WatchesAtlas / Watch knowledge
The Watch Encyclopedia
Understand the details that make a watch.
123 terms
Clear filtersHorizontal clutch
A chronograph coupling system that engages the timing train through lateral movement of toothed wheels.
Movements & mechanismsHour wheel
The motion-works component carrying or driving the hour indication.
Movements & mechanismsImpulse angle
An angular measure associated with the phase in which an escapement supplies energy to its oscillator.
Movements & mechanismsImpulse jewel
The jewel transmitting impulses between the balance assembly and pallet fork in a lever escapement.
Movements & mechanismsIn-house movement
A movement presented as developed or manufactured within a brand or its group.
Movements & mechanismsIntegrated chronograph
A chronograph whose timing mechanism forms part of the movement's core design rather than a separate added module.
Movements & mechanismsInverted movement
A movement arranged or displayed with components normally seen from the back presented on the dial side.
Movements & mechanismsJewel bearing
A hard, low-friction bearing, usually synthetic ruby, used at selected movement pivots and other contact points.
Movements & mechanismsKeyless works
The mechanism linking the crown and stem to winding and time-setting functions.
Movements & mechanismsLever escapement
An escapement using a lever and pallets between the escape wheel and balance to control impulses.
Movements & mechanismsMagic Lever
Seiko's name for a winding mechanism using a pawl lever to convert rotor movement into mainspring winding.
Movements & mechanismsMainplate
The principal plate onto which movement components and supporting structures are mounted.
Movements & mechanismsMainspring
The coiled spring that stores energy in a mechanical watch and releases it through the movement.
Movements & mechanismsMainspring bridle
A fitting that allows controlled slipping at full wind in many automatic mainspring barrels.
Movements & mechanismsMaltese-cross stopwork
A stopwork arrangement using a shaped wheel to limit the permitted rotation range.
Movements & mechanismsManual winding
A system in which the wearer winds the mainspring using the crown or another winding device.
Movements & mechanismsMechanical movement
A movement powered by a wound mainspring, with a mechanical regulating system controlling how its energy reaches the hands.
Movements & mechanismsMicro-rotor
A compact winding rotor integrated into the movement rather than spanning much of its rear surface.
Movements & mechanismsMinute wheel
A motion-works wheel contributing to the reduction between minute and hour indications.
Movements & mechanismsModular chronograph
A chronograph made by combining a base movement with an additional timing module.
Movements & mechanismsMotion works
The gearing that relates the hour and minute indications and permits them to be set.
Movements & mechanismsMulti-axis tourbillon
A tourbillon whose regulating assembly rotates around more than one axis.
Movements & mechanismsOff-centre rotor
An automatic winding rotor whose axis is positioned away from the movement's geometric centre.
Movements & mechanismsOscillating pinion
A chronograph coupling component that engages the timing train through movement of a small pinion.
Movements & mechanismsOscillator
A system that repeats a motion or electrical cycle and provides the movement's time reference.
Movements & mechanismsPallet bridge
The support holding the pallet lever's upper bearing in position.
Movements & mechanismsPallet fork
The lever carrying pallet stones that locks and releases the escape wheel in a lever escapement.
Movements & mechanismsPallet stone
A jewel on the pallet lever that participates in locking and impulse at the escape wheel.
Movements & mechanismsParallel-coupled barrels
Mainspring barrels arranged to contribute power together rather than simply in sequence.
Movements & mechanismsPellaton winding
An automatic winding architecture associated with IWC that uses an eccentric and pawl arrangement.