Quartz crystals used in filters and oscillators in electronic circuits are renowned for their performance, stability, frequency tolerance and their high Q. Yet they do change their frequency very slightly with time in a process known as ageing. Although the frequency variations are small by many standards, they are permanent and may have an effect in some applications where the frequency is of great importance. As a result manufacturing techniques take account of this to reduce the effects of ageing in these crystals as far as possible.

Ageing is caused by a number of interrelated factors. These include internal contamination, excessive drive level, surface change of the crystal, various thermal effects, wire fatigue and frictional wear. The level of ageing can be minimised in a number of ways. During manufacture they should be encapsulated in an inert gas environment, the ensuring should have a good seal so that other gases do not enter. Also the final stages of the preparation of the crystal blank must be prepared as finely as possible. Rather than lapping the blank to bring it to the right dimensions, chemical etching is used. In this way the minimum disruption is caused to the crystal lattice, and this reduces the ingress of contaminants over time that will cause ageing.

The design of the circuit in which the crystal will be used also has an effect. By keeping the drive levels low again the crystal ageing will be less.