FAQs - Technical information

A quartz watch uses an oscillation of the quartz crystal to define the time beat. All Swatch watches, with the exception of our automatic watches and our SISTEM51 models, have quartz movements. Quartz has an oscillating property with precise timing when electronically stimulated. A quartz oscillator is an electronic circuit that uses the mechanical resonance of a vibrating crystal made of piezoelectric material to generate an electrical signal with extremely precise timing. This timing is commonly used to measure time (in the form of quartz clocks), to provide a steady clock signal for digital integrated circuits, and to stabilize frequencies for radio transmitters as well as receivers. The most common type of piezoelectric oscillator is the quartz crystal, which is why oscillator circuits have also been called “oscillating quartz” or “quartz oscillators.” In other words, quartz has a consistent vibration that emits regular pulses. Impulses are delivered to the wheels of the hands by the “circle constant.”

The Swatch Automatic and SISTEM51 models are self-winding mechanical watches. The drive does not come from a battery, but from natural kinetic energy generated by arm movements of the watch wearer. Automatic watches are more sensitive to temperature changes, shocks and the way they are worn. Therefore, an automatic watch does not run quite as precisely as a quartz watch and inaccuracies of –10 to +40 seconds per day may occur. From experience, we know that mechanical watches tend to inaccuracy while they are still new. However, this regulates itself with time.



Automatic: –10 to +40 sec./day
CHRONO Automatic: ±20 (0–40) sec./day

SISTEM51: –5 to +15 (±10) sec./day

Swatch Autoquartz is a technology that combines the advantages of an automatic, battery-free movement with the precision and reliability of quartz. The kinetic energy generated by oscillation in the Autoquartz is converted into electricity. This is stored in a capacitor and monitored by a tiny circuit and quartz oscillator to produce the precision typically associated with quartz. The capacitor can store power reserves for up a full 100 days.

A chronograph is a watch with a stopwatch function. This additional mechanism enables measuring and recording short times. By pressing buttons, the hands of the chronograph (seconds, minutes, hours) can be started, stopped or reset to zero. You can learn more about the functions of our chronographs in our instructions.

A chronometer is a watch that has been tested for accuracy and reliability by the official testing centers and has received an official certificate from the COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute).

Greenwich, England, has been the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) since 1884. GMT is also known as Greenwich Meridian Time because it is measured at the Greenwich Meridian at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Greenwich is the place from which all time zones are measured.

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the basis of the world time valid today. This 24-hour standard is measured with high-precision atomic clocks in combination with the rotation of the Earth.

UTC is the time standard commonly used around the globe. The world time centers have agreed to keep their time scales synchronized – or coordinated. Hence the name Coordinated Universal Time.

The following components are used to determine UTC:

International Atomic Time (TAI): a time scale that combines the output of about 200 high-precision atomic clocks around the world to provide the exact rate at which our clocks tick.

Universal Time (UT1), also known as astronomical time or solar time, refers to the rotation of the Earth. It is used to match the speed provided by TAI with the actual length of a day on Earth.

Time zones are expressed as positive or negative shifts of UTC. In the role of zero adjustment, UTC is also referred to as Zulu time (Z). Universal time is often called Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in the context of time zones. Strictly speaking, however, UTC (atomic time scale) world time is only approximately equal to GMT.

Watches designated as “shock resistant” are a) quartz watches whose precision does not deviate by more than 2 seconds per day due to standard shocks and b) other watches whose maximum deviation is 60 seconds per day. This is based on ISO 1413 (based on the simulation of the impact experienced by a watch accidentally dropped from a height of 1 m onto a horizontal wooden surface) or NIHS 91-10, which is an equivalent standard for the Swiss watch industry.

We indicate that Swatch watches are water-resistant to an overpressure of 2, 3, 10 or 20 bar, depending on the model of the watch. These indications correspond to the pressure exercised during the water-resistant test according to the ISO norm 22810. The indicated values are equivalent to the hydrostatic pressure exercised in immersion at 20 m, 30 m, 100 m or 200 m in the water. Every Swatch watch will remain water-resistant provided that the crown, pushers, glass, case and gaskets remain intact. Crown and pushers must never be manipulated under water!

The telemeter function (Stormeter) is shown on the dial or bezel of the Swatch models “Take Some Minutes – YCS481” and “Rosso Furore – YCS494G” (from the watchmaking encyclopedia).
It is an instrument for measuring distances. In watchmaking, this is a timepiece or chronograph with a graduated dial that allows distances to be read based on the speed of sound in the air at 0°C., v = 331.5 m per second. The time between the moment of an explosion (gun, flash) and the hearing of the same makes it possible to read the distance between the observer and the position of the explosion on the dial.

Swatch Access is a multifunctional, interactive Swatch with built-in memory. The microchip contained in the watch can store large amounts of data and the antenna is used to communicate with a terminal device to read the contents on the microchip. The whole system is run by a computer program. Swatch Access/Snowpass integrates easily into systems with applications such as ticketing, keys, payments and network access.

Swatch Snowpass has a time display as well as a wireless smart card function (RFID) and is a functional alternative to wireless smart cards.

There are two different Snowpass versions that use different RFID chip technologies.

RFID 125 kHz (older version) or RFID 13.56 MHz.

The dial of a chronograph used to measure speed in kilometers or meters per hour. On the predominant Swatch CHRONO models, the tachometric scale on the dial or bezel allows speed measurements to be read directly in kilometers per hour (km/h). The speed measurement must be taken at a time interval of no more than 60 seconds for distances of 10, 100 or 1,000 meters. When measuring 1,000 meters, the value read on the tachometric scale corresponds directly to the speed in km/h. For a measurement of 100 meters, the value read on the tachometric scale must be divided by 10 to obtain the speed in km/h. For a measurement of 10 meters, the value read on the tachometric scale must be divided by 100 to obtain the speed in km/h.

The life of a battery is between two and three years, depending on its size and function. For example, watches with a chronograph function may have a battery life that is less than a Swatch ORIGINAL GENT watch.

Internet Time is a new universal time created by Swatch. With this new way of measuring time, there are no time zones, because everything in the world is happening at the same time and in the same moment. Internet Time divides the 24 hours of the day into 1,000 units called “beats”; 1 beat stands for 1 minute and 26.4 seconds. Internet Time is indicated by the @ sign and three digits and ranges from @000 to @999. A day in Internet Time begins at midnight (@000) in Biel, Switzerland, home of Swatch.

End of Life (EOL) refers to the approaching end of battery life, which is indicated by a flashing display or special hand movements. The EOL function is mainly present on products with a lithium battery.

Swatch Touch: the digits will start flashing. After three hours, the flashing stops again. Solar: the second hand stops for a few seconds and then jumps ahead a few seconds at a time to the correct time. Of course, the EOL function will stop when the watch is recharged.

“Jewel” stands for “watch jewel.” Swatch Automatic watches contain 23 watch jewels and IRONY Automatic watches (as well as IRONY Diaphane Automatic watches) contain 21 watch jewels, as indicated on the back of the movement.