{"id":1000045,"date":"2026-09-18T12:34:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T12:34:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ohselection.com\/barrel\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T14:18:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T14:18:22","slug":"barrel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ohselection.com\/en\/barrel\/","title":{"rendered":"Barrel"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1000045\" class=\"elementor elementor-1000045 elementor-993013\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6e55dcd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default sc_fly_static\" data-id=\"6e55dcd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-extended\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3fce32c sc_content_align_inherit sc_layouts_column_icons_position_left sc_fly_static\" data-id=\"3fce32c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76accf7 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76accf7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe barrel is an assembly of watchmaking components that enables the proper operation of a mechanical watch movement. This part is the essential energy source for the operation of watch calibres. \r\n<h2>The barrel: operation and composition<\/h2>\r\nThe barrel is made up of several different parts and forms a complex assembly.\r\n\r\nA central arbor sits inside a mainspring, which in turn is housed in a hollow cylinder topped with a toothed wheel. The outer coil of the spring is attached to the barrel, while its inner coil is attached to the central arbor. \r\n\r\nThe barrel spring and its tension are the source of its action on the other components. It unwinds very slowly while transmitting energy to the entire gear train via the ratchet wheel (the barrel\u2019s gearing). The gear train then passes the energy it has received to the escapement and the balance wheel. Note: in one hour, the barrel spring makes only one-ninth or one-sixth of a rotation!   \r\n\r\nEnergy is delivered to the escapement and balance wheel assembly in a steady manner thanks to the barrel spring, which in turn depends on the escapement and balance wheel to prevent it from releasing its energy too quickly or at an irregular rate.\r\n<h2>How is the barrel wound?<\/h2>\r\nWinding the barrel spring is essential for it to function properly. It must be well wound at all times, as the energy that is then transmitted to other components\u2014and sets them in motion\u2014comes from its winding. \r\n\r\nThe barrel can be wound via a manual or automatic mechanical movement.\r\n\r\nManual winding is done using a winding stem, which must be turned to tighten the spring and therefore store energy.\r\n\r\nAutomatic winding is done using a rotor, or oscillating weight, in the form of a disc that turns with wrist movements to wind the barrel spring. It should be noted that in an automatic movement, the outer coil of the spring is not fixed. It is held in place by friction to avoid any risk of breakage. Indeed, the spring is wound continuously by the wearer\u2019s movements.   \r\n<h2>Suspended or smooth barrel?<\/h2>\r\nDepending on the watch model, there are suspended or smooth barrels.\r\n\r\nThe mainplate\u2014the plate on which all the components are mounted\u2014is connected to the upper part of the suspended barrel.\r\n\r\nThe smooth barrel, for its part, has no toothed wheel. A chain connects it to the fusee of the movement in fusee watches. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The barrel is an assembly of watchmaking components that enables the proper operation of a mechanical watch movement. This part is the essential energy source for the operation of watch calibres. The barrel: operation and composition The barrel is made up of several different parts and forms a complex assembly. A central arbor sits inside&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":1000372,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1000045","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Barrel: a mechanical component that serves as the movement\u2019s energy reserve<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ohselection.com\/en\/barrel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Barrel: a mechanical component that serves as the movement\u2019s energy reserve\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The barrel is an assembly of watchmaking components that enables the proper operation of a mechanical watch movement. This part is the essential energy source for the operation of watch calibres. The barrel: operation and composition The barrel is made up of several different parts and forms a complex assembly. 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This part is the essential energy source for the operation of watch calibres. The barrel: operation and composition The barrel is made up of several different parts and forms a complex assembly. 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