Movement
The proud heart of the Planet Ocean.
When OMEGA launched the Co-Axial escapement in 1999, the horological world was put on notice. It was the first practical new watch escapement
to be invented in some 250 years.
With any watch escapement, energy must be transmitted to the oscillator; this energy maintains the oscillator's frequency. The impulses in a
Swiss lever escapement involve the wheel tooth sliding along the inclined surface of the pallet. This sliding movement generates considerable
friction, making optimal lubrication vital if the escapement is to function correctly. In contrast, the OMEGA Co-Axial escapement transmits
energy using lateral impulses. The smaller contact surfaces and the pushing motion, as opposed to the lever escapement's sliding motion,
significantly reduce the friction in the escapement; thus there is less wear and tear on the lubrication, resulting in longer service intervals.
“One thing is good looks, but the most important aspect of every mechanical watch is the movement.”
Both clockwise and anti-clockwise impulses in a Swiss lever escapement are delivered indirectly from the escapement wheel through the anchor
to the balance roller, resulting in an important loss of energy. The OMEGA Co-Axial escapement's clockwise impulse is given directly to the
pallet on the balance roller by the teeth of the escapement wheel. As a result, the Co-Axial escapement benefits from greater mechanical efficiency
which ensures more stable precision.
While certain benefits of the OMEGA Co-Axial escapement will be readily apparent, others take more time to appreciate, including longer service
intervals and an outstanding chronometric performance which will be maintained over a longer period of time.
This video about OMEGA's Co-Axial technology takes you deep inside the movement that signalled a revolution in mechanical watchmaking.
