De Bethune's Résonique, Part I : 926 Hz

[Ernie Romers]

Unhindered high frequency has become a physical reality within De Bethune R&D’s labs, where fundamental research in the field of mechanical horology is reaching unprecedented new peaks of precision and frequency. In a field mainly composed of mechanical watches oscillating between 2.5 and 5 Hz, the De Bethune experimental 72 000 vph silicon escapement presented in 2006, with self‐compensating balance‐ wheel and balance‐spring, highlighted the fact that the balance‐and‐spring frequency maintained by a lever could barely hope to exceed 10 Hz due to reliability issues and mostly because of the inevitable mechanical resistance to natural wear over time. Based on the physical laws of mechanical resonance, De Bethune is paving the way for a new horlogical field and is making its research and knowledge freely available to the watchmaking community in order to rethink about mechanical harmony. After two years of studies conducted by engineers and the physicist Siddharta Berns from the De Bethune laboratory, working under the guidance of Denis Flageollet, a new principle of mechanical horology has been developed. This discovery, named “Horological Résonique”, is based on the successful synchronisation between an acoustic resonator and a magnetic‐escapement rotor within a mechanical watch.

This high‐frequency resonance system serves to store up the energy in order to maintain a high‐ powered time‐measurement mechanism. Multiple simulations have led to the development of several prototypes with oscillating frequencies ranging between 200 Hz and 1000 Hz.

On December 8th 2011, during the first public presentation, De Bethune demonstrated a 926Hz oscillator with an escapement turning at a rate of 2525.5 RPM.

Free of any balance‐wheel, balance‐spring or traditional escapement, and composed of a limited number of parts in motion, the silent mechanism invented by De Bethune promises in due course to achieve the highest accuracy while eliminating the usual constraints such as lubrication, wear and resistance.

More information about De Bethune's résonique available in January 15, 2012 on www.debethune‐resonique.com