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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Glossary · Mechanism

Potence

A bracket-shaped bridge, usually beneath the dial, carrying the lower pivot of the escape wheel or verge.

Explanation

The potence is the lower bracket or cock that supports the bottom pivot of the verge in a verge watch, or more generally any hanging bracket supporting a pivot from above. In verge watches the potence and counter-potence hold the escape wheel; their condition strongly affects depth and rate.

In the object catalogue

Catalogued objects whose own source record mentions “Potence”. The quoted line shows where; it is the seller’s or museum’s wording, not independent verification.