Diamond watch mechanisms soon available
Hard, elastic and good heat conductor, the diamond finds many mechanical and optical uses. A process developed by a team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) allowed the carving of a synthetic monocrystalline diamond into a watchmaking micromechanical system: a three millimeters escapement wheel with its anchor. The Lausanne team was able to cut three-dimensional shapes, with a thickness of 0.15 millimeter, into a synthetic diamond, approaching the 0.2 mm standard of the watch industry. This technique is of interest because of the diamond’s low coefficient of friction that can increase a watch power reserve.