Libre Excentrique

Single impulse Detent chronometer escapement

Miniaturized for wristwatch

18.4mm Balance Wheel

38.7mm Titanium USA made case

Books Now Closed

échappement Richard libre excentrique à ressort et irrenversable, circa 1860

 

Details

My detent chronometer escapement is based on the great Louis Richard version.

In my rendition of the open source escapement I’ve managed to make all parts from grade 5 titanium and expanded its reach to the balance. This includes the thinnest titanium spring in watchmaking that resides on the extended reach pallet arm used for impulse, shock resistance, and locking. The entire escapement is basically, weightless.

Some highlights are  a one piece solid titanium escape wheel, titanium extended reach single impulse pallet arm, titanium balance staff mounted impulse roller, and titanium small balance staff shock resistance safety roller. The movement plates consist of two full size mainplates machined in house from solid German Silver bar stock. Steel flatwork and individual pinned bridges and cocks lie, thereafter.

The focal point of my timepiece is a captivating balance wheel.

 Longevity of parts manufacture

“The single impulse escapement is too complicated, utilizing too many parts, to produce for mass produced watches.”

The escape wheel will more than likely never wear out, chip a tooth, or show any wear, ever. Same for the extended reach pallet arm and its shock spring.  The escapement needs no oil on the pallet surfaces at all to execute its precision no draw, no loss, chronometer actions. No oil means no sticky pallet jewel faces to hinder time keeping precision, as in other types of production escapements.

For more information regarding the open source project “Échappement Partagé” I am part of alongside Luc Monet (artsmecaniques) and Cyril Brevet Naudot, Please see my ethos page.

 

Titanium detent escape wheel made in Daniel’s atelier.

“Libre Excentrique utilizes traditional build qualities ensuring future properly trained Watchmakers can manufacture every part of the caliber.” – Dan Spitz

 Specifications

Movement: 34.2 mm chronometer detent single impulse escapement caliber

Wind: Manual wind

Frequency: 2.5hz/18,000 vpm

Plates: Raw German Silver main plates using material imported from Glashutte, Germany

Bridges and Cocks: Solid steel. Hand hardened & tempered from solid flat work.

Escapement: Chronometer detent single impulse containing all titanium parts

Specialized: Titanium escape wheel

Balance: 18.4mm 2nd tier balance wheel made from a proprietary metal

Hairpring: Free sprung with hand pinning

Jewel Settings: Gold center balance chaton for jewel

Winding:  Sonnerie, double spring, double secure locking, adjustable alignment

Train: Offset from center great wheel and cannon pinion. Wheel created with watchmakers topping tool style arms

Finishing: All finishing techniques done by hand. Cotes de Geneve, Perlagé, satine, black polishing, anglagé, etc.

Name plate: Solid Gold

Screws: Hand made from bar stock, tempered, annealed & hand blued under fire

Dial: Solid silver dial

Dial Particulars: Dial made on a Swiss Leinhard guilloché machine

Hands: Hand made from flat steel stock

Case: 38.7mm three piece surgical titanium grade 5 case. Designed from the ground up by Mr.Spitz, specific to the timepiece.

Limitations: Books now closed.

Specifications subject to change on a per piece basis as all timepieces are unique to the collector.

Pricing:   Contact us