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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Glossary · Regulation

Drop

The small amount of free travel an escapement's parts have after unlocking and before the next locking contact.

Explanation

Drop is the small free travel of the escape wheel after a tooth is unlocked and before it lands on the next locking surface — inside drop and outside drop in a lever escapement. Too little drop risks binding; too much wastes power. Drop is set by the escapement's geometry and checked during adjustment.