An automatic mechanical watch quartz plate combines an automatic mechanical structure with quartz oscillation technology. Its timekeeping accuracy is affected by six core factors: the mechanical power system, the stability of the quartz oscillation, environmental interference, component aging, usage habits, and design flaws. These factors intertwine to determine the watch's accuracy.
The power source of an automatic mechanical watch quartz plate consists of two parts: the automatic mechanical part stores energy through the rotation of a rotor, while the quartz part relies on a battery to drive the oscillator. If the wearer's activity level is insufficient, the automatic winding system cannot provide enough energy, leading to a power shortage in the mechanical module, which in turn affects the power supply stability of the quartz module. For example, prolonged sitting or minimal wrist movement may result in insufficient mainspring energy storage; even if the quartz oscillator itself is accurate, power supply fluctuations will cause errors. Furthermore, battery aging or poor contact can directly cause a drop in the quartz module voltage, leading to periodic stopping or running fast.
The frequency stability of the quartz oscillator is the core factor determining timekeeping accuracy. It generates a reference frequency through the regular vibration of the quartz crystal in an electric field, but temperature changes alter the crystal's physical properties. In high-temperature environments, the crystal's vibration frequency increases, causing it to run fast; conversely, low temperatures have the opposite effect. Although modern quartz watches employ temperature compensation technology, extreme temperature differences can still exceed the compensation range. Furthermore, aging of the quartz oscillator can cause frequency drift, requiring recalibration with professional equipment after prolonged use.
Magnetic fields are a hidden killer for the quartz plate of automatic mechanical watch quartz plate. Steel parts such as the balance spring and escapement wheel in the mechanical components are easily magnetized. Magnetization can cause the balance spring to stick, altering the balance wheel's oscillation period and resulting in significant time running fast. While the quartz component is less directly affected by magnetic fields, strong magnetic fields can interfere with integrated circuit signal transmission, leading to abnormal motor drive. For example, placing the watch near a mobile phone, speaker, or magnetic jewelry can increase the daily error several times over, and magnetization requires professional demagnetization equipment.
With prolonged use, the lubricating oil in the mechanical module will dry out, accelerating gear wear and increasing transmission resistance; wear on the motor bearings of the quartz module can cause stepping errors. For example, when the movement lacks lubrication, the gears may mesh unevenly, reducing the balance wheel's amplitude and increasing isochronism errors; wear on the motor can cause the second hand to jump erratically. Furthermore, aging waterproof gaskets reduce sealing, allowing moisture to penetrate and corrode the circuit board, further affecting stability.
Wearing habits directly affect the watch's physical state. Frequent, vigorous wrist movements can cause the balance spring to become tangled or jump, leading to the watch stopping; collisions with hard objects can cause misalignment of parts, such as deformation of the escapement fork or bending of the balance staff. In addition, improper crown operation (such as not pushing it in tightly, causing waterproofing failure) or prolonged exposure to chemicals (such as perfumes and cleaning agents) can corrode metal components or circuit boards, indirectly causing errors.
Design flaws amplify the risk of errors. For example, some automatic mechanical watches use low-precision quartz oscillators or simplified automatic winding structures to reduce costs, resulting in insufficient basic accuracy or inefficient power transmission. Furthermore, an unreasonable movement layout can make critical components (such as the balance spring) susceptible to external interference, or flawed heat dissipation design can accelerate lubricant aging. These inherent deficiencies significantly shorten the watch's accuracy cycle. The timekeeping error of an automatic mechanical watch quartz plate is the result of multiple factors. To reduce error, regular maintenance (such as cleaning the movement, changing lubricants and batteries), avoiding extreme environments (such as high temperatures and strong magnetic fields), proper wearing habits (such as minimizing impacts and correctly operating the crown), and choosing products with mature technology and strict quality control are necessary. By comprehensively managing these factors, the timekeeping stability of the watch can be maximized.
