What is the shock-absorbing principle of a watch movement?

　　Nowadays, many watch manufacturers incorporate shock-absorbing systems into their movements to prevent heavy impacts from affecting timekeeping accuracy. However, do you understand the shock-absorption principles of watch movements? What are the common types of watch shock absorbers? Today, Xiaoya will explain the shock-absorption principles of watch movements so let's take a look.

　　What is watch shock absorption?

　　As the name suggests, the function of the shock absorber is to prevent watch malfunctions caused by shocks to the timepiece. The principle of shock absorption is that, through flexible spring leaves, the fragile pivot tips have room to move up, down, left, and right during a collision, preventing them from breaking and undergoing plastic deformation. The escapement mechanism of a timepiece can be said to be the heart of the watch and its most vulnerable part; therefore, the shock absorber protects the escapement mechanism. While it cannot provide one hundred percent shock protection, it can at least offset a portion of external impact and minimise the damage caused by vibrations to the watch.

　　Classification of watch shock absorbers

　　Triangle shock absorber

　　The Novodiac shock absorber is the lowest-priced shock absorber. According to online resources and the actual experience of watch enthusiasts, its shock-absorbing performance does not differ from Incabloc or KIF. Because of its low cost, many entry-level watches now use Novodiac shock absorbers, which not only reduces costs but also makes watch servicing more convenient.

　　Paraflex shock absorber

　　The Paraflex shock absorber is Rolex's exclusive shock absorber. Rolex introduced this new shock absorber in 2005, offering 50% greater shock resistance than the older version. The older shock absorber used by Rolex was the high-end KIF shock absorber. In fact, Rolex does not currently use Paraflex shock absorbers across its entire range. To put it simply: 3131, 3135, 3555 and 3186 use KIF shock absorbers, while new movements such as 3132, 3136, 3156, 3187 and 9001 feature the Paraflex shock absorber.

　　Incabloc

　　The Incabloc shock absorber can be described as the most common shock absorber, often referred to as the lyre-shaped shock absorber. Many ETA movements use this type of shock absorber, which is said to offer near-perfect shock protection. In the past, domestic Chinese watches also featured similar shock absorbers, though they were slightly longer than the standard Incabloc design.

　　Many ETA movements feature the Incabloc shock absorber, which is also the most widely used shock absorber. Most mid-to-high-end brands adopt this shock absorber, with brands like A. Lange & Söhne and Glashütte Original utilising Incabloc. Additionally, ETA Chronometer-certified movements are basically all equipped with Incabloc shock absorbers.

　　KIF shock absorber

　　The KIF shock absorber can be considered the darling of high-end watches. Although its performance is similar to Incabloc, high-end brands show a strong preference for KIF. This is likely to establish a distinct status, much like how high-end brands mostly use in-house movements and rarely use ETA. With its single-angled design, KIF cushions progressive impacts from minor shocks, and its shock spring is easy to replace. The three support points balance the pressure, allowing the balance staff to return to its optimal central position.

　　Replica Designer Watch Recommendations

　　Cartier Ballon Bleu automatic mechanical watchW69012Z4

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　　Conclusion:The above covers the principles of watch shock protection and common watch shock absorbers. Although this niche knowledge is relatively obscure, it is still well worth knowing.

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