Glossary/Escapement

Escapement

The escapement is the mechanism in a watch or clock which distributes the power supplied through the going train to the regulating organ (typically the balance wheel or pendulum). This is accomplished by temporarily suspending the motion of the gear works at regular intervals and passing this motive force along to the regulating organ.

Most escapement mechanisms can be identified as being in one of three types of categories:

1. recoil escapements (verge)
2. dead-beat escapements (cylinder, virgule, or double virgule)
3. detached escapements (lever, or detent)

In watches, the lever escapement is the most predominant in production today.

Sources

Theory of Horology by Derek Pratt, Antoine Simonin et al