Haute Horlogerie — Federal Diploma

1. The Manual Winding Movement

Watchmaking Expertise Course — Energy & Barrel

1. The Manual Winding Movement 2. The Automatic Watch 3. The Electronic & Quartz Clock 4. Complications 5. Material Families 6. Manufacturing Phases and Technologies 7. The Habillage (Watch Exterior) 8. History of Time Measurement
FR EN DE
Swiss Time Expert Logo

Module 01: Energy & Barrel

✍️ Course Notes & Diagrams

1. Block Diagram of the Mechanical Movement

The block diagram defines the fundamental functional architecture of the manual winding mechanical watch. The accumulated energy is continuously transmitted, distributed, and regulated:

Functional diagram of the kinematic chain
Step 1: Energy

The Mainspring & The Barrel

The engine of the watch. The mainspring, housed inside the barrel drum (1), stores mechanical energy during winding.

Step 2: Transmission

The Going Train

The reduction of force. The gear train (2) transmits the energy.

Step 3: Distribution

The Escapement

The kinematic converter. The escape wheel (3) transforms continuous rotary motion into impulses.

Step 4: Regulation

The Oscillator

The isochronous heart. The balance-spring assembly (4) dictates the absolute rhythm.

Complete kinematic chain
1
2
3
4
5
8
9
⚙️
1 Barrel
2 Center wheel
3 Third wheel
4 Seconds wheel
5 Escape wheel
8 Balance wheel
9 Hairspring
⚙️ Winding mechanism
📷 ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN NOTE (01-02) — Block Diagram & Introduction
Note 01-02

2. Motive Organ (Energy): The Barrel & Winding Systems

The barrel is the central component for storing potential energy in the mechanical movement.

Internal structure of the barrel and mainspring
📷 TECHNICAL VIEW — Anatomy of the barrel and mainspring.
⚙️ Workshop Rule: On an automatic movement, manual winding via the crown simulates exactly the state of maximum charge reached by the rotor.

3. Mainspring Attachment & Torque Regulation

Operating principle of the Maltese Cross
📷 TECHNICAL DIAGRAM — The Maltese Cross: blocking rotation to utilize the linear torque range.
📷 ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN NOTE (01-03) — Mainspring Attachment, Maltese Cross & Fusée
Note 01-03
Fusée and Chain System

Constant Force: The Fusée and Chain

This historical mechanism acts as a continuously variable transmission to compensate for the loss of torque from the mainspring as it unwinds.

  • Maximum winding: The spring is strong, the chain pulls on the small diameter of the fusée (short lever arm).
  • Unwinding: The spring weakens, the chain pulls on the large diameter of the fusée (long lever arm), thus perfectly equalizing the force transmitted to the escapement.
Continue reading ➔
n