What is the mainspring in a watch?

Vaer Watches Updated by Vaer Watches

The mainspring is a coiled spring inside a watch that provides the power to drive the watch movement.

The mainspring is typically made of a thin strip of steel or other high-tensile material that has been coiled into a spiral shape.

When the mainspring is wound, either manually by turning the watch's crown or automatically through the movement of the rotor in an automatic watch, potential energy is stored in the coiled spring. As the mainspring unwinds, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which drives the various gears and components of the watch movement, causing the hands to move and the watch to keep time.

The amount of power stored in the mainspring depends on the size and strength of the spring, as well as how tightly it is wound. The power reserve of a watch is the amount of time that the watch can run without being wound again, and is determined by the size of the mainspring and the efficiency of the watch movement.

The mainspring is a critical component of a watch movement, and its performance can have a significant impact on the accuracy and reliability of the watch. It's important to ensure that the mainspring is properly lubricated and maintained and that the watch is wound regularly to ensure that it stays in good working condition.

How did we do?

What is a stem on a watch?

Contact