The escapement looks like a release valve. It permits the gradual release of the stored power from the wound mainspring to pass through the time train, motion works and other watch components including a calendar mechanism, at a predetermined rate. It is adjusted so that the motion works will permit one rotation of the minute hand around the dial precisely at each hour. The escapements work is to ensure the correct time is always displayed by the hands. It does this by allowing the gear train to turn at as accurate a rate as possible. The stored energy flows through and “escapes” from the movement at tiny precise intervals. The escapement is made up of the escape wheel, the pallets and lever, balance wheel and the balance assembly When adjusted correctly the escapement is capable of an accuracy of a couple seconds per day.

There are a lot of different designs of escapement. I hope to cover some of these next but for now we’ll concentrate on the lever escapement since that is the escapement used in nearly all modern wrist watch designs. If correctly adjusted the lever escapement is able to keep time to within a couple of seconds each day.