FLOWING FREELY
World of Watches|Spring 2020
The story of the beating heart of the mechanical watch comes full circle with a closer inspection of the escape wheel and the pallet fork
ASHOK SOMAN
FLOWING FREELY

The three-part journey detailing the workings of the mechanical escapement finally comes to a close with this story. Having dealt with the hairspring (issue #54) and balance wheel (issue #55), the time is ripe to meet the escape wheel and the pallet fork. Basically, these components are the ones you encounter most directly in your daily interactions with your watch. The sounds of the movement beating are the sounds of the pallet fork and escape wheel making repeated and regular contact. For such a pivotal part, it receives perhaps the least amount of attention, when compared with the hairspring and the balance wheel.

Part of the reason for this is that the conversation about the mechanical escapement revolves around the production of hairsprings and balance wheels. The escape wheel and its pallet fork partner are almost after-thoughts. Indeed, they can be considered part of the wheel train, but are properly part of the escapement.

In our previous stories, we noted that the balance spring and balance wheel must work as a unit to create an effective regulating unit. The analogy was to the pendulum in the pendulum clock. Well, the escape wheel and the pallet fork already existed in this type of clock, and indeed pre-date the invention of this kind of timepiece. Of all the components of the escapement, this is the oldest. Our journey to the past will take us well past the European Renaissance, all the way to antiquity.

Before moving forward, it should noted that the Rolex sidebar included here was originally published in issue #42, and was written by Jamie Tan.

WATERWORKS

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Spring 2020 من World of Watches.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Spring 2020 من World of Watches.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من WORLD OF WATCHES مشاهدة الكل
DARING VENTURE
World of Watches

DARING VENTURE

Tudor partners Swiss Watch For New Boutique at The Exchange TRX.

time-read
1 min  |
Legacy 2024
GEEKING OUT
World of Watches

GEEKING OUT

The biggest artisanal watch enthusiasts gather in Singapore for a weekend unlike any other in our region of the world.

time-read
1 min  |
Legacy 2024
INDEPENDENCE DAY
World of Watches

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Once seen as niche players, independent watchmakers are increasingly visible within the industry as reflected in this year's edition of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.

time-read
10 mins  |
Legacy 2024
DYING OF THE LIGHT
World of Watches

DYING OF THE LIGHT

Hamilton updates the Khaki Field Murph once again, this time with a sparkling new white dial and a robust stainless steel bracelet.

time-read
2 mins  |
Legacy 2024
OPEN SECRET
World of Watches

OPEN SECRET

Ernest Borel left no stone unturned when creating the Grandeur Skeleton duo.

time-read
1 min  |
Legacy 2024
GOTHIC INSPIRED
World of Watches

GOTHIC INSPIRED

Ernest Borel's Grandeur Big Date leans into the famed European architectural movement.

time-read
1 min  |
Legacy 2024
LIGHT TOUCH
World of Watches

LIGHT TOUCH

Maurice Lacroix adds ultra-light titanium options to their ever-expanding Aikon collection.

time-read
2 mins  |
Legacy 2024
LAST WORD
World of Watches

LAST WORD

Longines introduces a smaller version of the Spirit Zulu, this time in titanium.

time-read
1 min  |
Legacy 2024
RACING PEDIGREE
World of Watches

RACING PEDIGREE

Bell & Ross brings the worlds of motoring and aerospace together in the BR-X5 Racing.

time-read
2 mins  |
Legacy 2024
AUTUMN HUE
World of Watches

AUTUMN HUE

Grand Seiko continues its celebration of the 20th anniversary of Calibre 9R with the limited edition SBGA499.

time-read
2 mins  |
Legacy 2024