====== Silicon ======
**Silicon** is one of the important new materials used in watchmaking.

===== Firsts =====
The material [[silicon]] is more recently used for watch [[movement]] parts, especially as base material of the [[lever]]s and the [[escapement wheel]]s.

==== Silicon Balance Spring ====
[[Ulysse Nardin]] was first to produce a silicon balance spring ("DIAMonSIL") in a limited-production [[2001]] [[Ulysse Nardin Freak|Freak]], developed with Sigatec. Shortly after this, [[Rolex]] ("Syloxi"), [[Patek Philippe]] ("Spiromax"), and [[Swatch Group]] partnered with [[Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique|Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM)]] to develop silicon hairspring technology. The resulting patent will expire in 2021. [[Richemont]] was not part of this group, so it was not until [[2017]] that they introduced a production "[[Twinspir]]" silicon balance spring in the [[Baume & Mercier Clifton Manual 1830]].

  * [[2005]] [[Patek Philippe Annual Calendar 5350]] [[PP 324|Cal. 324]] "[[Patek Philippe Advanced Research|Advanced Research]]" - Limited production silicon escape wheel only and "[[Spiromax]]" silicon hairspring (first Patek Philippe)
  * [[2006]] [[Breguet Classique 5197]] [[Breguet 591|Cal. 591A]] - Silicon balance spring and escapement (first Swatch Group)
  * [[2007]] [[Ulysse Nardin Freak InnoVision]] - Many silicon components
  * [[2008]] [[Omega De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar]] [[Omega 8520|Cal. 8520]] - "[[Si 14]]" balance spring (first Omega)
  * [[2014]] [[Rolex Datejust Pearlmaster]] [[Rolex 2236|Cal. 2236]] - "[[Syloxi]]" balance spring (first Rolex)
  * [[2017]] [[Baume & Mercier Clifton Manual 1830]] [[BM12|Cal. BM12-1975M]] - "[[Twinspir]]" silicon balance spring (first Richemont)

==== Silicon Escapement ====
{{wst>image_cl|Frederique Constant|Heart Beat Tourbillon Manufacture|Frederique Constant Heart Beat Tourbillon Manufacture with silicon [[escape wheel]], 2008}}

[[Escapement]]s made of silicon are characterized by low weight combined with high stability. Such escapements may include the [[escapement wheel]] and possibly also the [[lever]]. The benefits of silicon [[escapement wheel]]s have less friction, leading to reduced energy loss and wear, even without lubricant. This fact in turn frees from the disadvantages of lubricating oils, such as aging, volatilization, and drying out or contamination of the movement by undesirable leakage points. Through the use of light silicon components the escapement wheel gets less inertia, thereby improving the power reserve of the movement.

Notable watches with a silicon escapement 

  * [[2001]] [[Ulysse Nardin Freak]] - Experimental silicon escape wheel
  * [[2005]] [[Patek Philippe]] [[PP 315|Cal. 315]] "[[Patek Philippe Advanced Research|Advanced Research]]" - Limited production silicon escape wheel only
  * [[2006]] [[Patek Philippe]] [[PP 324|Cal. 324]] "[[Patek Philippe Advanced Research|Advanced Research]]" - Limited production silicon escape wheel only and "Spiromax" silicon hairspring
  * [[2008]] [[Patek Philippe]] [[PP 324|Cal. 324]] "[[Patek Philippe Advanced Research|Advanced Research]]" - Limited production "Pulsomax" silicon escapement and "Spiromax" silicon hairspring
  * [[2008]] [[Patek Philippe]] [[Grand Complication]] "[[Patek Philippe Advanced Research|Advanced Research]]" - Limited production "Pulsomax" silicon escapement and "Spiromax" silicon hairspring in a grand complication watch
  * [[2009]] [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Extreme LAB]] - Limited production concept with silicon escape wheel only
  * [[2010]] [[Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Silicon Escapement]] [[MB R100|Cal. MB R120]] - Limited production silicon escapement
  * [[2011]] [[Patek Philippe]] [[PP 240|Cal. 240]] "[[Patek Philippe Advanced Research|Advanced Research]]" - Limited production "GyromaxSi" balance with "Oscillomax" silicon escapement and hairspring
  * [[2011]] [[Antoine Martin AM 93.001]]
  * [[2018]] [[Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic]] [[BM12|Cal. BM12-1975M]] - First full-production silicon escapement from [[Richemont]]

==== Silicon Regulator ====
At [[Baselworld]] in [[2017]], [[Zenith]] showed an integrated silicon regulator without a separate [[balance wheel]] or [[hairspring]]. Instead, it uses an integrated silicon component that Zenith claims oscillates with 100% [[amplitude]] when fully wound and when unwound. This first appeared in 10 limited [[Zenith Defy Lab]] watches but was released for commercial sale in [[2019]] in the [[Zenith Defy Inventor]]. The Inventor has an [[escape wheel]] with flexible silicon teeth and oscillates at the [[high beat|extremely-high rate]] of 18 Hz or 129,600 A/h.


{{tag>Terms Watch_materials}}