#82 The Co-Axial Escapement: What It Does

Sooooo sloooooooooo

If this technology is so efficient, why don’t Omega watches have long power reserves? I don’t believe Omega has a watch with 70 hours power reserve.

I have owned an Omega De Ville Co Axial since 2014 that I have worn every day as it is my only watch. It has never been serviced and keeps better time now than when I first bought it.
I have just watched this video and it’s the first time I have fully understood how the co axial movement works. The funny thing is I have been looking for a manual wind watch with a glass back and I think Nomos looks like a watch that might fit the bill, unless I was to get another Omega with a manual wind but fear the case thickness could well be an issue after the slim De Ville.

Very confusing explanation. Appreciate the attempt, but as an educator myself you should have prepared better in advance. Your pacing is variable, you forget the correct words, and when you try to explain concepts sometimes you get it wrong, as others have pointed out already.

Thank you Bill really enjoyable look into the beating heart of our watches.

I don’t get why it took me until i reached your small channel for the basic point of “it divides the force would normally be exerted on 1 pallet onto multiple”. All the previous videos I’ve seen focus on one part at a time and purely in watchmaker jargon but don’t feel that they explain both parts together. Thank you.

This video makes my only day off so much entertained. 🤣

Good discussion, but I don’t see any real improvement, just a difference. And in practical implementation it hasn’t proved as accurate as the traditional pallet and escapement. Omega co-axial movements are no where near as accurate as Rolex, Blancpain, Glashutte Original, Patek, etc. Have had two Omega METAS and they both exceed the +5 in real use by a second or two a day. Rolex seem to easily beat that in real world use. Additionally, for some reason the Omega co-axial implementation, not sure if this is inherent or just their implementation, are VERY thick, making their co-axial watches much less wearable. And even with a lower beat rate Omega doesn’t match the new Rolex movements in time of operation using a higher beat rate (not sure that is all that important, but run time has now become a big advertising point).

A fabulous illustration of escapement’s thank you 🙏

Brillant, Thanks Sir!
p.s. Alex Laing - Peace!!!

You definitely need a 3d printer!!! I would love to watch some more videos on watch mechanics with large components like you've made out of popsicle sticks :) and a 3d printer makes that super easy

I enjoyed the video.
Thanks to your video, I have the courage to try making a watch.

What an amazing video. Thank you so much for sharing.

Thank you very much for your video. I watched it twice. I still wish I bought a Rolex rather than 2 Omega's. My Omega's are too thick i guess due to this maybe superior movement. I don't really understand it at all But what I do understand is that i spent $10,000 on 2 watches that do not sit perfectly center on my 7.25 inch wrist and that Omega makes a very ugly clunky stainless steel bracelet on the SMPc300 and an awful butterfly clasp on my Aqua Terra. Also do i really need 1.5 Tesla magnetic protection? I may just sell these hyped up Omega's and go back to Grand Seiko high accuracy quartz or a Hi-Beat movement. I love that you not own an Omega. Want to buy mine?

Great explanation on the coaxial mechanism! Although I do want to point out that Zenith's movement has nothing to do with quantum physics, at least from my experience as a phd student doing physics at Harvard. Zenith is still making great watches tho!

Interesting video well explained thank you.

So what are the advantages of the coaxial? Is it more accurate in the long run? Is the service interval of the entire movement extended? Maybe theoretically, maybe not in actuality. Does anyone have long-term positive experience?

Thanks for the information I've looking a lot to really understand the co-axial and now it's clear

fantastic!thank you

Let me make it VERY SIMPLE for everyone...
(1) The Co-axial escapement does not use inclined surfaces rubbing against one another to propel the pallet fork and hence balance wheel. (2) It used one set of pallets for locking and another set which is directly pushed when the first set unlocks. (3) This reduces friction and greatly reduces the lubrication needs.
That's all! Everything else is simply mechanical convenience and packaging efficiency to effect the above.

I’m just getting into Watches in understanding them and I would love it if you could do a review on this Zenith L Primero my father gave me, where can I email you pictures?

It is a great shame that such a wonderful thing is enjoyed by so few people. I really hope the patent runs out and it becomes free for all as it always should have been

That’s why Omega is the best watchmaker ever existed

Hello, I am wondering where you got the animation and if you know where I could find a CAD model of the co-axial escapement. thanks

thank you for your very informative explanation of co-axial. Now I can explain why I just had to have my SpeedMaster co-axial and my new SeaMaster co-axial. I am not a vintage watch guy,rather I love technology and co-axial seems to be an amazing technology for sustaining the watches. Those 2 are my only Omegas but perhaps not my last purchases. Thanks again, this was very helpful.

This an awesome video. Best explanation of the Co-axial I’ve seen. I loved the history behind it too. Thanks!

Is that a Bovet watch you're rocking?

Hello! I am just now starting to develop a keen interest in mechanical watches. I am a mechanical engineer and have always been highly interested in mechanisms. This is why I am a hobbyist small engine mechanic. I do so very much appreciate the video you posted and the information you provided. I admit that I have to agree with Alex Laing. Your video makes clear to me how the coaxial movement divides and separates the regulation function of the escapement from the power function. A standard escapement requires a "nudge" from the pallet fork to push a small amount of main spring energy into the balance wheel motion. Due to the angular nature of that "nudge" the action of a standard escapement is not very efficient and requires each pallet fork ruby to perform two functions....although each of the two functions acts on different surfaces of each ruby. Same goes for the escapement wheel teeth. The coaxial movement supplies the power to the balance wheel assembly via the second smaller wheel. Very ingenious! Thanks again. Without your posted video I would not have figured this out! Much appreciated! And thanks to you Alex for confirming what I thought I was seeing in the video. You cleared up my confusion!

Bill - I just discovered your channel! Very interesting! Thanks for posting all this. I find the "precision" and "detail" of watches, especially mechanical watches, to be fascinating. The attention to detail plus the design is just amazing.

Fabulous explanation. How to explain a complex subject with clearly flowing simplicity. Absolutely brilliant !! Thank you.

Thanks Bill.

Can anyone help my find information on the escapement concept he mentions on the end that utilizes properties of quantum physics?

We need innovation in watches. This is interesting.

Not a clue!

I watched a coaxial escapement animation at half speed to better understand it and then I watched this video on fast forward

Omega describes as a feature on the websites as unsprung, or free sprung balance. I can't figure out what this means. I haven't heard any descriptions of escapements mention this.

Hi Bill sorry, but you are not good at imparting information, you are not alone in this fault. However, it may be best to get someone else to intemperate your evident wisdom. Sorry ,mate!

Hi, what's your favorite watch movement/model ? Very informative video. I scored a Omega professional for 2000$ back in 2007.

I really don't wanna be that guy but its co-axial, not co-axel/axl. Nonetheless very informative video and these animations are very good!


Fun fact: George Daniels made the co-axial escapement as an escapement that did not need lubercation, but in practice it always gets lubercated.

best improvised model ever! super, keep up good work

Get to the point !

Interesting developments. Thank you.

Amazing video

George Daniel also went to Rolex with the Co-Axl, but they did not like the Ideal of reducen the hZ from 28.800 to 25.500 swinfs pr hour. As far as I know Omega did not listen to much of him either and went on making the 28.800 swings still be the mainthing of there watch. And boy have many Omegawathes to begin with with the co-axl did not work right. A watchmaker told me in the beginning over 30 % was mailfunktion wthin 3 mounths. My own mail funktion after 5 days.

Do you know what kind of escapement Vostok uses in Amphibias? Do you know what alloy they use for their hairsprings?

Hi Bill, I'd love to send you a couple of pictures, but how? Please explain how I can do this.