Omega's Co-Axial Escapement

The escapement is that part of the watch movement which converts the power derived from the mainspring into regular and uniform impulses necessary to keep accurate time. In 1999 Omega released a the Caliber 2500 movement with an innovative escapement called the the Co-Axial escapement. This was developed by Omega in conjuction with watchmaker Dr. George Daniels.

The new design was based on double Co-Axial escape wheel, a lever with three pallet stones and impulse stone on the balance roller, together with a free sprung-balance. The Co-Axial system reduces sliding friction compared with the traditional lever escapement and can work with virtually no lubrication. This was done by reducing sliding friction and converting it into rolling friction. Essentially as traditional lever design has a part of its movement "brush" against another part pushing it, while the Co-Axial escapement replaces this "brushing motion" with a "pushing" motion. The end result is less contact resulting in less friction.

This reduces wear and tear, ensures greater accuracy over time and also reduces the amount of servicing the watch movement needs. As part of its marketing, Omega gives its watches with Co-Axial escapements a three year warranty, as against the two year warranty of its other watches.

When initially released Co-Axial escapement watches produced the same 28,800 vibrations per hour (vph) produced by other high end watch movements. This was later reduced to 25,200.

The disadvantages of the Co-Axial escapement it its higher cost and the need for a very high level of precision in the manufacture of its component parts and their assembly.

About Omega SA. The forerunner of Omega was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name Omega was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.