2008 SIHH GP最新技术之一: 恒定动力擒纵系统

“Constant Escapement”: a true revolution

This is a spectacular breakthrough. In their quest for precision, the most renowned watchmakers have being searching for a long time for ways to improve the escapement. This mechanism, fitted between the gears and the regulating organ of the watch, enables to supply to the balance, at regular intervals, the energy contained in a mainspring (barrel). Its precision and its reliability are strategic for chronometry. During centuries, tens of different kinds of escapements were invented. The “Swiss” lever escapement –in the second half of the 19th century– took the lead: today, it is used in the vast majority of mechanical watches. Motivated by the wish of increasing performances, some have tried to improve this system, but without changing its core fundamentals.

Girard-Perregaux has decided to focus its efforts not on an evolution but on a true revolution: a brand new concept of escapement with a radically different architecture. It was named “Constant” Escapement as a tribute to watchmaker Constant Girard –one of the fathers of the Brand– and it is subject of a patent application by the Manufacture.



Constant energy impulses

Remaining loyal to the Brand’s tradition of innovation in the field of chronometry, the R&D department was able to achieve a major project: a constant-force escapement. This mechanism is made of five pieces; among them, the strategic component is a fine Silicium blade, just marginally thicker than a human hair. Its principle is based on this elastic element that enables to deliver constant energy through a clever usage of the bi-stable properties of a buckled-blade. After months of calculations and development, this theoretical conception became concrete thanks to the use of avant-garde materials and the most advanced manufacturing technologies. Progresses made in the deep etching techniques of Silicium were essential to the success of this project. The escapement enables to deliver constant energy impulses to the oscillator, which means constant amplitude and constant rate, despite a variable source of energy.

Moreover it benefits from giving two pulses per oscillation while the previous attempts in the area of constant-force escapements were providing only one.



Original technology

This technological achievement stems from the ability of the blade to keep and deliver energy impulses, giving an effect of waves. With a rectangular section, this blade is extremely thin, since its thickness is no more than twenty micrometres for a width barely exceeding the tenth of millimetre. It is circumscribed by a large elliptic frame measuring twenty millimetres long and providing a perfect positioning. Despite very different sections, frame and blade are manufactured in one by the technology of Silicium etching. This technology enables to generate surfaces so far impossible to reach in the watchmaking industry. The engraved flank –in contact with adjacent pieces– presents a real interest in terms of tribology (reduced friction between moving parts). The plane surfaces also exhibit unusual aesthetics: they reflect with changing colours, from turquoise blue to deep purple, depending to the angle of vision. This characteristic is due to the extremely thin layer of oxide covering the Silicium, which produces –like a drip of oil on water– these iridescent colours called “interference colours”. They enhance the spectacular aspect and the visual interest of the invention.


Wide perspectives

It took years of development, all the expertise and the perseverance of passionate engineers and watchmakers from Girard-Perregaux to lead to this revolution. From the initial idea to the first “tick-tack” of the prototype, the project was staked out by a long series of steps and rebounds. But this is just a new beginning. The “Constant” Escapement is a true technological advance which opens new horizons for producing mechanical watches with unprecedented chronometric potential. This provides wide perspectives to engineers and watchmakers. Girard-Perregaux is taking on the challenge to continue development in the field enriching its legacy in chronometry.


This is perhaps the most exciting news for Girard-Perregaux and they even conducted a Press Conference this afternoon at 13:00 to introduce this special “Contants Escapement” to the watch community.

I hope to come back soon with more details and some photos of this special escapement.

强烈支持版主^_^

赫赫, 去年GP有老虎机, 今年更是佳作迭出, 让很多所谓的顶级大牌汗颜!
GP是一个真正的高级品牌, 货真价实!

很喜欢，那个08新款1945

看到大半，晕倒了。。。。。。。。。

ROOTCHAO兄为什么要晕倒啊??

本人对鸟语过敏。。。大学考试最怕它。。。

牛,此技术真是让人叹为观止啊.