Precision improving device for mechanical timepiece

By integrating a high-precision external oscillator with a mechanical watch to synchronize the balance wheel's oscillation via a piezoelectric element, mechanical watches achieve quartz-like accuracy while preserving their structural beauty and functionality.

WO2026120974A1 Publication Date: 2026-06-11MIZUNO YOSHIRO
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/JP2025/039251
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-12-19
Filing Date
2025-11-10
Publication Date
2026-06-11

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Mechanical watches struggle to achieve the same level of precision as quartz watches due to their structural limitations, with conventional attempts either compromising their unique aesthetics or falling short of quartz-like accuracy.

Method used

Incorporating a high-precision external oscillator, such as a quartz oscillator, into a mechanical watch to synchronize the balance wheel's oscillation with its oscillation signal, using a piezoelectric element to convert the oscillator's pulse into mechanical vibrations and transmit them to the balance wheel, ensuring forced synchronization through pre-adjusted or dynamically set frequency and waveform.

Benefits of technology

This approach enhances mechanical watch accuracy to quartz-like levels without altering the balance wheel or escapement, maintaining traditional aesthetics and mechanism integrity.

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Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a precision improving device which solves the problem of the precision of a conventional mechanical timepiece without significantly changing the existing timepiece structure, and which achieves high precision comparable to a quartz timepiece.　An external oscillator, separate from the balance, is built into the mechanical timepiece, and the beats thereof are converted into mechanical vibrations by a piezo element, and this vibration energy is transmitted to the balance. Thus, the mechanical vibrations are transmitted to the balance of the mechanical timepiece, and the balance is resonated by using the pull-in phenomenon. Due to this resonance, the oscillation of the balance is forcibly synchronized with the frequency of the quartz transmitter, and the precision is significantly improved.
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