BRAKE

In watchmaking, the brake is a device — most often a Lever / Rocker fitted with a tip or a pad — intended to stop or block a mechanism. The most common example is the Chronograph brake: when the stop Pusher is activated, it presses against the circumference of the chronograph wheel to instantly immobilize the entire mechanism, thus freezing the Counting hands at the measured value. The brake must act firmly and smoothly, in order to achieve a clean stop and a reliable reading, without making the Hand move backward. Other brakes are found in striking or time-setting mechanisms, as well as braking devices regulating the speed of a Train (wheel train) (Regulator for striking mechanism). The design of a Brake — geometry, return spring, contact surface — determines the precision and smoothness of the actuation. It is a safety component and one of Testing, ensuring the proper sequencing of functions.