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balance spring
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Typical components of a mechanical watch. Labeled diagram of a watch mainspring mechanism showing interconnected gears, the mainspring, balance wheel, winding pinion, escape wheel, and hands for hours, minutes, and seconds.
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balance spring

watch part
Also known as: hairspring
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Quick Summary

Typical components of a mechanical watch.
Typical components of a mechanical watch.

The balance spring, also known as a hairspring, is a crucial component in mechanical watches. It is a delicate ribbon of spring material, typically wound into a spiral.12

This spring is attached to the balance wheel, which oscillates back and forth. The balance spring provides the restoring force that controls the timing of these oscillations. If the balance wheel is moved, the spring winds and stores energy, which is then released to swing the balance wheel back. This controlled oscillation is essential for accurate timekeeping in a watch.2

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  1. balance spring
  2. watch

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