Lever Escapement - Future Directions

Future Directions

One recent trend in escapement design is the use of new materials, many borrowed from the semiconductor fabrication industry. A problem with the lever escapement is friction. The escape wheel tooth slides along the face of the pallet, causing friction, so the pallets and teeth must be lubricated. The oil eventually thickens, causing inaccuracy, and requiring cleaning and reoiling of the movement about every 4 years. A solution is to make the escape wheel and other parts out of harder materials than steel, eliminating the need for lubrication. Materials being tried include silicon (called silicium in the watch industry), nickel phosphorus, diamond, and diamond-on-silicon. Ulysse Nardin in 2001 and Patek Philippe in 2005 introduced watches with silicon escape wheels.