TRENDS WATCH
The mechanism of a mechanical watch is made up of six different parts. These are the mainspring, which is the source of energy; the gear train, which transmits the energy; the dial train, which governs the movement of the hands; the winding and setting mechanism; the escapement and balance unit, which controls the release of energy; and the plates, or framework, which enclose and protect the movement. In operation the mainspring unwinds to turn the barrel, which drives the escape, or great, wheel through a gear train. The wheel moves in one direction until stopped by a pallet arm of the pallet and fork—the part analogous to the detent of a clock. The pallet and fork assembly is attached to the balance wheel, which is then given an impulse from the escape wheel. The escapement and balance assembly are essential to an accurate watch mechanism because they control the release of energy from the mainspring and the time in which each release of energy is made. The oscillations of the balanc...