Pre-assembly
In pre-assembly, parts of important components are joined together in advance—including those of the complications: specifically the date, power reserve, and worldtime display. Assembly in two stages contributes to quality control because it doubles the testing processes. And still remains efficient. After all, NOMOS Glashütte has many beautiful watches to build.
Preparation of the movement plate
Mainspring barrel
The mainspring barrel is the power reservoir of the mechanical watch. It consists of the barrel, the mainspring, and mainspring core. The last piece bears the greatest load in the movement: when it is wound, the spring winds itself tighter and tighter around the core, which has to hold the tension over hours as the spring releases the energy again—and the watch ticks.
The length and material quality of the mainspring determine how long the watch will run.
The surrounding gear train engages with the outer teeth of the mainspring barrel.
Other elements
The other parts of the movement that are prepared for final assembly include the plates, the balance cock, and the balance bridge. Wheels can also be riveted to their pinions—and then there are the complications, as well as the NOMOS swing system.
Worldtime display & co.
At NOMOS Glashütte, we have a clear stance on complications: They have to be simple. Easy to read, easy to operate, and as simple and elegant as our watches. Since simplicity is usually the most difficult thing to implement, it often takes years of research. The resulting solutions are innovative: the date mechanism of DUW 6101 and the power reserve display of DUW 4301 and DUW 4401 are patented.
NOMOS watchmakers during the pre-assembly of complications.
Integrated approach
In order to keep the movements thin, despite the added complication, and to achieve maximum efficiency, the date and worldtime display are not mounted on the gear train—but rather are fully integrated. The power reserve indicator is a minimalist masterpiece; without a separate differential gear, it manages with three parts that are placed directly on the mainspring barrel.
Innovation in individual parts: Date wheels, a cam disk, and click with pivots.
And here, assembled, as a NOMOS date-setting module for the neomatik caliber DUW 6101.
Quick date adjustment in individual parts: Rocker with hand-setting wheels.