Revolutionary research in the field of silicon technology and quartz processing has led to the production of modern watches of the highest quality, which run with millisecond accuracy. Manufacturers of high-end watches are not only interested in creating visually appealing timepieces, such as partially transparent skeleton watches, but they also place great importance on the quality and precision of the watch movement. Recent fundamental research at the Université Paris-Sorbonne has revolutionized the production process of so-called oscillating quartz crystals. This has made it possible to produce highly precise wristwatches that run with millisecond accuracy at a low cost.
French scientists have found a way to grow structured quartz crystals inexpensively and easily on ultra-thin layers of silicon. They dipped a silicon carrier into a solution of bromides, strontium and barium salts, as well as silanes. Using a process called devitrification or vitrification, alpha-quartz crystals are formed. These are ideal as oscillating quartz crystals for extremely accurate watches due to their extremely high quality. The structure of the quartz crystals can be influenced by this method. The smaller and more precisely structured the crystals are, the more accurate the watch movements they enable.
The combination of this microresonator and the ultra-structured oscillating quartz crystals enables wristwatches to function with millisecond accuracy. The Otto Weitzmann AG is already looking forward to the new generations of exclusive watches, as it knows the value that luxury chronograph buyers place on a highly precise watch movement. While the French scientists are still working on a refined version of the oscillating quartz production, with the aim of being able to grow even more finely structured quartz, the future of high-end watches looks bright.
