Mainspring

A coiled spring inside a mechanical watch that stores and releases energy to power the movement. The mainspring is housed in a barrel and is wound either manually (in manual wind watches) or automatically via a rotor (in automatic watches). As the mainspring unwinds, it transfers energy through the gear train to drive the escapement, balance wheel, and hands of the watch.

Key characteristics of the mainspring:

• Material: Traditionally made of tempered steel, modern mainsprings are often crafted from advanced alloys like Nivaflex, which offer greater durability, elasticity, and resistance to magnetism.
• Power Reserve: The length of time a fully wound mainspring can power a watch, typically ranging from 24 hours to several days in high-end models.
• Barrel Placement: Watches with multiple barrels may extend the power reserve significantly, as seen in some luxury timepieces.

The mainspring is a cornerstone of mechanical watchmaking, embodying the balance between precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship. Its efficiency and quality directly influence the watch’s performance and longevity