The Reason

The Vaucher calibers present on the site are examples from a manufacturing structure that has the capabilities to produce virtually every component of a calibre, and provide these products tailored to its customers requirements from 10 examples until many thousands.

Vaucher has between 30-40 clients, including some of the most famous houses in the watch industry. During 2017 they produced over fifteen thousand calibers. Their capacity of production is thirty five thousand pieces per year.

Each caliber developed at Vaucher manufacture costs up to five million Swiss francs to develop and takes between three to five years depending on complexity.

Functions Self-winding - 2 hands. Main dimensions 13 ¼” (30.00 mm diameter) thickness of 2.6 mm. Power reserve 48h. Number of components 176. Jewels 29. Frequency 3 Hz (21’600 A/h). Type of balance Variable inertia with gold inertia blocks. Type of balance-spring Flat. Type of oscillating weight Off-centre/Tungsten micro-rotor. Oscillating weight winding direction Single direction in clockwise sense of the weight viewing from the dial side. Chronometry Variable inertia balance.

Balance cock and balance removed. Star burst Geneva stripes radiating from the balance wheel out.

Profile view showing the volume of the micro-rotor compared to the movement

Swiss lever/pallets and pallet cock

Balance wheel assembly with balance cock

Free-sprung balance with adjustable stud holder for correcting the beat error

Unique serial number engraved into the mainplate below the balance wheel

The underside of the balance assembly showing the consistent clean machining and finishing whether visible or unseen after assembly

The balance spring is held into the stud with a resin which avoids any deformation of the spring itself.

The ball race with its ceramic balls, the result is more efficient than conventional steel on steel ball races as a result of the mix of materials.

The ball race is integrated into the driving pinion of the rotor assembly.

The Vaucher logo chemically etched into the tungsten rotor weight

Meshing of the second and third automatic wheel following the rotor

The complete automatic train leading to the barrel shown after the auto-bridge has been removed

The click spring that prevents the third wheel in the train from turning anti clockwise

The third wheel which winds in only one direction slipping in the alternate

The upper side of the third wheel, winding assembly mobile showing the integrated ceramic ball race

The automatic train bridge

Semi-dismantled with the balance, escapement and rotor removed

All bridges removed, revealing the automatic and time trains

Mainplate with all wheels removed. Every level is finished with spotting (pearlage) the size of the circles depending on the surface available

The barrel bridge

Underside of the barrel bridge, showing the fine machining finish

The train bridge

Underside of the train bridge

The Swiss lever or pallet pivots are never lubricated. Conventionally the jewels for the pallets which are used still retain a counter sink such as found on all other jewels. Here the oil sink is not added, removing any likely-hood that a technician… — The Swiss lever or pallet pivots are never lubricated. Conventionally the jewels for the pallets which are used still retain a counter sink such as found on all other jewels. Here the oil sink is not added, removing any likely-hood that a technician or watchmaker might accidentally lubricate the pivots.

Close up of the assembled automatic train

Close up of the detent which meshes with the ratchet wheel under the third wheel assembly preventing part of the wheel from winding anti-clockwise. On the right the screw head is actually an eccentric plug which rotates to adjust the position of the… — Close up of the detent which meshes with the ratchet wheel under the third wheel assembly preventing part of the wheel from winding anti-clockwise. On the right the screw head is actually an eccentric plug which rotates to adjust the position of the detent in relation to the ratchet wheel and blocks the detent spring so that it can not move.

Cover plate removed from the setting mechanism

The cover plate for the setting lever, incorprating springs levers and wheels

The brake (or hack) for the balance to stop the balance when the time is being set

In the centre is the setting lever post, to release the stem this piece is gently pushed and the stem is released

Close up of the setting and winding mechanism fully assembled and decortated

The films shown below are from Vaucher's website and provide extra details into each calibre as well as their system CLA for final quality control of assembled watches.

to see more vaucher deconstructions

You can learn more about Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier at www.vauchermanufacture.ch

masterclass courses

Deconstruction Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier Seed VMF 5401

All content on this site is the property of The Naked Watchmaker©