The Chronolume knowledge base
Understand a watch.
One element at a time.
From the shape of a case to the rhythm of a balance. A guide to what the parts are, what they do, and what to look for.
Find your way around
From the outside in.
Select a label to explore the element. This simplified watch shows how the visible parts fit together.
Illustrative layout; watch designs vary. The crystal covers the dial and hands.
22 elements
Inside a mechanical watch
Follow the energy.
- MainspringStores energy
- Gear trainTransmits energy
- EscapementMeters its release
- Balance & hairspringSets the rhythm
The escapement and balance work together: impulses sustain the oscillation, and the oscillation controls the train’s advance.
Exterior
The architecture around the movement. Explore the parts that protect a watch and give it its silhouette.
Dial & display
The face of the watch, and the details that turn a mechanism into something you can read.
Movement
Follow the energy inside a mechanical watch, from the stored power to the rhythm that controls its release.
Functions
What a watch tells you beyond its basic time display, and how those indications are read.
Wearing & construction
The connection to the wrist, and the construction details that matter in everyday use.