The Co-Axial Escapement

When it introduced the first practical new watch escapement to be launched in 250 years in 1999, OMEGA had set itself an audacious challenge: to create the best series-produced mechanical watch movements in the world. This video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the technology which marks a turning point in the history of mechanical watchmaking.

Featured content: http://www.omegawatches.com/spirit/watchmaking/co-axial/technology

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• co-axial
• co
• axial
• escapement
• movement
• calibre
• co-axial movement
• co axial escapement
• dr.
• george
• daniels
• omega
• watches
• watch

[cunty86]

R.I.P GEORGE DANIELS

[jdh91741]

Why doesn't my wife talk like this lady?

[FortitudoDei]

Appalled that Omega should make this ad and not even mention George Daniels. With their choice of words they come VERY close to taking the credit for something they didn't do.

[Aglinoodle]

I don't understand non-skeleton watches. You design these amazingly accurate feats of mechanical engineering, but then you hide it behind a dial that doesn't even look half as beautiful as the movement of the watch.

[FightingNavyman]

i wish the voice of this lady was Siri's voice

[IvoryTowerHermit]

The late George Daniels, master independent watchmaker, invented this escapement and assisted Omega's technicians in adapting it for mass production, and so he deserved to be mentioned. The ubiquitous lever escapement involves the pallets slipping against the escape wheel teeth during every impulse, while in the coaxial escapement there's no slipping at all, just a clean push at a single point; this makes it keep time better, all else being equal.

[NGMonocrom]

Perhaps one day, Omega will actually get the co-axial right. Until then, vintage Omegas will still be better.

[elenchus]

@Underskoterskan But wouldn't the Seiko 9S outperform it? It has a smoother seconds hand, is rated to higher accuracy and has a much longer power reserve. Or what about the Zenith El Primero? Gyromax Pateks? And so on. I LOVE the 8500 and almost bought an AT 8500 last week--I think it represents a killer deal. But I still think the video's commentary is a bit hyperbolic given the wide world of watch movements.

[Underskoterskan]

@elenchus

Dude, the voice says "the best serially produced" and I think the 85xx, 86xx and 93xx-movements, all based on the 8500 base calibre, indeed are the best serially produced mechanical watch movements ever made. You cant compare it to minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, tourbillon-movements and so on, they are all made exclusively by hand. Neither can you compare it with the Seiko Spring Drive which is a superb but also entirely different, electro-mechanical kind of movement.

[flatpat]

Unfortunately the who co-axial escapement never caught on. Most high end manufactures have their own take on escapements now. The bottom line when it comes to luxury watches is what is being sought after in auction houses and so far co-axial watches have almost zero pull in auctions. Maybe it will chance because change comes slow in horology but innovations(if you want to call it an innovation) haven't usually gained popularity in auctions.

[flameblitz]

@1408bently hair in Omega Watch? You are not kidding.