The energy to maintain the free sprung-balance is transmitted by an escapement whose energy transmission is obtained by the tangential motions of the parts.The escapement is composed of an intermediary wheel "A", a double coaxial wheel "B" composed of escapement pinion "C" and escapement wheel "D", pallets "E" with three ruby pallet-stones "F", "G", "H", and a roller "I" carrying a ruby impulse stone "J" and a ruby impulse stone "J" and a ruby impulse pin "K". The roller is fitted to the sprung balance.It is essential that a successful escapement for use in a modern watch must transmit energy to the oscillator in both clockwise and anti-clockwise vibrations. In the Coaxial escapement, the clockwise impulse is delivered to the oscillator directly by the escape wheel engaging the balance roller. The anti-clockwise impulse is delivered to the balance roller via the lever. After each impulse, the escape wheel is locked stationary by the lever locking pallets allowing the balance to complete its vbration undisturbed.In the Swiss lever escapement, in order to give the impulsion to the regulator, the teeth of the escape wheel, need to slide along long sloping surfaces. The friction caused by this actionnecessitates the use of a lubricant, without which the escapement will not function.The lubricant is a variable factor because its viscosity changes with ageing due to the effects of humidity and the variations of temperature Therefore the rate of the watch changes with the alteration of the lubricant. The escapement needs regular services so that the rate remains stable.By means of an entirely different construction of the impulsion components, the coaxial escapement avoids most of the friction caused by the sliding of the escapement wheel teeth on the escape pallets.The rate of the watch can therefore be constant as it is independent from the viscosity of the lubricant.The impulsions generated by means of a long slide of the teeth along the pallets of the Swiss lever escapement, are of an entirely different kind to that of the coaxial escapement in which the sliding frictions are minimal. The impulsion is therefore independent from the quality of the lubricant and its alteration with the time.OMEGA, at the Forefront of Watchmaking with the Revolutionary De Ville Co-Axial!How solid tradition and futuristic vision combined with technological developments to make the solitary dream of George Daniels come true for the future of watchmaking.The coaxial escapement is the first practical new watch escapement in the 250 years following the invention of the lever escapement by Thomas Mudge in the 18th century. It fulfills all the requirements of a precision watch escapement with the advantage of robust reliability and close precision rate for long term performance. In its present form the coaxial represents the culmination of 20 , years of development of the watch escapement. It is intended to sustain the public affection for the mechaical watch during the 21st century. To do this it would of course, need adoption by a patron qualified to manufacture it in production quantities.George Daniels, Master WatchmakerNobody had been able to do it... until OMEGA.The industry knew the impact the coaxial escapement would have on the mechanical watch, but no-one seemed able to overcome the technical problems involved in its manufacture.Only a brand with 150 years of experience and technological achievements marking watchmaking history could meet the challenge of realizing George Daniels' long-held dream.Unwilling to admit defeat, OMEGA and George Daniels believed so strongly in the viability of the project that their perseverance finally paid off. After 20 years of research and development by George Daniels and five long years of testing by OMEGA, the coaxial escapement is today being produced in series in the De Ville Co-Axial watch.., and stands as a future reference for the entire mechanical watchmaking industry.In simple terms, the escapement is the heart of the mechanical watch, as it generates the impulses that make the mechanism move. The new OMEGA Co-Axial escapement invented by George Daniels reduces drastically the friction among the parts that transmit energy to the other components. The result is almost no servicing for the movement and, above all, greater stability of the watch's precision over time.With the new Calibre 2500, refined by the introduction of OMEGA's free sprung balance for maximum precision, OMEGA completes the greatest revolution in haut-de-gamme watchmaking history, reaching standards previously unimagined for mechanical watches.Even the rhythm of its heartbeat is new... Stronger, fuller.A sound that no other mechanical watch knows. The music of the new OMEGA De Ville Co-Axial watch.Dr. George Daniels has been a professional horologist forsome 50 years. He is a past Master of the Clockmakers' Guildin London and past President of the Horological Institute.Dr. Daniels is a noted author on horogolical subjects and inventor of the Coaxial escapement. His works include TheArt of Breguet (in 3 languages), English and American Watches,The Practical Watch Escapement and Watchmaking (in 2 languages).He is the recipient of several awards, notably the Gold Medal of Clockmakers' Company (established 1631), the Gold Medal of the British Horological Institute (established 1851), the Gold Medal of City of London Guild and the Kullberg Medal of the Stockholm Watchmakers' Guild.For a complete biography of Dr. George Daniels see p. 158.OMEGA and George Daniels...My own interest in watches stems from the 1930s, as a child, when the Swiss watch industry was at its peak. Watches have always been apart of my life and then, forty years later, there was talk of the end,of the industry simply because a newer and cheaper way of achiev, ing accuracy was available. This would not do.I personally was not in doubt that the mechanical watch would survive. Its historic, technical, intellectual, aesthetic, amusing and useful qualities would sustain it through the ages. But it was in need of improvement if its attractions were not to be swamped by quartz timekeeping.However, when the quartz excitement diminished and sales became steady statistics, what would then be appealing to the discerning public? Not, I believed, the simple re-introduction of the conventional watch mechanism. The public would expect something new and intellectually fundamental to the development of the movement, if they were to turn again to the mechanical watch.It was therefor very pleasing to learn from OMEGA that they wished to introduce a new range of watches utilising the design philosophy of the Co-Axial escapement.My association with the Omega Company goes back fifty years to the time when I worked as a young watchmaker in London with Omega watches. The quality of design, manufacture and finish was outstandingly impressive and was an inspiration in setting my own standards of work. I know that the integrity of their products is as great now as ever it was and so their interest in the Co-Axial was most important to me.For the pastfew years we have collaborated in the specification of the components to define the forms of the special tools needed forproduction. The escapement is more complex in action than the classic lever. Much research has been done to ensure reliability of product and function of components. Because I regard the escapement as my baby I have kept very close to the technicians during the run up to production. Working with others is a new experience for me and I have much enjoyed the relationhip that has developed between the company, its technicians and myself.The end product is most satisfying to see working and it is o[ course a thrill for an inventor to see his aspirations fulfilled so perfectly. The performance in tests has been remarkable showing improvement in long term day to day use that cannot be equalled by the classic lever escapement.That was the initial object of the exercise and Omega have discovered its merits, in production for themselves. I wish the company every success in their new venture and congratulate them on their typically bold decision.Dr. George Daniels