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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Component record · Keyless work

Setting Wheel Bridge

Partially verified

The plate retaining setting wheels in the keyless work.

What it does

Holds the setting wheels in position so hand setting is positive.

How it works

It keeps the setting wheels in plane so the crown drives the motion work smoothly.

Evolution

Layout is calibre-specific and useful in identification.

Known variations

  • Single bridge
  • Separate wheel retainers

Identification for collectors

  • Bench identification only, after dial removal.

Common failure modes

  • Bent bridge
  • Lost screws

Diagram

crownsliding clutchsetting wheelswinding pinion and ratchet
Schematic: keyless winding and hand setting. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. de Carle, D., Practical Watch Repairing
  2. de Carle, D., Watch and Clock Encyclopedia
  3. Daniels, G., Watchmaking

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.