How does a watch know the time?

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentStep one. Inside many watches is a tiny piece of crystal called quartz.

2. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorLike the little crystals in my grandmother's jewelry box! She always said they were magic, but I guess the real magic is just math and electricity.

3. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentStep two. When electricity flows into the quartz, it wiggles at a perfectly steady speed.

4. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWait, so you're telling me a tiny piece of rock is vibrating thirty-two thousand times a second and somehow keeping perfect time? That's insane.

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   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentStep three. Per Wikipedia, it wiggles thirty-two thousand seven hundred sixty-eight times every second.

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   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThirty-two thousand breaks? Dollar Dazzle has a strong union.

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   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentStep four. A tiny chip counts the wiggles and moves the watch on one second at a time. Powered by a battery. No union.

8. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhy that weird number? Why not a nice round one, like ten thousand?

9. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat is the right question. It is fifteen twos multiplied together.

10. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentHalve it fifteen times and you get exactly one tick per second, which is easy for a chip.

11. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentI am genuinely moved.

12. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorGreat. Can Dollar Dazzle start pricing everything at thirty-two thousand seven hundred sixty-eight? Does it come in a bag?