LE MOUVEMENT
Le mouvement est constitué de l’ensemble des composants destinés à afficher l’heure et l’ensemble des informations d’une montre (complications) dont il assure également la précision. Aujourd’hui, on distingue deux familles de mouvements : les mouvements mécaniques et les mouvements électroniques. Ces deux familles se divisent elles-mêmes en plusieurs catégories.
Quel que soit le type de construction d’un mouvement (mécanique ou électronique), ses composants s’associent en différents groupes appelés organes.
L’organe moteur, l’organe de comptage et de transmission, l’organe de distribution (échappement) et l’organe régulateur sont ainsi les principaux organes d’un mouvement mécanique.
Figure 1: Exploded view of a manual-winding mechanical Movement – 18 lignes / 40 mm – 21’600 A/h
THE MAIN PLATE
The Main plate is a plate that generally occupies the entire surface of the Movement. It is the frame that supports most of the Movement’s components (various organs, wheels, springs, Bridges, etc.).
THE BRIDGES
Bridges are shaped components, generally machined from the same material as the main plate. As structural elements, together with the main plate they form the movement frame (cage). Positioned and fixed to the main plate, they hold the moving components in place while allowing them the freedom (shake/play) to pivot freely around their axis. The number of bridges in a movement varies depending on the construction. Generally, a bridge is named after the mechanism or component it secures (Barrel – Barrel bridge).
THE BARREL DRUM
The barrel drum is one of the four components that make up the barrel, which is the Motor organ (power source) of a mechanical watch. It is a hollow cylinder made of Brass or German silver inside which the Mainspring sits.
THE BARREL COVER / LID
It is one of the four components of the barrel, which is itself the Motor organ (power source) of a mechanical watch. As its name suggests, it allows the Barrel drum to which it clips to be closed, thus protecting the mainspring from dust.
THE BARREL ARBOR
The barrel arbor belongs to the Motor organ (power source) and constitutes the Axis of the barrel. It pivots most of the time between the Main plate and the Bridge barrel bridge. Closest to the energy source, the barrel arbor is the axis of a watch that is subjected to the greatest forces (torque).
THE MAINSPRING
It is the major component of the barrel, the motor organ (power source) of the watch. It is a long blade of steel of rectangular section, coiling in a spiral around the barrel arbor, inside the barrel drum.
THE THIRD WHEEL
The Third wheel (sometimes called small third wheel) is an intermediate wheel allowing the correct gear ratios to be obtained throughout the entire kinematic chain of the going train.
THE FOURTH WHEEL (SECONDS WHEEL)
The Fourth wheel (seconds wheel) (sometimes) carries the seconds Hand and therefore turns, in that case, 60 times faster than the Center wheel to complete one full rotation in exactly one minute.
THE ESCAPE WHEEL
The escape wheel, sometimes called the lever wheel, is placed between the seconds wheel and the Pallets (lever). It consists of a pinion and a wheel plate whose particular toothing transmits regular impulses to the Pallets (lever). Traditionally, the escape wheel and pinion are made of Steel. In some cases, the escape wheel can be made of Gold or Silicon.
THE PALLETS (LEVER)
In the movement’s kinematic chain, the pallets (lever) is positioned between the escape wheel and the balance. It is one of the components of the escapement. Generally made of steel, the pallets (lever) carries the ruby pallet stones. Its role is to retain the energy from the barrel and to periodically release it in order to transmit regular impulses to the balance and thus maintain its oscillations.
THE DOUBLE ROLLER
Although it is fixed to the balance staff (the regulating organ), the double roller belongs to the Swiss lever escapement, the distribution mechanism which regulates the transmission of energy from the counting and transmission mechanism (the finishing train) to the regulating organ (balance-hairspring).
THE BALANCE
Combined with the Hairspring (balance spring), the balance constitutes theRegulating organ of the watch. It is a metal ring oscillating around its own axis. The precision of the watch depends on the regularity of its oscillations (period).
THE BALANCE STAFF
This is a pivoted axis in Steel that carries all the components of the Regulating organ to which it belongs, as well as the last element of the Distribution mechanism which is the Double roller. The Balance is riveted to it on the upper part. Above it, a cylindrical fitting receives the Collet which is pressed into it and ensures the connection between the Balance staff and the Hairspring (balance spring). Finally, the Double roller is pressed onto the lower part of the Axis.
THE HAIRSPRING
The Hairspring (balance spring) is a spring inseparable from the Balance on the Axis to which it is fixed. As guarantor of the watch’s precision, it maintains the regularity of the oscillations of the Balance. Its primary role and the complexity of its manufacture make it the most sensitive and demanding component to produce.
THE COLLET
In all mechanical Movements, the collet is the connecting element between the Hairspring (balance spring) and the Balance staff. It is one of the components of the Regulating organ and it plays an essential role in the regulation operations.
THE STUD
It is the element that links the Hairspring (balance spring) to the Balance cock. Usually made of Brass, the stud takes different shapes depending on the construction.
LE ROUAGE DE MINUTERIE
Son rôle est de distribuer les informations des heures et des minutes à leurs aiguilles respectives et de permettre leur correction par le mécanisme de mise à l’heure.
THE WINDING MECHANISM
Its role is to transmit the energy from the rotations of the Crown to the Motor organ (power source), which is responsible for storing it and gradually redistributing it to the Movement.
THE HAND-SETTING MECHANISM
When the Winding stem is pulled out (into the hand-setting position), it allows, through the rotations of the Crown to drive the Hands via the Motion work and thus set the displayed time.
THE REGULATOR ASSEMBLY
The regulator assembly brings together all the components peripheral to the regulating organ (balance-hairspring) and which allow its regulation / adjustmentto be corrected.
THE BEARINGS (simple jewels, systems with counter-pivots & shock absorbers)
Jewels are used as bearings for the pivots of the various wheels in a movement. They allow the wheels to pivot freely (generally between the main plate and a bridge) by optimizing the coefficients of friction and limiting pivot wear. Once made of natural Ruby / Jewel, watch jewels are now made of synthetic corundum). Shock absorbers are dampers placed at the bearings of certain movement components. They minimize the risk of pivot breakage in the event of a shock. Shock absorbers are mainly used for the bearings of the balance. Indeed, the Balance has very high inertia (weight) and pivot diameters that are often less than 0.15 mm.
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