Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Component record · Plates & finishing

Minute Wheel Bridge

Partially verified

A small plate retaining the motion-work wheels under the dial.

What it does

Holds the minute wheel and setting wheels in position on the dial side.

How it works

The bridge locates the minute wheel and often the setting wheel, keeping them in plane with the cannon pinion and hour wheel.

Evolution

Form varies widely between calibres and is a useful identification feature.

Known variations

  • Full bridge
  • Individual retaining plates

Identification for collectors

  • Visible once the dial is removed, so identification is bench work.

Common failure modes

  • Bent bridge causing hand-setting faults
  • 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.