Good evening everyone!
This week , we will be bringing you our new series, "Things you're too embarrassed to ask about now." In this new project, we will explain the basics of luxury watches in an easy-to-understand way, for those who are not very familiar with luxury watches and those who want to learn more about them.
This is the 19th time
[ Introduction to Luxury Watches ]: 『 Power Reserve Indicator 』
"Power reserve" shows how much the mainspring is wound. And "power reserve indicator" is one of the world's seven major mechanisms. The former is a term that most luxury watch owners are familiar with, but as soon as the word "indicator" is added, there are surprisingly many people who say, "I don't really understand what kind of mechanism it is" or "How does it work?" So, this time we will explain in detail about the "power reserve indicator". Please enjoy until the end.
What is "power reserve"?
Before explaining the "power reserve indicator", let us first give a brief explanation of "power reserve".
"Power reserve" refers to the duration from when the mainspring is fully wound until it unwinds and the watch stops. Mechanical watches are powered by winding the mainspring, which is the power source, and then using the power of the mainspring to unwind. Therefore, the length of time the watch will continue to run depends on the length of the mainspring and the number of barrels that store it. In recent years, with the advancement of technology, "long power reserves" that extend the "power reserve" by making the barrel larger or installing two or three barrels have become mainstream.
What is a "power reserve indicator"?
Now that we have reviewed what "power reserve" is, let's go straight into explaining the "power reserve indicator."
" Power reserve indicator " = " Lets you know how much winding is left in the mainspring "
A "power reserve indicator" is a mechanism that displays the "power reserve" on the dial. With a normal mechanical watch, you cannot tell how much the mainspring is wound. However, if a watch is equipped with a "power reserve indicator", you can know how much power is left. Especially with a hand-wound watch, this can prevent situations where the remaining power runs out and the watch stops without you realizing, or where the mainspring breaks due to being wound too much.
The way in which the "power reserve" is displayed varies depending on the brand and model. While it may seem simple in one word, such as displaying the remaining winding level of the mainspring, in reality it is a very complex device and requires a high level of technical skill to implement.
The History of the "Power Reserve Indicator"
The inventor of the power reserve indicator was the genius watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet, who is said to have "advanced the history of watches by 200 years." The pocket watch "Breguet No. 5 ," which he made for Count Jargnac-Saint-Meard at the end of the 18th century, is considered to be a representative model.
In the age of wristwatches, a few models were found with automatic winding during the mid- 20th century, when automatic watches were being developed. However, they started to appear in more models after the 1990s , when mechanical watches were revived. Each brand developed its own power reserve, and movements with "long power reserves" were created. The "power reserve indicator," which used to show the time, started to show the date, and the movement evolved.
Three types of "power reserve indicator"
Although the term "power reserve indicator" is used broadly, there are three types, so I would like to introduce them to you.
❶ [Pointer-type display mechanism]
A pointer-type display mechanism is a mechanism that displays the remaining power reserve with a pointer on the dial. They are broadly divided into sector-shaped and round-shaped types. Compared to the disk-type display mechanism, which we will introduce later, pointer-type display mechanisms require a larger number of gears (12 to 15), making them more complicated to make.
[ Representative model ]
[ A. Lange & Söhne ]
" Lange 1 "
❷ [Disc-type display mechanism]
A disk-type display mechanism shows the remaining power reserve with the color of the disk seen through a small window. It has the advantage of being made up of fewer gears than a pointer-type display mechanism, which reduces the thickness of the movement. Fewer gears means less cost, and it offers better cost performance than other power reserve display mechanisms. On the other hand, due to its structure, it has the disadvantage that the display position is limited by the barrel.
[ Representative model ]
[ Hublot ]
" Split of Big Bang Mecha 10 King Gold "
❸ [Linear display mechanism]
A linear display mechanism is a mechanism that displays the remaining power reserve with a horizontally moving pointer. It was installed in the in-house movement "Cal.P.2002" announced by Panerai in 2005, but has not been developed since. It is a complicated mechanism that is considered difficult to put into practical use. The power reserve indicator needle moves horizontally on a rack to show the remaining power, but it is considered very difficult to maintain this horizontality.
[ Representative model ]
[ Panerai ]
" Luminor 1950 "
summary
I have explained about the "power reserve indicator". What do you think?
The power reserve indicator is a very practical mechanism that allows you to check the remaining winding of the mainspring on the dial. It is one of the seven major complex mechanisms in the world, and its type and design vary depending on the brand and model. Why not try looking for your favorite one?
I hope that after reading this article, you will become interested in luxury watches!
see you!