The Omega Spirate is an innovative new system in watchmaking, designed to offer precise regulation of a timepiece’s rate, down to 0.1 seconds per day. Announced in early 2023, this advancement is made possible through the use of cutting-edge silicon manufacturing techniques, marking a significant departure from traditional balance spring systems.
The Basics of the Spirate System
At the heart of the Spirate is a flat balance spring that integrates a flexible blade, unlike the typical stud used in conventional designs. This system’s stiffness is a combination of the spiral section and the blade. By adjusting the stiffness of the blade, the rate of the watch can be finely tuned, offering precision previously unattainable.
The system includes several key components:
Loading Beam: This part, adjustable by moving left or right, introduces tension or compression into the blade, which affects the overall stiffness and oscillation frequency of the watch.
Rate Mobile Stud Holder: This component, adjusted by a snail cam hidden beneath the calibrated tuner, holds the spring and is responsible for altering the rate through minute changes in the blade’s tension.
Tuner: A precision tool used to rotate the Snail Cam, which moves the Rate Mobile Stud Holder and modifies the blade’s tension.
How It Works
The Spirate system allows adjustments to be made without stopping the oscillation of the watch, a process that traditionally required halting the balance to modify micro-regulation screws. By rotating the calibrated tuner, the user can adjust the spring’s stiffness in a highly controlled manner, achieving a change in the rate by up to 10 seconds per day, with a resolution of 0.1 seconds.
Advantages of the Spirate System
Omega’s Spirate system boasts several key benefits:
Dynamic Adjustment: Regulation can be performed while the watch is still oscillating, saving time and ensuring real-time adjustments.
Direct, Predictable Scale: Unlike indirect screw adjustments, this system uses a direct scale on the calibrated tuner, making it easier and more predictable.
User-Friendly: Adjustments can be made by watchmakers in boutiques rather than requiring a trip to the service center, enhancing customer convenience.
Faster Adjustment: Omega has designed the system to make rate adjustments quicker, with a stated emphasis on efficiency in mass production.
Improved Precision: The system reduces the risk of imbalances, ensuring that the balance remains poise-free, unlike traditional micro-regulation screws.
Conclusion
The Omega Spirate represents a fresh direction in watchmaking, offering precise rate adjustment without sacrificing efficiency or durability. Unlike many other recent silicon applications that merely refine existing technologies, the Spirate is a new and practical advancement that promises to have a lasting impact on horology.
This development was first showcased in the Omega Speedmaster Super Racing and will likely be rolled out across more models in the future. With its practical applications and innovative design, the Spirate system marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of mechanical watchmaking.
Related Topics:
Is The Omega Moon Phase Series Worth Buying
How To Maintain An Omega Watch And Extend Its Service Life
How To Clean The Movement Of An Omega Watch
