A VISUAL IMMERSION INTO THE GEAR TRAIN TO UNDERSTAND THE MECHANICS OF TIME
Horopedia enriches its online encyclopaedia with a new video entirely produced in 3D animation, dedicated to the counting and transmission organ (gear train). An original educational content designed to provide a clear and intuitive understanding of this fundamental component of the mechanical movement.
As part of its mission to transmit watchmaking know-how and to make mechanical principles more accessible, Horopedia continues to expand its audiovisual encyclopaedia with the release of a new 3D animated video focusing on the counting and transmission organ.
Also known as the gear train, this mechanism plays a central role in the functioning of a mechanical watch. It forms the essential link between the energy source and its display, ensuring both the transmission of energy and the measurement of time.
Thanks to a fully 3D-based approach, this video makes it possible to visualise, in a clear and intuitive way, phenomena that are often difficult to grasp with the naked eye. It highlights the role of the gear train in transmitting the energy delivered by the power source (barrel) to the regulating organ (balance wheel and hairspring) via the escapement.
Beyond this transmission function, the gear train also ensures the measurement of time. Depending on the frequency of the regulating organ and the precise calculation of gear ratios, each wheel rotates at a defined speed. This precision allows the correct distribution and display of the different indications on the dial, such as hours, minutes and seconds.
By making these complex mechanical interactions visible, this new video provides a concrete illustration of how energy is transformed into the measurement of time.
With this new content, Horopedia reaffirms its commitment to offering innovative and accessible educational resources, contributing to a deeper understanding of watchmaking.
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ABOUT HOROPEDIA
Horopedia Foundation was established in February 2023 and given the status of public interest. The Foundation Council is composed of Philippe Dufour (President), Dr. Helmut Crott, André Colard, and Marc André Deschoux.
The Foundation governs Horopedia.org, the first online video encyclopedia on watchmaking. The platform was launched in 2022 and quickly gathered unanimous support within the community.
To date, over 100 multilingual documentary films on museums, watchmaking schools, watch tools and components, and the mechanical principles behind their work can be found on Horopedia.org. To enhance its educational mission, the platform also incorporates visual pedagogic materials to facilitate a better understanding of the provided information. The website features nearly 1000 pages with detailed definitions of watchmaking terms and historical anecdotes about significant horological inventions.
Horopedia.org meticulously covers all facets of the fascinating horological industry in French, English, and German. It offers detailed definitions of tools and complications, 3D images of movements, and thorough video explanations of component production, their history, and functions in a watch. A dedicated section of the website lists horological institutions, including schools and museums in Switzerland and worldwide.
More recently, the Foundation unveiled its ambitious project: the Maison des Arts & de la Culture Horlogère (MACH). More than just a museum, the MACH will be a dynamic venue for exhibitions, knowledge-sharing and dialogue around the art of watchmaking. Located in the heart of the Quartier des Banques, this 1,250 m² house will span four floors, offering didactic, thematic and chronological exhibitions, complemented by a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a boutique, an auditorium and a variety of interactive areas designed to spark curiosity and encourage discovery. Open and vibrant, the MACH is intended to become the crossroads of watchmaking in Geneva.