Mechanical principles → Complicated mechanisms

TYPES OF ESCAPEMENTS

The escapement performs several main functions. First, it stops the gear train while the balance wheel  is in its free oscillation phase. Periodically (between 2 and 10 times per second for most of them), it releases the gear train and transmits brief impulses to the regulating organ. In this way, the energy stored in the mainspring is not released all at once. These controlled impulses help maintain the oscillations of the regulating organ (the balance wheel and hairspring).

Many escapements have been developed over time and can be classified into different categories according to the type of locking, the number of impulses delivered per oscillation, the lift angle of the regulating organ, and in particular according to its supplementary arc. More than 1,500 escapements or escapement variants have been recorded. The present list is therefore not exhaustive and focuses on the most common and representative ones.

Frictional rest escapement

Duplex escapement

Cylinder escapement

Detached escapement

Detent escapement

Swiss lever escapement

RECOIL ESCAPEMENTS

In this type of escapement, the escape wheel experiences a slight recoil when locked. However, it creates isochronism disruptions which affect the watch’s precision.

  • Verge escapement
  • Crown-wheel escapement

FRICTIONAL REST ESCAPEMENTS

In this type of mechanism, one of its parts is attached to the regulating organ and remains in constant contact with the escape wheel when the escapement is locked.

    DETACHED ESCAPEMENTS

    This type of escapement is designed to minimize friction and maintain better timekeeping accuracy by limiting the direct contact between the escapement components and the regulating organ (balance wheel – hairspring) to only brief moments during each oscillation cycle.

    By minimizing the interference between the escapement and the balance wheel, detached escapements offer greater precision compared to other types of escapements.

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