Glossary

A barrel is a hollow, cylindrical metal component in mechanical watches, sealed with a lid, surrounded by a ring of gears. The barrel serves as the energy storage unit, powered either by manual winding (via the watch’s crown) or by the movement of the wearer’s wrist in automatic watches. This stored energy is essential for operating the watch's movement.

Barrel Mechanism Explained

1. Mainspring:

• The barrel houses the mainspring, a coiled spring that stores potential energy when wound.
• One end of the mainspring is attached to the barrel, while the other end is fixed to the mainspring arbor.

2. Winding:

• As the mainspring tightens, it accumulates potential energy.
• Energy is stored in the mainspring by winding the watch manually via the crown or automatically through an automatic winding mechanism.

3. Power Reserve:

• The stored energy in the mainspring is gradually released as it unwinds.
• This energy powers the watch movement and keeps the hands moving.

4. Connection to the Gear Train:

• The barrel transmits energy to the watch’s gear train, a series of gears that control the flow of energy.
• This rotational force drives the escapement and moves the hands of the watch with precision.