Removing The Hairspring With Vincent Calabrese
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ม.ค. 2022
- We had the pleasure to visit independent watchmaker Vincent Calabrese a few days ago in his workshop near Lausanne. As always it was a great pleasure to speak with him and hear him talk about his last patented project the Calasys.
Even if he could be retired having sold his company to Blancpain fifteen years ago, a sale which included several very interesting patents, he never stopped working and maybe the Swatch Group could once again be interested in his latest patent. We are still at the proof of concept stage, but the innovation we uncover in today’s video report could potentially be a serious competitor to Nivarox, the famous hairspring producer.
Yes, with more than sixty years of experience, in his opinion, the major weak point of a mechanical watch is the hairspring and he tried to figure out how to replace an almost 400 years old invention and he found a very interesting and efficient way to do it.
Contrary to some who would have tried to change the entire escapement he decided to keep the good old swiss lever escapement and isolated the hairspring with another mechanism called Calasys.
This system contains mainly three parts where only one unique part, a little pinion stays on the balance. All other components, mainly a rack and a double spring, are fixed independently near by the balance but not on the balance, thus having zero influence on the gravity of the balance-wheel.
He will soon start to work on his third prototype and we have the feeling that he is definitely heading in the right direction as his system is neutralizing many inconvenients of a traditional flat hairspring. The next big question is: will the Calasys be easier to produce than a hairspring?
Enjoy our video and Viva Watchmaking!
Marc André & Team
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Dear Marc-André,
Probably the most interesting watch maker I've seen
Thank you! That was such an amazing interview, Vincent is hilarious. That was so real, so inspiring, and so authentic, this is what I wish was more represented in the watch "industry". 👍
So simple yet so effective. Why way this not thought of before is incredible. Solves so many issues of the balance spring, being it even potentially cheaper to manufacture and easier to service and replace. Just amazing that a 79 old watchmaker, who as you said "never stops", came up with such a disruptive and innovative idea. Hope this will be brought to manufacture soon. Really hope so!
80 years old. Looking like 55. Full of passion for life and watches. Oh mon Dieu. How inspiring. Thank you Watches TV! 😊
Absolutely brilliant. I've never been so impressed by any watchmaker. A true genius.
Wise, those who tamed time. Even Mr Calabrese's narration is like a rotation of a mesmerizing tourbillon
Wow thanks Marc for this video. It makes me very happy to hear about Vincent's latest work and his very interesting life story. He's one of my favorite watchmakers and it's an honor to own one of his pieces, the Analogica.
Never would have guessed the guy is 79! Watchmaking must keep you young.
Mon ami, c’est incroyable cette innovation que Vincent Calabrese a inventé !!!
Tanti auguri Signor Calabrese!
What a Wonderful Video Marc.
Thanks Marc, I love when your videos take us into the making of the watches and specially when it contains big innovations such a this. Thanks for letting us be part of the watchmaking progress.
The co-axial escapement, Spring Drive, Flexous one-piece oscillator, and now this! What a time to be alive. It’s looking like a boom in watchmaking innovation is beginning again!
Equally amazing to me is that the escape wheel and pallet are still incorporated, a design literally hundreds of years old , is still the mainstream of mechanical watch components. What a nod to history!
When you replied on the last video, you should told me great ones are on the way, not "good" ones, as this this report prove it, this development is why I love horology, people that just keep moving forward and keep making watches exciting for us.Cheers Marc love the video 'Ω' .
Thanks for this video! You are a true inspiration Vincent. As Italians, we are proud of you.
Loved this one, Marc. What an amazing man. Thank you, as always, for shining a light on the incredible work of independent watchmakers all over the world.
Vincent Calabrese is about to change the watch game forever. The man is an absolute genius. I applaud his immense talent.
May God bless all the wonderful watchmakers in the world!