The Gasket System
The main operating elements on a chronograph are the crown
and the pushers. The crown is used to set the correct time, and in case
of a mechanical wristwatch to wind the movement. The pushers are used
for starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph functions of the
watch.
These operating elements basically consist of the visible piece of the
crown and chronograph button and a shaft which connects them to the movement.
One of the major problems we had to face during the construction of our new crown and pusher system was to find a solution to seal the operating elements against the ingress of moisture and dust. Conventional systems make use of two O-ring gaskets made from an elastic material such as Nitril™. The longevity of these gaskets is to a large extend determined by the quality of the material and the friction between the stem and the O-ring. This friction factor increases the wear and ultimately leads to worn out and leaking sealing elements.
After extensive research we found a solution to the problem
– our lubrication cell. Once again the concept for this unique element
is a miniaturised design derived from industrial engineering. The lubrication
cell is basically a tube made of our patented hardened stainless steel
which is screwed into the drill holes for the crown and the pushers. The
cell is filled with a synthetic viscous lubricant and sealed with two
innovative Viton™ elements which prevent the filling from leaking
or migrating.
The lubricant fills the microscopic surface roughness of the polished
crown and pusher stem and eliminates friction and wear. Our lubricant
system offers a longevity of gaskets and operating elements which is second
to none.
Our gasket system and lubrication cell are patented.
