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Fusee-and-chain: nine examples
The fusee-and-chain transmission is a way of providing a constant even force to the escapement as the mainspring unwinds itself throughout its range of power reserve.
The fusee (from the French fusée, wire wound around a spindle) is a cone-shaped pulley with a helical groove around it, wound with chain attached to the mainspring barrel.
How it works is fairly easy to understand if you have in mind a bicycle deraileur, which allows to change the gears:
- When the mainspring is wound up (Fig. 1), all the chain is wrapped around the fusee from bottom to top, and the end going to the barrel comes off the narrow top end of the fusee: so, the strong pull of the wound up mainspring is applied to the small end of the fusee, and the torque on the fusee is reduced by the small lever arm of the fusee radius.
- As the mainspring runs down (Fig. 2), more of the chain is wrapped on the barrel, and the chain going to the barrel comes off the wide bottom grooves of the fusee: so, the weakened pull of the mainspring is applied to the larger radius of the bottom of the fusee and the greater turning moment provided by the larger radius at the fusee compensates for the weaker force of the spring, keeping the drive torque constant.
credit: Wikipedia
Here are nine examples from seven different brands of this transmission system integrated into a wristwatch.
The brands are presented in alphabetical order.
1/ FERDINAND BERTHOUD: THREE EXAMPLES
credit: Hodinkee
credit: Monochrome, A Blog to Watch & The Naked Watchmaker
c/ FB 2RE.1
credit: Deployant
2/ BREGUET TRADITION TOURBILLON 7047 ref. 7047PT/11/9ZU
credit: Monochrome & @winewhiskywatches
3/ CABESTAN TERRA LUNA
credit: The Horophile
4/ ROMAIN GAUTHIER LOGICAL ONE
credit: Quill & Pad
5/ A. LANGE & SÖHNE RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON POUR LE MÉRITE ref. 760.026F
credit: Quill & Pad & Hodinkee
6/ LEROY OSMIOR CHRONOMÈTRE À TOURBILLON ref. L102/1
credit: GPHG & Quill & Pad
7/ ZENITH ACADEMY GEORGES FAVRE-JACOT ref. 18.2210.4810
credit: Fratello & A Blog to Watch
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
Fusee-and-chain: nine examples
The fusee-and-chain transmission is a way of providing a constant even force to the escapement as the mainspring unwinds itself throughout its range of power reserve. The fusee (from the French fusée , wire wound around a spindle) is a cone-shaped pulley ...
Thank you, Salman.
Like you, I find the Leroy particularly attractive. Best, Emmanuel
The Leroy is my favorite too!
I prefer solid dials and this one is superb. Best, Emmanuel
I wasn't aware of them: thank you for pointing them out to me.
Best, Emmanuel Alice in wonderland version credit: Ondřej ’papi' Berkus aka @hodinkyberkus ...
Perfect
It has everything I want - 39mm, hand-finishing, aesthetics and a combination of raw rustic charm and refined polishing. Papi is a genius.
Exceptional post, Emmanuel. Thank you.
I'd love to own a fusee-and-chain movement watch some day, but $$$. Big yes to Leroy and F Berthoud white dial examples. Thanks again. M4
Same preference for me, because of the solid dial.
I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Best, Emmanuel
It’s quite a grail indeed!
Because I prefer solid dials, I would choose the Leroy, but I certainly understand the appeal of the Breguet. Best, Emmanuel
Mind blowing post. I have got my watch sigth for the day
... maybe a few post more...
These are all super amazing.
I have handled the Breguet and RG from this bunch. These are large for my wrist. I like the Breguet for the overall design including the domed crystal.
Lucky you! I’ve never seen one in real life, unfortunately.
My preference goes to the Leroy because I like solid dials, but I clearly understand the appeal of the Breguet. Best, Emmanuel
My favorite bit of watchmaking madness
Btw LEROY OSMIOR CHRONOMÈTRE with Breguet numerals is my grail/exit watch And for anyone who wants to buy it for me, I’ll will it to the charity of your choice.
Do you mean this chronograph?
I like it, but my personal ultimate dial remains this one: ...
Like you, I too prefer the Leroy.
And I love half Hunter back cases. Of the lot, the Zenith is likely most attainable pre owned (for me personally that is) Best Anand
The Leroy is a true gem.
Insanely beautiful dial and movement. And, yes, hunter case back: like you, Anand, I like them very much. Best, Emmanuel ...
Impressive but not my favorite.
I find this age of the moon complication too… complicated and I don’t really enjoy technical features on the dial. Just me, of course.
Thanks for this great post
I find these Fusee and Chain watches always very attractive . The skills needed to make these tiny chains 😱
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
It’s top watchmaking, for sure. I particularly like the Leroy, with its wonderful dial and all the magic behind the hunter back. Best, Emmanuel
All totally impressive and imposing....
But, I would have to pick a Berthoud, their execution is simply indomitable to my sensibilities! I also happen to totally be in love with the octagonal case design that they offer . Thanks for this splendid assembly of pictures and information Emmanuel. C...
What FB has done and does is truly wonderful
and I understand your taste for the octagonal case of the FB1. Because I prefer solid dials, though, my preference goes to the FB2. And among the fusee-and-chain examples above, my favorite is the Leroy: incredible dial and all the magic on the back, with...