 seconds	Thermocompensated Quartz, COSC Certified
The CITIZEN Eco-Drive	±1 second	AT Cut Quartz Oscillator, Eco-Drive, Temp. Comp.

Note: Claimed accuracy may vary depending on model and conditions.

Pioneering Scientists and Engineers

The history of quartz watches would not be complete without acknowledging the individuals who played crucial roles in its development. Jacques and Pierre Curie are credited with discovering the piezoelectric effect in 1880, which became the foundation for quartz technology.

Warren Marrison and J.W. Horton at Bell Labs built the first quartz clock in 1927.
Max Hetzel at Bulova developed the Accutron, an electronic watch using a tuning fork, marking a major step toward electronic timekeeping.

Engineers at Seiko, led by figures like Tsuneya Nakamura, and at CEH (including Armin Frei), were instrumental in developing the first quartz wristwatches. Finally, Nicolas G. Hayek is recognized for reviving the Swiss watch industry post-Quartz Crisis through the launch of Swatch.

Key Companies and Their Contributions

Several companies played pivotal roles in the evolution of quartz watches:

• Seiko: Pioneered the first commercial quartz watch (Astron), developed key technologies, and drove mass adoption.
• Centre Electronique Horloger (CEH): Created early quartz watch prototypes (Beta series).
• Longines: Participated in early quartz clock and wristwatch development (Ultra-Quartz).
• Hamilton: Pioneered the first electric watch (a precursor to quartz) and later, the first digital quartz watch (Pulsar).
• Bulova: Developed the tuning fork-powered Accutron, a major step toward electronic timekeeping.
• Swatch Group (formerly SMH, ASUAG/SSIH): Played a vital role in reviving the Swiss watch industry post-crisis.
• Citizen: Became a major player in quartz technology, especially in solar-powered and high-accuracy movements (Eco-Drive, Chronomaster).
• Omega, Rolex, Patek Philippe: Early adopters of quartz (Beta 21), later major contributors to the Swiss watch renaissance, with Omega also developing high-accuracy quartz (Marine Chronometer).
• Girard-Perregaux: Released the world’s first mass-produced 10-beat quartz watch and contributed to early quartz development.

The Enduring Legacy of Quartz Watches

The story of quartz watches is one of scientific and technological innovation that disrupted a long-established industry. From the discovery of the piezoelectric effect by the Curie brothers to the development of the first quartz timepieces by Seiko and others, quartz technology has revolutionized how we tell time.

The “Quartz Crisis” of the 1970s was a turbulent period for the Swiss watch industry, but it also sparked the innovation and adaptation that led to its eventual resurgence.

Today, quartz watches remain a dominant timekeeping technology worldwide, known for their reliability, precision, and affordability. With ongoing advancements—such as high-accuracy movements, solar power, and hybrid systems—the legacy of quartz watches continues to thrive and evolve in the modern age.